Reelectionist Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa dismissed criticisms against former President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial statement about killing incumbent senators, saying it was meant as a joke and should not be taken literally.
“Hay! Hanggang ngayon… ‘di pa niyo kilala si Pangulong Duterte, ‘no? Hanggang ngayon, ganoon pa rin? Ganoong statement, bigyan niyo ng weight? Klaro naman ‘yun na biro,” dela Rosa said in a GMA News Online report.
The senator, who once led the Philippine National Police under Duterte’s administration, laughed off concerns over the remark, questioning why anyone would believe the former president was serious.
“Kung talagang totoo… gusto niyang pumatay ng 15 na senador, bakit niya i-announce? Klarong-klaro na nagpapatawa siya,” he added.
Duterte made the remark during the PDP-Laban proclamation rally, where he and his children, Vice President Sara Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, endorsed their slate of senatorial candidates for the 2025 midterm elections.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., without directly naming Duterte, reacted to the statement during a campaign rally in Davao del Norte, voicing concerns about rhetoric that promotes violence in politics.
“Narinig lang natin nung isang araw, wala daw pag-asa siguro… wala silang pag-asa kaya papatay na lang sila ng 15 senador,” Marcos said, questioning why some would see violence as a solution to political issues.
