Duterte fit to finish term until 2022, says Bong Go  

DATU ABDULLAH SANGKI, Maguindanao — President Rodrigo Duterte is physically and mentally fit to finish his term until 2022, but he was exasperated with corruption in the military and various government agencies, his presidential assistant said Monday.

Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go, who graced the foundation anniversary of Datu Abdullah Sangkin town in Maguindanao, clarified to reporters the President’s public pronouncement earlier that he would resign if Bongbong Marcos wins the electoral protest against Vice President Leni Robredo.

“Knowing the President in the past 20 years, he is just tired. He is physically and mentally fit to finish his term until 2022,” Go said. “He is simply exasperated with the corruption in the military and other government agencies,”

Last week, Duterte said he was already “tired” and wanted to step down but would want the likes of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero to succeed him.

READ: Duterte to step down if Bongbong Marcos, Chiz Escudero would replace him

Under the 1987 Constitution, the vice president becomes the president should the highest political post in the country becomes vacant, but President Duterte has belittled Robredo’s qualities.

Robredo is facing an electoral protest before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal after Marcos accused her of cheating in the May 2016 elections, which also catapulted Duterte to the presidency. /ee