Senate President Francis Escudero stated that he does not see the need to file charges against former President Rodrigo Duterte for his recent comment about "killing" sitting senators. At a press briefing, Escudero mentioned that he personally believes pressing charges is unnecessary and that he does not feel targeted by Duterte's remarks. However, he clarified that his opinion does not represent the entire Senate as they have not collectively discussed the issue.
Escudero highlighted that he doubts any senator feels threatened by Duterte's statement and emphasized that, in his view, the comment does not warrant a legal complaint. He noted that despite being unfortunate and disappointing, such remarks have become somewhat normalized after Duterte's six-year presidency.
During the PDP-Laban proclamation rally, where Duterte and his children endorsed nine senatorial candidates for the 2025 elections, the former president made the controversial statement suggesting eliminating 15 senators to create opportunities. Some of Duterte's allies defended the comment, referring to it as a joke. In response to Duterte's words, Police Major General Nicolas Torre III filed a complaint against him with the Department of Justice, citing unlawful utterances and incitement to sedition.
The controversy arose following Duterte's incendiary remarks and subsequent responses from various political figures. Escudero, in his statement, expressed his personal stance on the matter. He indicated that while he does not feel personally targeted, he believes the shocking nature of the comment does not necessitate legal action. The situation continues to unfold as different individuals and organizations react to Duterte's contentious speech.
