President Rodrigo Duterte delivers a speech during the PDP-Laban campaign rally on Feb. 23, 2019, at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan City, Laguna. (Photo by RICHARD MADELO / Presidential Photographers Division)
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday spoke behind a bulletproof glass screen during his speech at the campaign rally of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) in Malabon City.
Duterte started his speech by saying that someone would want him dead.
“May gusto mang pumatay sa akin. Pero palagay ko pa naman ang buhay ay swerte-swerte lang. Kung panahon ko na talaga, wala na akong magawa,” Duterte said.
[Someone wants to kill me. But then I think life is a matter of luck. If it‘s my time to go, there’s nothing I can do.]
At one point, the President even inspected the glass himself and said that it was beyond his control as it was the call of the Presidential Security Group (PSG).
“Alam mo ha, itong picture frame na ito ha iyon ang hindi ko na kontrolado. Sumama man ang loob ko, magalit ako, hindi ko mautusan ang security setup ng PSG, presidential guards, kasi sila talaga ang masunod,” he said. “Noong bago pa ako, I kind of insisted na ‘yung akin ang masunod kasi ang mga tao po ay hindi na nakakapaglapit sa akin. Eh, sanay na ako ‘yung mayor tuloy-tuloy ako, ine-embrace ko sila. Lalo na kung maraming babae, talagang natatagalan ako.”
[You know, this picture frame right here is something beyond my control. Even if I feel bad about it, even if I get angry, I can’t contradict the security of the PSG, the presidential guard, because they are the ones in control. When I was starting out, I kind of insisted that they should follow my lead. Otherwise, people won’t be able to get near me. I’m used to being a mayor when I could go directly to them and embrace them. Especially if there are many women, I really linger.] /atm