Duterte mulls stepping down

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said he prefers a junta to lead the country, if he is ousted by the military.

Duterte said this as he yet again belittled the capabilities of Vice President Leni Robredo, who he said "cannot improve on anything here.”

"The problem is, I cannot suggest to them that you follow the succession which is really (in) the Constitution... I am hesitant to suggest a constitutional succession," Duterte said in a speech before business leaders in Malacañang.

"I would suggest to the military, grant a junta... line up here, I’ll put you in your proper place," he added.

Duterte also claimed that Robredo’s bailiwick, Naga City, was once a hotbed of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu.

“Of course she will deny it,” Duterte said.

Last month, Duterte also chided Robredo, saying the vice-president was “incompetent”.

Robredo, a lawyer and a former lawmaker, in response said Duterte should instead focus on economic issues rather than insult her or God, as the country’s economy continued to falter due to the quickening inflation.

This is not also the first time the President tagged a Philippine city of being a hotbed of illegal drugs.

Duterte once called Iloilo as the “most shabulized” area in the Philippines.

'I'M TIRED'

In his speech, Duterte also said said he is thinking of stepping down, with four years more left in his term.

Duterte said he told the police and military that he was considering stepping down because he was already tired.

“I told the soldiers and policemen, ‘Guys, I want you to know that I’m thinking of stepping down because I’m tired, well I’m not angry against anybody,’” Duterte said.

He cited the continuing corruption in government despite his campaign against it.

“My chase against graft and corruption seems to be endless and it has contaminated almost all government departments and offices.”

This is not the first time that Duterte declared his desire to step down ahead of the end of his 6-year term.

He previously said that the police and military are free to seize power from him if they deem him no longer capable of leading the nation.

The President had also said he would step down if he succeeds in shepherding the country towards federalism.