NORTHERN MINDANAO — Cagayan de Oro Councilor Girlie Balaba, the regional chairperson of the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino Laban (PDP Laban) in Northern Mindanao, supported claims that former President Rodrigo Duterte’s alleged threat to kill 15 senators was made in jest.

Balaba, a close ally of the former president, attended the PDP Laban kick-off rally on 13 February at Club Filipino in Greenhills, Metro Manila, where she heard Duterte’s controversial remarks.

Speaking to the DAILY TRIBUNE on Tuesday, Balaba explained that Duterte’s statement should be understood as a joke.

“The audience actually laughed at it,” she added in the vernacular.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Chief Maj. Gen. Nicholas Torre III has filed a complaint of inciting to sedition and unlawful utterances against Duterte over his remarks.

Balaba emphasized that she knows Duterte’s sense of humor and saw no reason to take his words as a serious threat, particularly now that he is no longer president.

She also urged Mindanaoans to support the senatorial candidates of PDP Laban, arguing that electing these candidates would strengthen Vice President Sara Duterte’s position during her impeachment trial.

Balaba accused the Lower House of orchestrating the impeachment proceedings due to concerns over VP Duterte’s potential candidacy in the 2028 presidential election.

She expressed confidence that PDP Laban’s senatorial candidates have strong prospects in the May elections, citing widespread regional support from Duterte’s allies in Mindanao and the Visayas.