‘If God wants me to win, I will win,’ says Duterte

Davao City Mayor and presidential aspirant
Rodrigo Duterte. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

DAVAO City Rodrigo Duterte is unfazed that he is not No. 1 in the latest survey by Social Weather Stations (SWS), saying he would win the presidential race if God wills it.

“I could slide to No. 2 or even to No. 4, but I am not bothered because if God wants me to win, I will win,” Duterte told the Inquirer Monday.

“Let them be front-runners now. Let the Filipino people consider the three first and I could be at the last spot. But my message is I will be the last card of the Filipino people to confront the real problem of criminality and peace and order and corruption,” he said.

The latest SWS survey showed Duterte with 24 percent, tied with Sen. Grace Poe in the second spot. Vice President Binay was No. 1 with 29 percent.

“I am the only candidate who can confidently talk about everything. Like corruption, peace and order and criminality,” said the Davao City mayor.

For the first time, Duterte commented on corruption issues hounding Binay.

“I am also the only candidate who could confidently speak on corruption, unlike Binay who is stymied by allegations of corruption,” Duterte said.

“The candidacy of Mar Roxas could be best described as you cannot flog a dead horse,” he said.

“Mar cannot also honestly say he is not involved in any corruption despite his shadowing the daang matuwid (straight path governance),” Duterte said.

As for Poe, Duterte said she had all the advantage, because everyone was praying for her.

Duterte, however, hit Poe on her citizenship issue.

“I cannot say anything against her except the issue of citizenship, but she has the advantage of her name. You and I and everyone else pray for her, especially if you say the rosary and recite ‘Hail Mary full of grace.’ I really hope I also have Santo Rodrigo,” the mayor said.