I am a disposable president – Rody
A “disposable President” was how President Duterte described himself as he remained unfazed by any attempt to remove him from office.
The President, who marked his fourth year in office last June 30, found “no problem” if the military launches a coup and asks him to step down.
“Hindi ako atat na atat maging presidente. I am a disposable president because that is this the – ‘yon dapat ang ano. Kasi kung ayaw ninyo, kung galit kayo, o ‘di tanggalin ninyo ako, mag-coup d’état kayo (I am not too keen about the presidency. I am a disposable president because that should be.
Because if you don’t want me, if you’re mad, go ahead and remove me. Launch a coup d’état),” he said before an assembly of troops in Zamboanga last Friday.
Duterte, however, asserted that there was no need for violence in demanding his removal from office.
“Pero sa akin, hindi na kailangan magdala pa ng maski isang M16. Papuntahin mo lang ‘yang mga military commanders at pulis at sabihin nila, “Ayaw ka na namin.” Maski hindi pa ako tapos sa termino ko sabihin ko, “Sige, okay. No problem’ (But for me, you don’t have to bring even a single M16. You may send the military and police commanders and tell me, ‘We don’t want you anymore.’ Even if I haven’t finished my term, I’d say, ‘Okay. No problem’),” he said.
Duterte recalled that he once offered to resign if the Senate had not passed a measure doubling the salary of soldiers and other uniformed personnel in 2017.
He said many lawmakers wanted to prioritize the tax reform law at the time but he insisted “on the money intended to increase your salaries.”
“Now, kung hindi ninyo mabigyan ang sundalo – tanungin mo ‘yan sila lahat alam nila, dito sa itaas, si Delfin ‘yan, Sen. Zubiri and Sen. Gordon – sinabi ko, “Kung hindi ninyo masali ang increases ng pulis pati military, I will resign. I will pack my things and go home to Davao to retire (Now you if don’t give the soldiers, you may ask them, Delfin, Sen.
Zubiri and Sen. Gordon, I said,’If you don’t include the increases for the police and military, I will resign. I will pack my things and go home to Davao to retire’),” he said.