Administration senatorial candidates dismissed former President Rodrigo Duterte’s supposed joke about killing 15 incumbent senators to make way for his ticket, emphasizing the need for a more issue-focused political discourse ahead of the 2025 elections.
Duterte suggested that eliminating 15 incumbent senators would create space for his endorsed candidates.
He said this during the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) senatorial proclamation rally at Club Filipino in San Juan City last week.
Former Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto downplayed Duterte’s remarks, calling them a mere joke. Sotto, who shares a friendship with Duterte, said he understands the former president’s statements.
However, he advised political candidates to focus on discussing issues rather than resorting to personal attacks.
“If discussions shift to personal matters, it means you’ve already lost the debate,” Sotto said during the ‘Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas’ press conference in Pasay City on Tuesday.
For his part, former Senator Panfilo Lacson reiterated his call for the public to help ease rising political tensions, especially with the upcoming 2025 elections.
“My appeal is for us to help de-escalate the situation instead of escalating it because nothing good will come out of it, especially for ordinary Filipinos like us,” Lacson said.
Lacson also declined to comment on Duterte’s controversial pronouncement, reaffirming his stance against negative campaigning.
“The election is already very divisive; let’s not add to it. That is my appeal. So, I would rather not comment on it,” Lacson added.
Meanwhile, former Senator Manny Pacquiao said that there’s no need to ‘personally attack’ anyone during the campaign period.
He said continued mudslinging and strife between candidates would only affect the public, especially the poor people.
Earlier, the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) at the Department of Justice.
PNP-CIDG chief Maj. Gen. Nicholas Torre filed complaints of inciting to sedition and unlawful utterances against Duterte for his ‘kill remark.’
Torre emphasized that Duterte’s violent rhetoric, even if intended as jokes, could be taken seriously by supporters and lead to dangerous consequences. He noted that in the past, similar rhetoric led to some cases of violence.
