President Duterte delivers his 5th State of the Nation Address at the House of Representatives Complex in Quezon City on July 27, 2020. PRESIDENTIAL FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—“I’m tired, I’m really tired.”
These words were uttered repeatedly by President Rodrigo Duterte in public to express what his aides said was exasperation in running a corruption-ridden government.
READ: Corruption under Duterte: A record to kill for
The fatigue, if Duterte’s words can be taken at face value, had removed his zeal for work, leading him to express regret in running for president at all in 2016.
But as time flew, so did Duterte’s words.
When a faction of the ruling PDP-Laban asked him to jump into the vice presidential race in 2022, the President appeared to have suddenly regained energy, accepting the endorsement “to heed the people’s call.”
READ: Duterte vows to ‘continue crusade’ to run for VP in 2022
Prof. Maria Ela Atienza, of the University of the Philippines’ (UP) Department of Political Science, said that if it was true that Duterte was already “tired” as he said repeatedly in the past, then his unprecedented foray into the race for the second highest elective position in the land would make it “not good, not fair” for the entire country.
In an interview with INQUIRER.net, Atienza said Duterte “looks really old and not healthy” to start with. The nation, she said, could ill afford to have leaders “who will not be able to deal full time with the country’s problems because of health concerns.”
Two years after he was elected President, Duterte said that he really wanted to rest because he was already old. Through the years, he would confess to being tired and even happy if he got assassinated.
Graphic by Ed Lustan
It would be difficult to determine for sure if Duterte meant it when he said he was tired of running the government already. If Duterte’s words weren’t true, however, a lesson from Goebbels, Hitler’s infamous propagandist, would ring true—A lie repeated often enough becomes truth.
And Duterte has repeated his “I’m tired” narrative frequently enough to be believed:
- Feb. 28, 2018
As the regime was criticized for its move to change the Constitution so that Duterte could stay in power after his six-year term, he said that he no longer has the energy and that he wanted to finish his term early.
“I will step down by 2020, I will not wait for 2022. I am old. I have no more ambition. I really would like to rest.”
- Aug. 14, 2018
Exasperated by corruption in government which he said is “embedded and endemic,” he said that he is thinking of stepping down from office and that he does not think that he can fulfill his promise to the people of reducing, if not eradicating, corruption.
“I want you to know that I am thinking of stepping down because I’m tired […] While I am not against or angry against anybody, my chase against graft and corruption seems to be endless and it has contaminated almost all government departments and offices.”
- March 21, 2019
Before he celebrated his 74th birthday, Duterte said that he is sick of the criticisms being made against his war on criminality and illegal drugs. He instructed police to kill criminals, saying that he was tired of them.
“I am old. This month, I’m turning 74. You, son of a b*tch, I’m already tired of you […] I’m looking for a way out so that I can rest. I’m already tired so don’t f*ck with me.”
- April 7, 2019
Saying that he was not certain if he will be able to finish the remaining three years of his term, he said that he would step down from office once his single term as President ends.
“I will not be President for so long. This is my third year. It’s just in the wings and my end will come […] As a matter of fact, I’m tired, really tired.”
- April 11, 2019
As the Presidential Security Group escalated his security detail, he confessed that with his “many years in public service,” he is already tired and that he would be happy if he gets shot by an assassin, apparently a joke.
“The Presidential Guard placed the glass because I might be targeted from afar. If I am 74 years old. If I am killed by an assassination bullet, it will be my happiness. I am tired. I want to leave.”
- June 13, 2019
Three years into his term, Duterte said that he regretted running for president in 2016. He likewise warned his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, against running for president.
“I lost my enthusiasm to work. Actually, I deeply regretted it. I regretted my decision to run for president.”
- July 22, 2019
Delivering his fourth State of the Nation Address, he said that he’s no longer happy in his work.
“I’m tired and I already want to resign.”
- Jan. 12, 2020
Denying allegations that he has plans to stay in office after 2022, Duterte said he already wanted to retire because he was tired from being in public office for decades.
“I am happy now. I take comfort. When I go out, I retire. Do not believe in that sh*t about extension, extension.”
- Jan. 26, 2020
In an exclusive interview with Russia Today, he admitted that the complexity of his work as President is making him a “bit tired.”
