Marcos: Some people think killing is the only solution

CARMEN, Davao del Norte – President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Saturday indirectly responded to former President Rodrigo Duterte's remarks suggesting that incumbent senators should be killed to make way for the PDP-Laban senatorial candidates.

Marcos addressed his predecessor’s controversial statement during a campaign rally in Duterte's stronghold of Davao del Norte, where he endorsed his 12-man Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate.

"Nakikita natin ang ibang partido... nagugulat sila, natatakot yata sila sa inyo dahil pag nakita ang line-up ng Alyansa ay kung anu-ano na ang sinasabi," Marcos said.

(We see the other party... they seem unnerved, maybe even afraid of you, because when they see the Alyansa lineup, they start saying all sorts of things.)

He went on to express concern over rhetoric that normalizes violence as a political tool.

"Narinig lang natin nung isang araw, wala daw pag-asa siguro... wala silang pag-asa kaya papatay na lang sila ng 15 senador. Sabagay, mahirap naman ang ibang tao, ang iniisip lang nila ang kaisa-isang solusyon sa lahat ng problema ay pumatay pa ng Pilipino. Nakakapagtaka kung bakit ganoon," Marcos added.

(We just heard the other day that they said there’s no hope—maybe because they have no hope themselves, so they would rather eliminate 15 senators. Then again, it's troubling that some people think the only solution to all problems is to kill more Filipinos. It’s puzzling why they think that way.)

Despite his criticism, Marcos acknowledged the perspective of other political groups, attributing their aggressive stance to the strength of his slate.

"Ngunit maiintindihan mo rin dahil kung ako nga ay nasa kabilang partido at itong mga ito ang kaharap natin, sasabihin ko, mahirap na kampanya ito dahil mabigat ang kalaban. Dahil kung kikilatisin natin sila isa-isa, napakatingkad po ng mga record nila, napakaganda ng kanilang mga naging performance sa kanilang iba't-ibang inupuang mga posisyon sa pamahalaan," he said.

(But you can also understand their perspective because if I were in the opposing party facing this lineup, I would say this is a tough campaign. The competition is strong because if you assess each of them individually, they have outstanding records and impressive performances in their respective positions in government.)

During last Thursday's PDP-Laban proclamation rally, Duterte said, "Patayin natin ‘yung mga senador ngayon para mabakante. Kung makapatay tayo ng mga kinse na senador, pasok na tayong lahat... Talking of opportunities, the only way to do it is pasabugin na lang natin."

(Let’s kill the senators now to vacate the seats. If we can eliminate 15 senators, we can all get in... Talking of opportunities, the only way to do it is to just blow them up.)

Push the country forward

In his speech, Marcos reaffirmed that his senatorial candidates had no involvement in extrajudicial killings or corruption during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also emphasized that they were neither pro-China nor pro-POGO.

"Hindi na tayo puwedeng ganoon. Huwag tayong papayag na bumalik ang Pilipinas sa panahon ng dilim. Huwag tayong papayag na ang Pilipinas ay babalik sa panahon ng lagim," Marcos said.

(We can no longer be like that. Let’s not allow the Philippines to return to a time of darkness. Let’s not allow the Philippines to return to a time of terror.)

He then called on the public to support his slate, framing the election as a chance to push the country forward.

"Ito po ang ating pagkakataon na dalhin ang Pilipinas sa magandang lugar. Ito ang ating pagkakataon na maglagay po tayo ng ating mga lider na sila ang mangunguna para dalhin ang Pilipinas sa mas magandang kinabukasan," he added.

(This is our opportunity to take the Philippines to a better place. This is our chance to elect leaders who will guide the country toward a brighter future.)

Marcos also took a swipe at other senatorial candidates, suggesting that their focus was solely on winning the 2025 elections.

"Bakit po ganoon? Bakit iyong ibang partido, bakit ‘yung ibang nagsasama ay hindi makapagbuo ng mabigat na ticket? Dahil po ang kanilang iniisip lamang ay kung papaano nila tutulungan ang kanilang sarili at manalo ng eleksyon," he said.

(Why is it like that? Why can't other parties or alliances form a strong ticket? It's because they are only thinking about how to help themselves and win the election.)

Playful with words

Several senators and a candidate shared their views on former President Rodrigo Duterte's remarks, including Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., a member of the Alyansa senatorial slate.

"Sa tingin ko ay bulaklak lang ng bibig ni FPRRD yan. That's just how he expresses himself. Pero hindi naman tayo natatakot sa ganyan dahil may Agimat tayo," joked Revilla.

(In my opinion, that's just FPRRD's way of speaking. That’s how he expresses himself. But we’re not afraid of such things—we have an agimat.)

For Senator Jinggoy Estrada, Duterte's statement was simply a joke.

"Mapagbiro lang talaga si PRRD. None issue for me," said the senator.

(PRRD is just naturally playful with his words. It’s a non-issue for me.)

Senatorial aspirant Raul Lambino also echoed the same sentiments during the Partido Federal ng Maharlika (PPM) event on Saturday.

“Hyperbole lang naman yun, nagpapatawa lang si PRRD. Hindi naman seriyoso yun. Walang-wala yun, that’s not even a threat or anything. Joke lang yun, alam naman natin si PRRD. Alam niya yung sinasabi niya,” he said.

(It’s a hyperbole, and PRRD was just making a joke. That’s not serious. It was nothing, that’s not even a threat or anything. It was a joke, we all know PRRD. He knows what he was saying.)

Former justice chief Silvestre Bello did not issue a comment on the issue.

Meanwhile, in Jonathan Andal's post on X (formerly Twitter), Senator Risa Hontiveros reacted with disbelief.

"Ano raw?!" she said.

Hontiveros added, "Hirap na hirap na nga sa buhay [ang mga tao] tapos ang sagot ng isa diyan ay dagdag na karahasan?! Talagang ewan ko lang sa kanya."

(People are already struggling with the high cost of living, and yet someone's response is more violence? I honestly don’t know what to say.)

She emphasized that the real issue to be addressed is the soaring prices of goods.

WATCH: Sen Risa Hontiveros on Ex-Pres Rodrigo Duterte's kill senators remark:

"Ano raw?! Hirap na hirap na nga sa buhay (ang mga tao) tapos ang sagot ng isa diyan ay dagdag na karahasan?!" @gmanews pic.twitter.com/Rjxh418v0c

— Jonathan Andal (@JonathanAndal_) February 15, 2025

— with reports from Jamil Santos and Jiselle Anne Casucian/DVM, GMA Integrated News

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