President Marcos slammed former president Rodrigo Duterte in his bailiwick, particularly for the latter's joke about killing senators to ensure his candidates' victory in the 2025 polls.

Marcos said this as he campaigned for the Administration’s 12 senatorial candidates at the 'Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas' rally in Carmen, Davao del Norte on Saturday, Feb. 15.

In his speech, Marcos, unfazed despite being in Duterte's stronghold, lamented how the former president had to resort to joking about killing at the PDP-Laban kick-off rally in San Juan City.

"Siguro akala nila wala silang pag-asa kaya papatay na lang sila ng 15 senador (Perhaps they think they don't stand a chance that's why they will just kill 15 senators)," he said.

"Ang iniisip lang nila ang kaisa-isang solusyon sa lahat ng problema ay pumatay pa ng Pilipino. Nakakapagtaka kung bakit ganoon (They think the only solution to all problems is to kill more Filipinos. It's puzzling why they think that way)," he added.

President Marcos said Duterte probably made the remark because they were overwhelmed by his candidates.

"Maiintindihan mo rin dahil kung ako nga ay nasa kabilang partido at itong mga ito ay kaharap natin, ay, naku baka mahirap na kampanya ito dahil mabigat ang kalaban (You would understand because if I were in their shoes and these people were our opponents, well, this might be a tough campaign because the adversary is formidable)," he said.

"Natatakot ata sila sa inyo, eh. Dahil pag nakita ang lineup ng Alyansa eh kung anu-ano ang sinasabi (I think they're afraid of you because they started saying all sorts of things when they see Alyansa's lineup)," he added.

Early this week, former president Duterte criticized Marcos and his administration for making promises but falling short of expectations. The former also reiterated his illegal drug use allegations against Marcos.

Meanwhile, during the rally in Davao del Norte, President Marcos reiterated some of his earlier pitches for the Administration's candidates, saying none of them were involved in the bloody drug war or took advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He likewise said that none of Alyansa's 12 candidates were clapping whenever China hit the Philippine Coast Guard and Filipino fishermen with water cannon.

Marcos also vouched for his candidates' abilities, saying all of them either held positions in the legislature or led their respective local governments to progress.

Eight of the 12 senatorial hopefuls were present during Alyansa's Davao del Norte rally—former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, Rep. Erwin Tulfo, former Senate President Tito Sotto, Senator Bong Revilla, Senator Lito Lapid, former senator Manny Pacquiao, Senator Francis Tolentino, and Makati City Mayor Abby Binay.