Duterte on quo warranto against him: I live my destiny

July 5, 2018

President Rodrigo Duterte, who was apparently sarcastic, said he is facing a quo warranto petition before the Supreme Court filed by Elly Pamatong.

In a speech during the 117th anniversary of the Office of the Solicitor General on Tuesday, a copy of which was released on Wednesday night, Duterte said whatever would be the decision of the high court on the petition, he would accept his destiny.

"I have a problem because I hear that the Supreme Court is ready with its decision on the quo warranto and I'm also due for ouster like...the one filed by Pamatong," he said.

Pamatong had been declared several times as nuisance candidate by the Commission on Elections when he filed his certificates of candidacy for president in the past.

Maria Lourdes Sereno was removed recently as chief justice of the Supreme Court through a quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida for her failure to submit all the required copies of her statements of asset, liabilities and net worth when she was applying for the post during the previous administration.

Duterte said if he would be ousted through quo warranto he would be happy to step down and would return to Davao City.

"If I'm just up to that point, I live my destiny," he said, adding that he was not concerned about those who have been calling for his ouster.

"For all you know, I would be happy to step down," Duterte said.

In his petition, Pamatong accused Duterte of being an illegitimate president because his COC was not approved by the Comelec.

Duterte only substituted Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Martin Dino, who filed the COC for president in 2015 for the 2016 presidential race. Celerina Monte/DMS