NBI urged: Probe Rodrigo ‘kill senators’ remark

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) should also investigate former president Rodrigo Duterte for saying he would have incumbent senators killed to pave the way for a takeover by his favored senatorial candidates, a congressman said.

Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur’s first district made the suggestion, saying Duterte’s public statement last week at the proclamation rally of his senatorial candidates should not be taken lightly because of its “serious implications in a democratic society.”

“In a democracy, words have power – especially when they come from someone who has held the highest office in the land. If certain statements warrant legal scrutiny, it is imperative that all similar declarations be assessed fairly and consistently,” Adiong said.

The House assistant majority leader noted that the NBI took it  upon itself to investigate the threat of Duterte’s daughter, Vice President Sara, against President Marcos, First Lady Liza and Speaker Martin Romualdez in November 2024.

“It is only appropriate to subject the former president’s statements to the same level of scrutiny,” the congressman said.

Adiong said similarly provocative rhetoric in the past led to dire consequences.

“If bomb jokes can be penalized under our laws, then so should statements killing our 15 senators,” he said.

Duterte’s remarks were met with loud cheers from his audience, who even responded with chants of “kill! kill! kill!”

Adiong noted that Duterte’s followers have a history of heeding his calls for violence.

“We have seen before how a rhetoric like this can embolden individuals to take matters into their own hands, often with tragic consequences. When public figures normalize threats of violence, they create a dangerous environment where words can translate into real harm,” Adiong said.

“In moments like this, our institutions must stand firm in upholding the rule of law. We must ensure that no individual, regardless of position or influence, can erode the principles of democracy and accountability,” he said.

His colleague Rep. Pammy Zamora also denounced Duterte’s statement, saying it should never be tolerated or accepted as a norm if it were intended as a joke.

“The words of a leader carry weight. When they threaten violence, it emboldens enforcers of the law to take shortcuts; it silences critics, and it fosters a culture of fear instead of democratic discourse,” Zamora pointed out.

“Enough is enough. We cannot allow our leaders, past or present, to keep making murder sound like a policy option. Leadership is about serving the people, not threatening them. A true leader inspires, not intimidates,” she added.

The Taguig City congresswoman instead called on Filipinos to reject the normalization of violence and demand accountability.

“The threat to kill should never be a part of responsible governance. We need to reject this kind of politics right away,” she said.

“This is not normal, and we should not allow this to become normal. We must break free from the culture of violence and choose leaders who embody true service, integrity and respect for the rule of law. Any leader fostering violence doesn’t deserve to be elected,” Zamora said.

“This is beyond reckless. A former president joking about murder is unacceptable. Words like these from a leader have real consequences,” she pointed out.

Duterte said killing 15 incumbent senators would pave the way for his own preferred candidates.

Zamora noted that under Duterte’s administration, thousands were killed in a bloody drug war that remains under investigation by human rights bodies and by the International Criminal Court.

“The violence we saw is not something to joke about. It has real consequences, and our country continues to deal with the aftermath,” she said.