Former president Rodrigo Duterte “can defend himself” should the criminal complaint filed against him over his recent  “kill” and “bomb” remarks against senators will prosper. 

This was the reaction of Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa when asked to comment about the case filed by the Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) against the former President.

“Wala ‘yan. If ever mag-prosper ‘yung kaso na ‘yan sa prosecution, kayang-kaya naman ‘yan ni Pangulong Duterte harapin. Wala ‘yan. Non-issue ‘yan (That’s nothing. If ever the case would prosper in the prosecution, President Duterte can handle it. That’s nothing, it’s a non-issue),” Dela Rosa told reporters in an ambush interview during an event in Mandaluyong City earlier this week. 

On Monday afternoon, PNP-CIDG Chief Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III filed complaints against Duterte before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for unlawful utterances and inciting to sedition by the latter. 

Dela Rosa said he was confused over the CIDG's decision to file the case "despite the lack of complainant."

“I don’t know why. Meron bang nag-complain na papatayin siya? Wala naman siguro. At kusang loob lang, parang motu proprio nagpa-file ng kaso sa CIDG ng kaso laban sa kanya. So that’s something to think about, ‘di ba? Usually, ‘yung gano’ng mga  krimen o ‘yung mga ganyang kaso, may mga complainant talaga, ‘di ba? (I don’t know why. Is there anyone who complained that he’s going to be killed? Probably not. And it seems like the case was filed voluntarily, almost like a motu proprio action, by the CIDG against him. So that’s something to think about, right? Usually, in cases like these or crimes of that nature, there are real complainants, right?),” he said. 

The Senator pointed out that there should be a private complainant, particularly in cases involving grave threats.

“But then there’s nobody complaining na out of the blue, CIDG is filing its case against the former president,” a puzzled Dela Rosa said. 

But then, Dela Rosa acknowledged that the PNP-CIDG has the authority to file the case.

“If they feel na that’s their duty, then do it. They have to do it,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Dela Rosa dismissed any ill intent in Duterte's remarks, recalling the former president's “jocular manner.”

“Kilala naman niyo si Pangulong Duterte kung paano ‘yan magsalita, magbiro. Kung  may balak siyang patayin, eh di… Bakit sasabihin pa niya in national TV? Patayin? (You all know how President Duterte speaks and jokes around. If he really intended to kill someone, then... Why would he even say it on national TV? He will kill?),” Dela Rosa lamented. 

“Very clear na nagbibiro lang, nagpapatawa lang ‘yung tao. Ang problema diyan, walang 15 senators na nasaktan, ang nasaktan ang CIDG (It's very clear that he was just joking, just trying to make people laugh. The problem here is that it's not the 15 senators who were offended, it's the CIDG),” Dela Rosa said.

During the proclamation rally of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) on 13 February, Duterte mentioned using a bomb to kill the 15 senators to create vacancies for the senatorial bets he is endorsing.

“Patayin natin ‘yung mga senador ngayon para mabakante. Kung makapatay tayo ng  mga 15 na senador, pasok na tayong lahat (Let's kill those senators now to create vacancies. If we can kill 15 senators, we’ll all get in),” said Duterte. 

Other senators took Duterte's remarks lightly, including Senate Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, who said that the former president simply enjoys joking around.

“Mapagbiro lang talaga si PRRD (PRRD is a joker),” Estrada said.