Lawmakers urge NBI to investigate Rodrigo Duterte over 'killing 15 senators' remark
Former president Rodrigo Duterte, also the chairman of Partido ng Demokratiko Pilipino - Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), found himself at the center of a firestorm following his recent comments about "killing 15 senators."
During a proclamation rally of PDP-Laban senatorial bets at Club Filipino in San Juan City on Thursday, Duterte made a joke about assassinating 15 senators to create more vacancies and possible seats for the aspiring senators he is backing.
"Ngayon, marami kasi sila ano dapat ang gawin natin? 'Di patayin natin yung mga senador ngayon para mabakante. Kung makapatay tayo ng 15 na senador eh 'di pasok na tayong lahat," he said, which was met with laughs and cheers from the audience.
Duterte continued, "Pero kawawa naman, pero nakakainis kasi, 'di naman lahat. Pero talking on the opportunities, the only way to do it is to pasabugin na lang."
His party backs the following senatorial aspirants: Duterte allies Sen. Bato dela Rosa, Sen. Bong Go, singer Atty. Jimmy Bondoc, Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, detained Kingdom of Jesus Christ pastor Apollo Quiboloy, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s former executive secretary Vic Rodriguez, actor Philip Salvador, former local government undersecretary Jayvee Hinlo, and former presidential adviser for Northern Luzon Raul Lambino.
'Wala dapat ibang targetin sa eleksyong ito'
Several lawmakers have since reacted to Duterte's remarks, including Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who called the joke "careless and offhand."
"Ano? Ano raw? Ano ba magiging reaksyon ng mga tao na hirap na hirap na nga sa buhay, sa mga issue na tinatalakay nina Sen. Kiko at Sen. Bam tapos ang sagot ng isa dyan dagdag na karahasan? Talagang ewan ko sa kanila," she told reporters, including The Philippine STAR, in an ambush interview.
"Pagpatay daw ng 15 senador para magbigay daan sa kandidato niya. Ang talagang dapat patayin o bombahin o ibaba ay mga presyo ng bilihin. Wala dapat ibang targetin sa eleksyong ito," she added.
Meanwhile, Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong urged the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe Duterte's remarks. The agency earlier investigated death threats made by Duterte's daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, against Marcos.
"It is only appropriate to subject the former president's statements to the same level of scrutiny," he said in a statement, as per ABS-CBN News.
"If certain statements warrant legal scrutiny, it is imperative that all similar declarations be assessed fairly and consistently," Adiong added, emphasizing that if an individual talks about killing 15 senators, they should also be penalized as how the law penalized people who make bomb jokes at airports.
"When public figures normalize threats of violence, they create a dangerous environment where words can translate into real harm."
Zambales Rep. Jay Khonghun also echoed this.
"Pareho silang mag-ama. Dapat siguro, kasuhan din ang dating Pangulong Duterte sa ginagawa niyang pananakot, gaya ng pag-file ng complaint ng National Bureau of Investigation kay VP Sara Duterte."
Moreover, Taguig City Rep. Pammy Zamora underscored that threats and intimidation should not be normalized as part of political discourse.
"Hindi ito normal. Hindi natin ito dapat hayaang maging normal. Enough is enough. We cannot allow our leaders, past or present, to keep making murder sound like a policy option."
'Nakakapagtaka kung bakit ganoon'
During the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas campaign rally in Davao del Norte on Feb. 15, Marcos wondered why killing is an option to aid societal issues. He did not name Duterte during his speech.
"Nakikita natin yung ibang partido, hindi sila... nagugulat sila, natatakot yata sila sa inyo. Dahil kapag nakita ang line-up ng Alyansa, eh kung ano-ano na ang sinasabi," he said.
"Narinig lang natin nung isang araw. Siguro sa kanila wala silang pag-asa kaya papatay na lang sila ng 15 na senador. Eh talagang… Sabagay mahirap naman ‘yung ibang tao ang iniisip lang nila ang kaisa-isang solusyon sa lahat ng problema ay pumatay pa ng Pilipino. Nakakapagtaka kung bakit ganoon," he added.
The 90-day campaign period for senatorial aspirants and party-list groups officially began on Feb. 11, and ends on May 10.
The midterm elections are on May 12, 2025.
Overseas Filipinos may vote from April 13 to May 12, while local absentees—AFP, the Philippine National Police, and media practitioners—may vote from April 28 to 30.
Comelec said there are 18,272 national and local political posts in 2025, which is 200 more than the posts from the 2022 polls.
