Duterte to his would-be assassins, ‘Go ahead, make my day’
Manila: Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte is not scared about rumours of an assassination plot against him, Special Assistant to the President Christoper “Bong” Go said on Saturday.
Mr Go also said in an interview on national radio, “Hindi na man nawawala ang threat sa kaniyang buhay (threats on the life of the President have always been there).” Rumours of an assassination plot have surfaced recently, especially at a time when the President has been going around the country to visit victims of natural and man-made calamities.
Mr Go said that when he told Duterte about a supposed assassination plot, the President replied: “Hindi ako natatakot sa inyo. Go ahead, make my day.”
Mr Duterte was echoing the catchphrase in the 1983 film Sudden Impact spoken by Clint Eastwood (as “Dirty Harry”), which later was taken to mean that he would be glad to be violent if bad guys force him to. In response to rumours that Duterte is ill, Mr Go said “The President is in tip-top condition, he is in good health.” “Yung mga iyan ay black propaganda lang ng mga kalaban.
Baka mauna pa kayo...,” Mr Go added, referring to detractors who blew up the news that Mr Duterte went to the doctor for a checkup right after his 3rd State of the Nation Address last July 23.
The checkup, he said, was routine and nothing is wrong with the President’s health.