Duterte on presidency: ‘I’m afraid to gamble with freedom’

DAVAO CITY Mayor Rodrigo Duterte with his supporters at a recent rally in Davao City KARLOS MANLUPIG/INQUIRER MINDANAO

“What you are asking me to do is to gamble with freedom, that’s why I’m afraid.”

Thus said Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Monday amid continued calls for him to run for president in the 2016 elections despite previously expressing in various occasions that he has no interest in doing so.

Noting that he was just an ordinary man from Mindanao, Duterte reiterated that he would “not settle” for the presidency, as six years in office would not be enough to institute reforms.

“Ayokong kapag naupo akong presidente, wala akong gawin,” Duterte said in a speech during Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano’s birthday celebration in Taguig City.

“This has been going on for so many days now, including ‘yung mga commentators. Sometimes para bang pilit na, okay na lang, walang iba si Duterte na lang. Ano ba ang talent ko? I’m just an ordinary man. Abogado nga ako… but I have never experienced an extraordinary event in my life. Basta na lang napunta ako dito, kay layu-layo ng Mindanao. Marami namang magagandang lalaki dito,” he added.

The tough-talking mayor, known for his iron fist in enforcing law and order in Davao, said he will not seek the highest national post in next year’s polls only to end up in jail after his term due to various human rights violations being hurled against him.

“Maghanap ka marami naman talagang demonyo diyan. Ako Satanas, sila demonyo. Okay, walang problema… Trust because you have to trust me. I cannot do anything sa isang taon with the limited power. Alam mo, hindi ako mayabang eh. Kung wala nang iba diyan, ‘wag mo akong ilagay diyan,” Duterte said.

“Ngayon kung ilagay na ako ng Diyos diyan, hindi ko naman kasalanan, I would not settle kung walang mangyari. Magsisisi rin kayo siguro kung ako ‘yung masagasaan. I will not sit there tapos paglabas ko nandiyan na ‘yung mga pulis. Kasi magkakaso talaga… I do it openly, I mention names. P******** mo ‘pag nakita kita talaga papatayin kita,” he added.

Nevertheless, Duterte said he is prepared to face anything, even a legal suit.

“People should realize na ako ang isang tao na I can die right now and give this s**** if I go to hell, whatever. At hindi rin ako takot pumasok sa presuhan. Tutal nung bata pa ako labas-pasok din naman ako ng presuhan–at an early age nakapatay na ako. Sa San Beda class ’72 hindi ako nakapag-akyat kasi may binaril akong tao,” he said.

The mayor stood by his method of ensuring peace and security, adding that he will target drug addicts if ever elected to higher office.

“’Pag nandiyan ako, ubos lahat ‘yan. How can you stand this society (with) 3 million drug addicts. P******** papatayin ko talaga ‘yan. Akyatin mo sa bahay, ayaw nang bumaba. Pasabugin mo ang bahay, ‘wag mo lang idali ang inosente,” he said, adding that the Philippines will never find peace without a federal system.