Duterte: ‘I’m thinking of stepping down’

Updated 7 p.m.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said he was thinking of stepping down from power.

In a speech at Malacañang, Duterte admitted that he told the military and the police during a command conference that he was growing tired of chasing corrupt government workers.

“Sinabi ko sa mga sundalo at sa mga pulis: Guys, I want you to know that I am thinking of stepping down because I’m tired,” Duterte said. “I am not angry [with] anybody. My chase against graft and corruption seems to be endless, and it has contaminated almost all government departments and offices.”

On Monday, President Duterte relieved 20 military officials, including top officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), over alleged corruption activities such as anomalous and ghost projects at the V. Luna Medical Center in Quezon City.

READ: Duterte fires 20 military officials over corruption

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte has ordered the relief of the officials after “it was brought to the President’s attention that alleged corruption activities have been  taking place at the V. Luna Medical Center.”

The President last week fired all board members of Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF) over a “grossly disadvantageous” 70-year property lease contract.

READ: Duterte fires all Nayong Pilipino officials  

The Chief Executive cited the case of Nayong Pilipino leased government property for a [ridiculously] long period of time, 70 years, beyond the lifetime of anyone, and he considered this as a contract which was grossly disadvantageous to the government.

However, this is not the first time that Duterte declared that he would step down from his position.

He earlier promised to resign from office if he fails to end drugs and criminality in three to six months. With background reports from Nestor Corrales /atm/ac