MANILA, Philippines —President Rodrigo Duterte said he has done and given everything for the country and the he’s sorry if his best efforts were not enough.
“Kung sabihin niyo na ako ang may pagkukulang, sorry. Ginawa ko ang lahat ko. Kung ang lahat ko kulang pa, patawad po, yan lang talaga ang kaya ko,” he added.
(If you tell me about my shortcomings, sorry. I did everything I could. If it’s not good enough, I’m sorry, that’s all I could do.)
Duterte made the remark in a taped public address aired Wednesday morning as he chided some senators anew for conducting a probe into the government’s use of COVID-19 response funds.
“Ako lang, mayor. Sila senador. Pabalik nang pabalik nang pabalik yan sila. Tanungin ko kayo. May nakita ba kayo na magandang batas na nakatulong sa bansa? Tanungin ko lang kayo,” Duterte said.
(I was only a mayor. They are senators. They have returned to their posts again and again. I will ask you. Did you see any good laws that have helped the country. Let me ask you that.)
“But itong mga senador, di mo ba nakita sila lang? Hindi na kayo nagsawa dyan sa kanila (It’s always the same people. Are you not getting tired of them?) What spectacular achievement have they achieved or have had achieved in the past going to the present?” Duterte said.
Duterte’s term will end June 2022. He, however, has expressed intent to run for vice president in the 2022 polls.