MANILA, Philippines — “It’s really the right time for me to retire,” President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday referring to the end of his term on June 30, when a new president will be sworn into office.
The remark was part of Duterte’s speech, delivered in a mix of Filpino and English, during the recognition ceremony of athletes who participated in the 31st Southeast Asian Games. The event was live-streamed on Facebook by the Presidential Communications Operations Office.
Duterte took the opportunity to recount his years in public service as a chief executive, first serving as vice mayor of his hometown Davao City all the way up to the presidency.
“I have not tasted defeat since 1988. So this, this would be my… it’s time,” he said.
He acknowledged that he had not been very active for the past year with his ailments beginning to take their toll. He recalled that he fell several times while riding a motorcycle.
“You know, God is really smart,” he said.
“It’s really just right because if I continue [in public service] for another six years, even three years, I can’t take it. So it’s really time for me to retire,” he added.
President Rodrigo Duterte in his speech on Tuesday, May 31, 2022, honoring the athletes who participated in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam. (Photo from a PTV livestream video)
In 2021, Duterte was nominated by his political party, the PDP-Laban, to run for the vice presidency. He accepted but later balked at the prospect during the filing of certificates of candidacy in early October, citing once more his intention to retire from politics.
Duterte was supposed to be the running mate of his long-time aide, Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, but Duterte’s withdrawal move prompted the senator to run for the vice presidency instead.
Then in November, Duterte said he would run for senator instead, as he would want to change how senators conduct an inquiry. So he filed his COC for senator — only to withdraw again in December.
Meanwhile, Go also withdrew his vice presidential bid and aspired for the presidency under another party, a position he had been claiming he was not interested in.
However, he withdrew from the presidential race, also in December.
On Tuesday, Malacañang said Duterte was looking forward to his retirement in his hometown Davao City.