Duterte says, ‘My only job now is to look at pretty women,’ with term as president winding down

President Rodrigo Duterte —MALACAÑANG FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — “Ang trabaho ko na lang ngayon, magtingin ng magandang babae.” (My only job now is to look at pretty women.)

President Rodrigo Duterte made this joke Thursday at the launch of the digital innovation and modernization of the Philippine Post Corporation (Philpost) – as his term as top leader of the country draws gradually to its end on June 30.

The chief executive hailed the innovations made by the Philpost, including the launch of a mobile app, a new website, an automated letter sorting machine, and a postal card. But Duterte admitted he was still no good when it comes to technological innovations.

“Pasalamat ako sa Diyos na inabot ko, binigyan pa ako ng ilang taon na makita ko ‘yung marvels of electronics and digital things. Pero ako mismo, oo lang ako nang oo, wala talaga akong alam on how it works,” he said.

(I thank God for still giving me more years to witness the marvels of electronics and digital things. But I admit that I just nod to acknowledge, I still really don’t know how it works.)

He confessed that he could not navigate well a smartphone and could only comfortably use analog phones.

“Ang trabaho ko na lang ngayon, magtingin ng magandang babae. Okay na ako. Tingin lang, hindi ako nag-aabduct, basta tingin lang kasi matanda na ako,” he said.

(My only job now is to look at pretty women. I’m okay with that. I just look, I don’t abduct. I just look because I am old already.)

“Itong aking.. hindi na ito digital. Analog ako. I belong to the analog generation. Kapag ganyan ka, talagang matanda ka na,” he added.

(My… is not digital. It’s analog. I belong to the analog generation, which shows how old you are already.)

He further joked that while he would no longer make a move on beautiful women, he would still appreciate it if they would approach him.

“‘Wag kayong matakot kung magtitig ako sa inyo, hanggang titig lang ‘yan pero kung magpakilala ka, okay man. I would of course enjoy meeting… Alam naman ng asawa ko ‘yan kasi mahilig ako magtingin ng magagandang babae,” the President said.

(So don’t be afraid if I look at you. I’m just looking. If you introduce yourself, that’s okay, I would enjoy it. My wife knows that I really enjoy looking at pretty women.)

“Pero hanggang diyan-diyan lang ako, wala na akong balak,” he said.

(But that’s all I can do. I have no interest anymore.)

Grateful for supporters

During his speech, Duterte again thanked his supporters for voting for him and “allowing him to journey the presidency for six years.”

He said he was able to serve the country, citing the infrastructure projects initiated during his administration.

“Yan, maliit na bagay. Kung mag-expect pa kayo ng more, I’m sorry. Hanggang diyan lang ang kaya ko. Still, I am very grateful to you for making me the president of the Republic of the Philippines,” Duterte said.

(That’s only a small thing. If you expect more from me, I am sorry. That’s all I can do.)

READ: Duterte to supporters, allies: Thank you for believing in me, my aspirations

Duterte, who led the ceremony, lauded the Philpost’s efforts towards digitalization, saying these would help “boost global competitiveness and stimulate economic activity during the period of recovery and digital transformation.”

He said he hopes Philpost’s innovations bring back the “integrity” of the agency.

Duterte recounted how he fell victim to the bad performance of Philpost years ago, and pointed out that the Bureau of Customs (BOC) had an even worse predicament.

He then asked Philpost employees and officials to make sure to help the BOC “erase” corruption in their ranks.

The digital innovation services that Philpost launched include the mobile app, the enterprise resource planning covering the digitalization of the organization which includes the new website, mail management system, corporate financial management system, financial counter system, human resource information system, and the postal card.

Postmaster general Normal Fulgencio explained that the app will bring the post office to mobile phones. It will be used for online remittance, bills payment for all major utilities, merchant payments for government contributions in SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-ibig, mail tracking, and mail service fee computation, among others.

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