LEADERS of the House of Representatives rallied behind the statement of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. criticizing former President Rodrigo Duterte for believing that killing Filipinos is the only solution to every problem.

Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega V of La Union and Assistant Majority Leader Jay Khonghun of Zambales said the President’s criticism is absolutely correct.

“Ganun talaga ang dating Pangulong Duterte at ang kanyang anak, si Vice President Sara Duterte. Mahilig sa pananakot,” Ortega said.

“Hindi maka-Pilipino ang ugaling ‘yan. Tayong mga Pilipino, hindi natin ginagawa ‘yan, kasi bad ‘yan,” he said.

Khonghun said the former president may be thinking he is above the law for repeatedly making threats of killing and assassination.

“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,” he said.

He said the filing of charges of inciting to sedition and grave threats against Duterte’s daughter should have prompted the former leader to rethink his penchant for making threats.

“The case against the Vice President sends the message that under this government, no one is above the law,” he added.

Joining his Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial team in the launching of its Mindanao campaign in Carmen, Davao del Norte the President told his candidates: “Nakikita natin ang ibang partido… nagugulat sila, natatakot yata sila sa inyo dahil pag nakita ang line-up ng Alyansa ay kung anu-ano na ang sinasabi.”

Ortega and Khonghun said the President was spot on in assessing the fear of a defeat by the Duterte camp, prompting his predecessor to make the “kill” threat against senators.

Khonghun said the former president’s alarming rhetoric would not save his senatorial candidates.

“Mahina ang ticket ng Team China, malakas ang Team Pilipinas,” he said, referring to the Alyansa slate. House Deputy Minority Leader ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro strongly condemned former President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent statements suggesting the killing of senators to make way for PDP-Laban candidates.

For Castro, this call is dangerous and emblematic of the culture of violence that has plagued Philippine politics.

Former ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio also denounced Duterte’s statements, emphasizing how such rhetoric normalizes political violence.

“This is precisely the kind of statement that encourages political violence and persecution. When a former president casually talks about bombing and killing opposition figures, it sends a chilling message about how they truly regard democratic processes,” Tinio said.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Jester P. Manalastas