Leaders of the House of Representatives on Sunday rallied behind President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in 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 of his predecessor is absolutely correct.
They are referring to the Duterte patriarch’s recent statement, threatening to kill 15 senators, so his political party’s candidates can easily grab senatorial seats to prevent the potential ouster of his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte.
“The former President and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, are really like that — fond of threatening (someone),” Ortega said. “That kind of attitude is not very Filipino. We Filipinos do not do that because that is bad,” he added.
Khonghun, for his part, said the older Duterte could be thinking he is above the law for repeatedly making threats of killing and assassination.
“Both father and daughter are just the same. Maybe a case may be filed against the former President Duterte for what he is doing, just like the complaint filed by the National Bureau of Investigation against VP Sara Duterte,” he noted.
Khonghun said 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 even if they are delivered in jest.
“The case against the Vice President sends the message that under this government, no one is above the law,” he stressed.
Both lawmakers said President Marcos was spot on in assessing the fear of a defeat by the Duterte camp, prompting his predecessor to make the kill threat against senators.
“They (Duterte’s camp) can already see their loss in the May 12 elections. That’s why the former President is employing threats and doing negative campaigning,” Ortega said.
Khonghun said Duterte’s violent rhetoric would not save his senatorial candidates.
“The ticket of Team China is weak, while Team Pilipinas (Alyansa) is strong,” he said.