NATIONAL Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Jaime Santiago believes that Former President Rodrigo Duterte was joking when he mentioned killing senators at a recent political rally.
Santiago also emphasized the distinction between the former president’s alleged threats and those made by Vice President Sara Duterte against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Santiago, a former judge, explained that Duterte’s threat was made during a political rally, where exaggerated political rhetoric is common. He also noted that it was clearly delivered in a joking manner, as evidenced by the audience’s laughter after Duterte mentioned killing senators.
“Dapat ‘yung mga senador, kung sino man, sila ang magreklamo kung alam nila na sila ‘yung tinatakot na ipapapatay (The senators whoever they are should file a complaint if they feel they were threatened to be killed),” he said.
Santiago made this assurance amid calls to investigate Duterte over the alleged kill threats he made during the Feb. 13 political rally of PDP-Laban.
During the rally, Duterte said there were too many senatorial candidates in the upcoming elections and declared, “Let’s kill the senators now to create vacancies.”
In contrast, Santiago pointed out that Vice President Sara Duterte’s threat was made during a press conference, where she emphasized that she was not joking. Therefore, Santiago believes there is no basis for the NBI to investigate the former President’s statement unless they receive a formal complaint.
