Despite making statements about killing that most recently involved senators, Senator Robinhood Padilla said that former President Rodrigo Duterte is "not a violent man."
"Napakabait po at religious ang taong yan behind the curtain of politics (That person is very kind and religious behind the curtain of politics)," Padilla said in a text message.
Padilla, Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan's (PDP-Laban) President where Duterte is chairman, apologized to those who were offended by the latter's statement.
Duterte said members of the upper chamber should be killed in order to help members of the PDP-Laban's senatorial slate get into the winners' circle. He said this during the proclamation rally of the senatorial candidates of PDP-Laban at Club Filipino, San Juan, Manila on Thursday.
"Patayin natin ang mga senador ngayon, para mabakante (Let's just kill the senators now to create vacancies)."
If there's any legal liability, Padilla said that Duterte will face this.
"Pinanganak na handa naman lagi si digong (Digong was always born ready)," he added.
Meanwhile, Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa is confident that Duterte can defend himself should the criminal complaints filed against him by the Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) over his “kill” and “bomb” remarks against senators prosper.
"Wala ‘yan. If ever mag-prosper ‘yung kaso na ‘yan sa prosecution, kayang-kaya naman ‘yan ni Pangulong Duterte harapin. Wala ‘yan. Non-issue ‘yan," Dela Rosa said on Monday night in an interview with the media in Mandaluyong City.
PNP-CIDG chief Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III on Monday filed complaints for unlawful utterances and inciting to sedition before the Department of Justice (DOJ).
The former PNP chief also dismissed any ill intent in Duterte's remarks, as he recalled the latter's jocular manner.
"Kilala naman niyo si Pangulong Duterte kung paano ‘yan magsalita, magbiro. Kung may balak siyang patayin, eh di… Bakit sasabihin pa niya in national TV? Patayin? (You all know how President Duterte speaks and jokes. If he really planned to kill someone, then... Why would he say it on national TV? Kill?)" he said.
"Very clear na nagbibiro lang, nagpapatawa lang ‘yung tao. Ang problema diyan, walang 15 senators na nasaktan, ang nasaktan ang CIDG (It's very clear that the person was just joking and trying to be funny. The problem is, none of the 15 senators were offended; it was the CIDG that was hurt)," Dela Rosa added.