Duterte says he can’t see next president from new crop of politicians

March 4, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday he could not see from the new crop of politicians anyone who could be the next president.

In a speech during the oath-taking ceremony of the newly-appointed government officials, Duterte discouraged an individual from running for president if he or she does not know how to kill.

"We're getting old and you know, the young are there. I didn't see new crop of politicians here in our country. Frankly, I didn't see who can be the next president," he said.

"In reality, if you are the president, (and) you don't know how to kill or you are afraid to die, don't aspire to be the president. Nothing will happen to you. Nothing will happen in the country," he said.

Duterte said if the president is just good in making orders, in the end, he would only end up as a villain.

"That's why I'm scared. I'm scared for the next generation," he added.

Duterte has been criticized for the alleged extrajudicial killings in the country due to his bloody war on drugs.

Duterte that he was just trying to protect the next generation against illegal drugs. 

"I don't care about the extrajudicial killing...you can bring all the charges you want but I will stick to my guns. I will kill anybody that will tend to destroy my country," he stressed.

Duterte said the US has kept on approaching him now after he ordered the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement. 

But before, he indicated America has been criticizing him for his war on drugs.

He said he told US Ambassador Sung Kim, "How could it be wrong? When can it be wrong if I say, 'Do not destroy my country because I will kill you?'"

Duterte ordered the termination of the two decade old military treaty with the US after the latter passed a law, which includes provision barring Filipino government officials involved in human rights violations and continued detention of opposition Senator Leila de Lima from entering the US. Celerina Monte/DMS