Panelo: CIDG chief a 'tower of ignorance' for raps vs ex-PRRD
At A Glance
- Panelo said Torre was being "more popish than the Pope" as none among the senators alluded to has said anything about the alleged "threat" against their lives.
"Torre is a tower of ignorance and an edifice of nonsense."
This was how former presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo described Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief PBGen. Nicolas Torre III after the latter filed a complaint against former president Rodrigo Duterte for joking about killing senators.
In a statement on Monday, Feb. 17. Panelo said the complaint for case build-up against the tough-talking former president would not fly.
"The grave threats complaint he and his agency have filed against FPRRD is dismissible in the prosecutor’s office outright for utter lack of legal basis and for being ludicrous as well," he said.
"Don’t they have anything sensible and productive to do, other than doing foolish things?" he added.
Panelo said Torre was being "more popish than the Pope" as none among the senators alluded to has said anything about the alleged “threat" against their lives.
"Unlike Torre, the senators have the common sense and the humor to see the Duterte joke as an amusing and laughable remark," he said.
"It will not be surprising if the senators welcome the Duterte joke as a welcome gesture from the former president because it may be viewed as an unwitting acknowledgment that the Administration senatorial candidates are strong and hard to beat," he added.
During the PDP-Laban kick-off rally in San Juan City last week, former president Duterte joked about killing senators to ensure his candidates' victory in the 2025 polls.
The said remark was slammed by President Marcos himself while in Duterte's own stronghold, saying his predecessor probably made the remark because they were overwhelmed by the Administration's senatorial candidates.
"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.