A weak leader?

President Rodrigo Duterte did not hide his intention to resign as he is frustrated over the unabated corruption in the government. He said he is tired in his fight against the corruption that he claims has already contaminated almost all government agencies and offices.

Added to his disappointment is the country’s serious drug problem. Although the government vowed no letup in its offensives in the war on drugs, the president seems to have resigned to the fact that he cannot solved the problem.

So serious is Duterte’s frustration that he said he might even step down if Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos wins in his electoral protest against Vice President Leni Robredo. In fact, should he resign, Duterte also said he preferred Marcos or Senator Chiz Escudero as his successor.

If the president makes good his intention to step down, he cannot escape public perception claiming him as a weak leader. In the country’s history, no president had resigned over mounting problems.

Duterte sports a tough image. The main reason 16 million Filipinos catapulted him to power is his strong personality, as they believe he is the only leader who can establish good governance and lead the country to prosperity.

However, his drug war and anti-corruption campaign consumed a huge portion of his time. And despite the gargantuan effort, drugs and corruption remain a tough nut to crack that is causing him sleepless nights.

As president, Duterte should have not made public his intention to step down over the country’s serious problems. Hinting the possibility of resigning will, in the eyes of the people, only make him seem like a vulnerable and spineless leader incapable of leading the nation.

Instead, the president should continue applying a tough image to live up to public expectation that he is a kind of leader this country needs who can stamp out illegal drugs and corruption.