Manila: Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III has raised concerns over repeated mentions of death and killing, suggesting these could indicate a serious personality disorder. Pimentel's statement follows remarks made by former president Rodrigo R. Duterte during the PDP-Laban proclamation rally in San Juan on February 13, where Duterte mentioned killing 15 senators to secure the party's electoral success.

According to Philippines News Agency, Pimentel communicated via a Viber message to reporters, emphasizing the potential psychological implications of an obsession with discussions of death and killing. He urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to assess the legal implications of Duterte's statements.

Pimentel called for a thorough investigation by the DOJ and NBI to determine if the remarks warrant any legal action. He stated, "Let DOJ and NBI do their work. They should know if, given the facts, a crime has been committed or not. If there is no crime whatsoever, then let us drop the issue."

In response to the situation, DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla commented on Monday that it is within the NBI's purview to independently investigate the matter. Remulla noted the familiarity with Duterte's rhetoric, stating, "Motu propio (By itself), the NBI can look into that. We'll see. Alam n'yo naman, we're used to the language of the former president. Sanay tayo (We'll see. We're used to the language of the president)."