Aquino questions Duterte's commitment to serve his full term

MANILA - President Aquino continued to twit Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on the campaign trail.

Speaking at the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite, Aquino alluded to Duterte's offer to resign from the presidency if he failed to curb crime and corruption in six months.

While Aquino did not directly name Duterte, Aquino said being president is a commitment, and that the candidate should make up his mind if he wants the job.

"'Di ba ang kasabihan… 'Ang kasalan hindi parang kaning mainit na iluluwa 'pag napaso. Ito ho para kang kinasal sa bayan. Hindi naman tayo pwedeng may kontratang pre-nuptial agreement. 'Pag ako, lahat ng tumatakbo nagboboluntaryo e. Wala namang pinipilit, 'Tumayo ka dyan, mag-file ka ng certificate of candidacy mo, tumakbo ka.' Hindi ho, kusa. Ibig sabihin noon, sa anim na taon, masayang panahon, malungkot ang panahon… sa hirap at sa ginhawa, walang bitawan, mayroon tayong kontrata," he said.

"Pero 'pag tumatakbo ka pa lang, nagsasabi kang 'Pag ganito, resign ako. 'Pag ganyan, resign ako. 'Pag ganoon, resign ako. Sandali lang, boss. Gusto mo ba o ayaw mo? Pakiliwanag naman, kuya," Aquino said.

It was not the first time that the President criticized Duterte who is running against Aquino's anointed successor, Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas.

President Aquino has also accused Duterte of planning to resort to a "shortcut" if he wins the presidency, citing the mayor's statement in the February presidential debate wherein he said that his term would be "bloody" as he intends to order the killing of all criminals.

"Ibig sabihin ho ba ng mga katagang 'yun na kanyang binigkas, siya ang tutukoy, siya ang huhusga at siya rin ang magpaparusa? Bawal ba sa kanyang palakad ang magkakaroon ng kontra opinyon? At siya lang ang tama sa lahat ng pagkakataon? Kung ganyan nga po ang sinasabi niya, ako na ho ba dapat ang medyo kabahan?" Aquino said.

READ: PNoy blasts Duterte, Binay, Poe

For his part, Duterte said Aquino seems to have forgotten that his own mother also helped fight the Marcos dictatorship.

On Friday, Aquino campaigned for Roxas and Leni Robredo who were represented by their children Paolo and Aika, respectively. He said there are still a lot of programs that needed to be continued, and that he trusts his preferred candidates to continue his policies.

Aquino also urged voters to scrutinize candidates in the coming elections and vote for officials who would continue his administration's programs.

In his speech during the turnover and inauguration of school buildings in Carmona Elementary School, Aquino took pride in addressing classroom shortage and expanding Philhealth membership and the conditional cash transfer program.

"Pag-aralan natin. Kung gusto natin ang nangayayari, tayo ang magsasabi, 'ituloy niyo ang nangyayari. Kung tayo naman ho ay magtatamlay-tamlay, baka ma-jackpot 'yung mga magbabalik sa atin sa lumang kalakaran. Tayo rin [ang] may kasalanan," Aquino said.