Atty. Salvador Panelo Speaks on Complaints vs. Ex-President Duterte
SALVADOR PANELO – The presidential legal counsel of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during his term defended him over his remark against 15 senators.
The statement of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte at the proclamation rally of the PDP-Laban did not sit well towards several known personalities. Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief major General Nicholas Torre even filed complaints against Duterte.
Duterte issued a “kill” remark against 15 senators at the proclamation rally of the PDP-Laban. According to the former President, it will pave the way for vacancies in the Senate and their party’s senatorial bets can fill these vacancies.
The PDP-Laban supports the candidacies of 9 senatorial candidates. The political party endorses the senatorial bid of the following:
- Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa
- detained Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Apollo Quiboloy
- Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go
- ex-presidential adviser for Northern Luzon Raul Lambino
- musician and lawyer Jimmy Bondoc
- SAGIP party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta
- former Interior Undersecretary Jayvee Hinlo
- former executive secretary Vic Rodriguez
- actor Philip Salvador
CIDG chief Nicholas Torre stressed that former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte should not anymore be allowed to just say what he wants and tag it as joke after. He stressed that the statement being spoken by a former President, there is allegedly a possibility that his followers will take it seriously.
“Maliit lang tingnan iyan pero being uttered by a former President, ay hindi malayong gayahin or will be taken seriously by his blind supporters,” Torre said.
The CIDG Chief stressed that he filed the complaints as a citizen and as a member of the police who has the duty to protect the Filipinos from criminal activities. According to him, his decision is beyond politics and the statement of the former President allegedly clearly violates “laws”.
“Bagong Pilipinas na eh, hindi na pwede yung mga ganung statements na kinaumagahan joke only na lang kaya nagkakagulo,” the CIDG Chief said.
Recently, Duterte’s legal counsel during his term as the president, Atty. Salvador Panelo, spoke to his defense. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the lawyer asserted that the former President was just joking.
Atty. Salvador Panelo stressed that former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte is a joker ever since. Based on the report, he asked if there is no more democracy in the Philippines.
“Ano ba itong bansa natin hindi na pwede magbiro? Magbibiro ka lang fa-file-an ka na ng kaso, wala na ba tayong demokrasya?” he said.
The former presidential legal counsel also expressed his belief that the senatorial candidates of Pres. Bongbong Marcos should feel elated that they were the subject of the “joke” of former Pres. Duterte. Earlier, Pres. Bongbong Marcos seemingly reacted to Duterte’s controversial remarks against the senators.