President Duterte said on Tuesday night, May 3, he once threatened to kill senatorial aspirant Harry Roque, who used to be a human rights defender, if he would continue speaking against the government's war against drugs.
"Once upon a time he was a critic sa akin (to me). Sa extra judicial killing, sige sya daldal (He would talk a lot about extra judicial killing)," the President said during the PDP-Laban party’s campaign rally in Cainta, Rizal.
"Nakita ko sya. Sabi ko: Roque, kung hindi ka huminto diyan sa daldal mo sa extra judicial killing, pu**** ina papatayin kita. Uunahin kita (I saw him and I told him: Roque, if you wouldn't stop speaking about my extra judicial killing, motherf****, I will kill you. I will kill you first)," he added.
Duterte, who described Roque as "bright," said the latter responded to him and said he was just telling the truth.
But eventually, Roque "understood" him and he became his spokesman in Malacañang, he added.
Duterte endorsed Roque and other candidates for the Senate as he delivered his speech during the PDP-Laban's proclamation rally.
Other candidates he endorsed were Rey Langit, Greco Belgica, Loren Legarda, Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, Astra Pimentel, Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr., Jinggoy Estrada, Robin Padilla, and Salvador Panelo.