As his tirades against the Senate continue, President Duterte has now warned senators that he will "imprison" them if his Cabinet members or any worker from the Executive Branch will be cited in contempt and detained.
Duterte made the statement amid the Senate's ongoing probe on the government's controversial deal with pharmaceutical company Pharmally on coronavirus (COVID-19) supplies.
In his pre-recorded public address on Wednesday evening, October 6, the President advised his Cabinet members to not let any senator, particularly Senator Richard Gordon, disrespect them.
"'Wag ninyong hayaan na si Gordon o mga senador na mag-sigaw-sigaw sa inyo. Pareho lang tayo sa gobyerno (Do not let Gordon or any other senator shout at you. We are all workers of government here)," he said.
He reiterated that they should stand up and leave if they will be insulted during the Senate hearings.
"Ito ang sabihin ninyo (This is what you should tell them): 'I am here to testify to the truth. Now, 'wag ninyo akong sigaw-sigawan hindi naman ninyo ako boy. Hindi naman ninyo ako subordinate (Do not shout at me because I am not your boy nor your subordinate),'" Duterte said.
The President said he will not let it slide if his Cabinet men or any other worker from the Executive Branch will be cited in contempt and detained for defending themselves from insults.
"'Pag i-cite kayo in contempt, 'pag malaman ko, ang ikulong ko ang mga senador (If I find out that they cite you in contempt, I will send the senators to jail)," Duterte said.
Despite this, President Duterte said he did not want to quarrel with the Senate.
"I am giving this warning to the Senate. Ayaw ko ng gulo (I don't want trouble)," he said.
"We recognize your power to help you in aid of legislation. Baka yung inyong 'in aid' maging 'first aid 'yan (your 'in aid' of legislation may become 'first aid')," he added.
Duterte reminded senators that their authority to cite in contempt does not include being disrespectful to people.
"It does not include shouting at people, forgetting the civility that has to be observed by everybody in and out of investigation," he said.