“When you say bone-weary, when you are really weary of doing things, and I said [so] because aside from the fact that you have to stay late and you have to travel, and then there’s the tremendous stress of flying where the bullets were whizzing around, and I got a hole in one of the helicopters that I was [on].”
- March 18, 2021
While introducing government officials at an event, he said all were generals, except for Sen. Bong Go who is “President”. However, he said that if Go would not run, he would not be interested in trying to run again because he no longer wanted to be president.
“You don’t want Bong? Let’s choose because I don’t want it. I am tired.”
Sacrifice? Not really
Last Tuesday (Aug. 24), Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said that in deciding to seek the vice presidency, Duterte “agreed to make the sacrifice.”
READ: Duterte accepts PDP-Laban nomination to run for VP in 2022
Atienza, however, said that “one need not sacrifice more by seeking a lower position” because if one “honestly” performed the responsibilities of the office, “seeking and winning the presidency is already a sacrifice.”
READ: Cusi bloc trumpets Duterte VP run; foes see fear of ICC
The coalition 1Sambayan said the major possible reason Duterte would throw his hat into the vice presidential race could be “fear of accountability both from the ICC (International Criminal Court) and from our own justice system.”
Last July 17, it was Duterte himself who said that he will seek the vice presidency to be protected from prosecution.
“The law says, if you are vice president, you have immunity. Then I will just run for vice president. After that, I will run for vice president,” Duterte said, apparently failing to mention that vice presidents have no immunity from suit.
READ: VP has no immunity from suit, lawyers agree
For Atienza, the President’s reason for running for vice president would be a disservice to Filipinos, saying that one should seek an office because of the desire to serve and not to use it as a way to protect personal interests.
Wrong bid
Prof. Jean Franco, of UP’s Department of Political Science, told INQUIRER.net that if Duterte will bid for the vice presidency, it will be “one of the strongest challenges to the democratic institutions that we have gained after ousting Marcos in 1986.”
READ: Duterte’s VP bid to escape lawsuits ‘shameless, legally insane’ — Bayan Muna
She explained that Duterte is having the “audacity to run” only because of his popularity despite the fact that “the entire Philippines knows that he’s taking advantage of what is supposedly a loophole in the interpretation of the Constitution.”
In its recent Tugon ng Masa poll, OCTA Research said 18 percent of respondents back Duterte’s possible vice presidential bid. He was followed by Manila Mayor Isko Moreno with 11 percent, Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano and Senator Grace Poe with 10 percent and Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with 9 percent.
Atienza said that the Constitution “does not prohibit a President from seeking a lower position.” However, she explained that there is a reason a president is barred from reelection—staying in power for too long often leads to abuses.
She said if Duterte wins the vice presidency, there is a possibility that he can become President again if the one who won as president, like his confidant Go and daughter Sara, stepped down to give way.
“Why continue to hold on to power? He has already been given a chance to serve the nation for six years. He should have spent his years as President doing his best to perform all expected functions,” said Atienza.
For the past five years, especially in the midst of the COVID-19 health crisis, Duterte was often criticized for condemning the opposition instead of exerting enough effort to address the impact of the pandemic.
‘We need change’
Franco said that Duterte’s foray into the vice presidential race, however, was not the only concern. He said if Go or Sara went for the highest position, no good was expected to come out of it because there was a need to “expand the political field to others who have a good agenda.”
READ: No legal obstacle to Duterte VP run, but will his 16M voters back him again? – lawyer
“We need change, given how the administration bungled the COVID-19 response […] This administration did nothing spectacular. It’s like we will not remember him for anything extraordinary,” she said.
Atienza said one of the tasks of a President was to encourage younger leaders to take over. She said that Duterte should have spent his six years “to mentor younger party mates to take on the mantle of leadership.”
READ: Duterte shows zest for VP run again, but won’t promise anything
“The problem is that PDP-Laban has not also done this together with the President. Now, they are being unfair to Filipinos by offering the same candidate and the same family name,” she said.
“Elections in democracies should offer not just clear party programs but also alternatives and new options in terms of candidates to voters,” she added.
READ: Robredo: PH can no longer stand another six years of Duterte-style governance
Atienza said PDP-Laban, or at least the Cusi faction, should not simply rely on perceived popularity. Instead, it should strengthen the party beyond personalities and popularity while investing in leadership.