Duterte slams critics: I might run for president because of people like you

Former Human Rights Commissioner Etta Rosales, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS

DAVAO CITY – Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said he now toys with the idea of running for president in 2016 because of the criticisms against him, particularly from former Human Rights Commissioner Etta Rosales and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

“This is the first time that I am mentioning the possibility of being the president. This time, well, I am thinking about it, really,” Duterte told reporters here.

He admitted that what made him think about giving it a shot were the recent criticisms that Rosales and de Lima hurled against him.

De Lima had said she believed Duterte should be held criminally liable for the summary executions that took place here since 1988 after he “admitted” his links with the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS).

READ: De Lima: Duterte must be held criminally liable for ties with Davao Death Squad

Duterte had regarded this as a form of criticism, especially when de Lima announced that the National Bureau of Investigation has started building up a case against the DDS.

“Killing is killing, no matter what; and therefore, if ina-admit niya na he is responsible for these killings, then he should be held criminally liable,” she said.

Rosales on the other hand warned voters against supporting Duterte because “he’s gonna bring us back to martial law days.”

“Do we want that?” she asked in a televised interview.

Rosales even went on to say that if Duterte did not believe in democracy and justice and intend to do extra-judicial killings, then he should expect her to campaign against him in 2016.

“You answer me that. If you do not believe, and you intend to do with your extra-judicial killings, then I think we should campaign against you,” Rosales said.

But Duterte said statements like these only made him think more about running.

READ: Duterte ‘eyes’ presidency in 2016 to save PH from ‘disaster’

“I’m thinking about it already, that if there are 10 or 1000 people like de Lima and Etta Rosales campaigning for me, I’d file my candidacy and I’ll win. I’d win because Etta Rosales and de Lima (and the people like them) will provide the edge,” he said.

“Then let me also have a taste of how you can handle people when you are in power not to harass but legally,” he added.

Duterte also said he will not stop exposing de Lima and Rosales.

He said the Justice secretary could not even put things in order as shown by the situation at Bilibid while Rosales could not account for her pork barrel when she was a member a of Congress.

Duterte also said Rosales has a direct link with pork barrel scam queen Janet Lim Napoles “kasi nandoon ang panglan mo sa listahan (because your name is on the list).”

But in the end, he said he was praying for “enlightenment.”

READ: Duterte on 2016 presidential bid: I’m waiting for ‘divine signal’

“I’ve always said that God will somehow enlighten me. I’ve been asking, I’ve been praying: ‘God, I do not like it. I do not need it. Pag ginusto mo (If it’s Your will), you give me a cause to do it,” Duterte said.

Duterte asked his supporters to wait for his decision.

Even as he would still not formally announce he was running, a 34-second ad that Duterte earlier labeled as an old material, had started showing on prime time television on Friday evening, barely a day after it was leaked on social media. Allan Nawal

READ: ‘Tapang at malasakit’: Duterte’s alleged campaign pitch circulating in social media