Atty. Salvador Panelo Reacts To Complaints Filed vs. Former Pres. Duterte
PANELO – The former Presidential Counsel of ex-President Rodrigo Roa Duterte reacted to the complaints against him.
One of the things that former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte is known for is his quality of speaking what is on his mind — regardless of how the public will respond to it. His colorful language is no stranger to the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) as confirmed by CIDG chief Nicholas Torre.
However, Torre stressed that such action of the former President should no longer be tolerated. His statement came amid the issues surrounding the “kill” remark of Duterte against 15 senators.
At the proclamation rally of the PDP-Laban, former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte said that 15 senators must be eliminated so their posts in the Senate would be vacant and their party’s senatorial bets can occupy these posts. Senator Bato dela Rosa tagged the “kill” remark of Duterte as a “joke”.
Dela Rosa is one of the senatorial candidates endorsed by the PDP-Laban. According to him, it is allegedly clear that the former President just wants to spark laughter as he could have not said it in public if he really means it.
Amid the issue, CIDG chief Nicholas Torre filed inciting to sedition and unlawful utterances complaints against former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. He stressed that it should no longer be allowed that the former President will speak and just tag his statement as a joke afterwards.
“Maliit lang tingnan iyan pero being uttered by a former President, ay hindi malayong gayahin or will be taken seriously by his blind supporters,” the CIDG Chief said.
Torre further stressed that his move is beyond politics and, as a member of the police, he is under the mandate calling the protection of the Filipino people. Recently, Atty. Salvador Panelo who was the presidential legal counsel during the term of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte as the country’s chief executive also spoke.
Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, Atty. Panelo stressed that former Pres. Duterte was just allegedly joking. He stressed that they have known that the former President loves making joke even since before.
“Dati naman nila alam na palabiro siya, ano ba itong bansa natin hindi na pwede magbiro? Magbibiro ka lang fa-file-an ka na ng kaso, wala na ba tayong demokrasya?” Panelo said.
The former Presidential Counsel also said that the senatorial candidates of Pres. Bongbong Marcos should feel elated for being the subject of the joke of Duterte. Based on the report, he also said that the senators did not feel offended.
“Dapat nga natutuwa ang mga nandun sa kabila gaya ng sabi ko kahapon, ang mga administration candidates, ang mga senador hindi nga umimik dahil nagbibiro lang si Presidente,” he expressed.
For his part, Pres. Bongbong Marcos has seemingly chided the remarks of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte against 15 senators.