Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 16) — Former President Rodrigo Duterte was again on the offensive threatening ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro after a court issued a summons in relation to the lawmaker’s complaint against him.
“Kaya ikaw, France (Castro), how do you solve the problem now? Kaya ‘yong statement kong komunista patayin, kasali ka — dapat!” Duterte said in a televised interview late Wednesday as he red-tagged Castro and the Makabayan bloc again.
[Translation: How do you solve the problem now, France? That’s why my statement to kill communists, including you — it should be!]
The second sentence was edited out of the episode aired on television and live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube. It was, however, part of his statements posted Thursday morning on the program’s Facebook page.
Castro sued the former president after he made death threats against her on national television where he talked about his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, and her request for confidential funds in next year’s proposed budget.
Quezon City prosecutors issued a subpoena on Wednesday ordering Duterte to appear before the Office of the City Prosecutor on Dec. 4 and 11.
The grave threat complaint is the first for Duterte since stepping down from office in 2022 that ended his presidential immunity from suit.
When asked if he would appear before Quezon City prosecutors, Duterte said: “Magpakulong na lang ako kasi gina-oppress ako ni France. Pero paglabas ko talagang, paglabas ko sa, magpakulong ako, paglabas ko, hanapin [muted]. Alam mo nakikinig lahat ng military, intelligence community. Akala mo happy yan sila?”
[Translation: I would rather face imprisonment because I am oppressed by France. But once I go out of jail, I will look (muted). The military and the intelligence community are listening. Do you think they are happy?]
Dante Ang II, president and CEO of broadsheet The Manila Times, asked the question and was seen wincing during the muted part of Duterte’s statement.
The former chief executive has consistently argued that his daughter, who is concurrent education secretary, needs confidential and intelligence funds to fight communist insurgents supposedly infiltrating schools.
Among the topics during his interview on Sonshine Media Network International was the supposed plan of the Makabayan bloc to file an impeachment complaint against the vice president.
Duterte then said: “Do not ever think, France… na may armor ka na dahil congresswoman, member ka ng Congress, na you are no longer vulnerable sa galit ng karami na namatay diyan na sundalo pati pulis dahil sa inyo.”
[Translation: Do not ever think, France, that you have already armor just because you are a member of Congress, that you are no longer vulnerable against the anger coming from the deaths of the military and police.]
