Duterte won’t give up presidency: senators

Senators believe that President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement of intending to resign is merely his frustration over problems. ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./PRESIDENTIAL FILE PHOTO

MANILA — Senators believe that President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement of intending to resign is merely his frustration over problems, particularly corruption, currently hounding the Philippine government.

As someone who has known him since 1988, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the Chief Executive is someone who does not have the word “surrender” in his vocabulary.

“That’s not resignation, it’s frustration. I don’t think he knows the word ‘surrender’. Hindi niya gagawin ‘yon (He won’t do that),” Sotto told reporters.

“Sa pagkakakilala ko sa Presidente, wala sa ugali niya ang nang-a-abandon, and tingin ko baka nasasabi lang niya sa ika nga heat of the moment dahil medyo uminit and ulo o medyo napupuno lang siya sa nakikita niyang matinding korupsyon sa gobyerno (What I know of the President, he’s not into the habit of abandoning something. I think he said those things in the heat of the moment because he has been infuriated and frustrated with the corruption in government that he has to deal with),” he added.

Senator Manny Pacquiao also expressed hope that the Chief Executive would continue his presidency until the end of his term.

“Sa tingin ko, tatapusin niya yung term (I think he would complete his term),” he said in an interview. “I know the President even before. He is my friend, I know him.”

Senator Panfilo Lacson shared the same sentiment on the Chief Executive contemplating resignation.

“Whether or not he will make good on his statement that he is planning to resign, we don’t know where that is coming from, but for me, it’s out of frustration,” he said.

“When he expresses in that manner, let’s just read where he is coming from. We, ourselves, saw in the past few days. Let’s see the context there. Let’s not take it too literally,” Lacson said, referring to the news of corruption in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The President earlier said he is ready to step down but only if the likes of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. or Senator Chiz Escudero succeeds him.