MANILA – Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III expressed concerns on Monday (17 Feb 2025) about the repeated references to death and violence, warning that such statements could signal a deeper personality disorder.
Pimentel made the comment in response to former President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s remarks at the PDP-Laban proclamation rally in San Juan City on February 13, where he jokingly discussed killing 15 senators to ensure the success of the party’s senatorial candidates in the upcoming elections.
“An individual who frequently brings up death and violence in conversation, especially with such obsession, could be showing signs of a serious personality disorder,” Pimentel stated in a Viber message to reporters.
The Senate minority leader called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to assess whether legal action is necessary based on Duterte’s remarks.
“It is up to the DOJ and NBI to investigate and determine whether a crime has been committed. If no crime has occurred, then we should move on from the issue,” he added.
DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla responded to inquiries on Monday, stating that the NBI may initiate its own investigation if deemed appropriate.
“Motu proprio, the NBI can look into the matter. We’ll see. We’re accustomed to the former president’s style of speech,” Remulla said.
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