Chiz: No reason to charge Digong over 'kill' remarks

Senate President Francis Escudero sees no reason to file charges against former President Rodrigo Duterte over his recent “kill” and bomb” remark directed at incumbent senators.

“Sasagot muna ako bilang abogado (I’ll answer this as a lawyer), there are only certain private crimes that you need a private complainant before a case can be filed,” Escudero told reporters in a press conference on Wednesday when asked if he is willing to file a complaint against the former chief executive. 

Escudero explained Duterte’s “kill” remarks against the 15 senators to create vacancies for his senatorial slate does not warrant the filing of a complaint.

He mentioned the crime charges of concubinage, adultery, seduction, abduction, rape, and acts of lasciviousness. 

“These are the private crimes that the complainant actually has to file a complaint. ‘Pag hindi siya nagreklamo, hindi pwedeng mag demanda ang piskal (If the complainant does not file, the prosecutor cannot file a case),” he further explained. 

Asked if he would file charges against Duterte, Escudero responded. “No.”

“Para sa akin, I don’t feel alluded to. Parang hindi ko naman naramdaman na isa ako sa 15. Hindi ko alam kung sino, pero parang hindi naman ako kasama doon (For me, I don’t feel alluded to. I don’t feel like I’m one of the 15. I don't know who it is, but I don’t think I’m included in that),” he further said. 

While admitting the former president’s controversial remarks were “upsetting,” Escudero said these have become less shocking or impactful over time.

“Pangalawa, nakakalungkot man 'yung mga ganyang pahayag, namamanhid man tayo sa mga ganyang pahayag, parang okay na rin dahil nasanay tayo ng anim na taon na ganun. Sana kung may sagot man doon, kung may bwelta man doon, kung may sukli man ‘yun, siguro sa balota na lang natin tignan sa pamamagitan ng ating mga kababayan, at 'wag na sa pamamagitan ng demanda, personally sa parte ko (This is saddening but we’ve become somehow numb to such statements, and in a way, it's okay because we’ve been used to it for six years. If there’s any response to that, if there’s any counter, maybe we should just look at it through the ballots, through the votes of our fellow citizens, and not through lawsuits, at least from my personal perspective),” he said.

“But I cannot speak for the other senators neither am I speaking for the Senate because we have not talked about this matter. But I don’t think any of the senators felt threatened by that remark,” he added. 

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. 

Some lawmakers, including Senators Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa and Bong Go, allies of the former president, defended the statement, saying it was a mere joke.

Senate Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada took Duterte's remarks lightly saying that the former president simply enjoys joking around.