Same Old, Same Old: Duterte Repeats Threat/Promise to Resign

 

HE TALKED about it again!

On August 14, 2018, speaking to businessmen in Malacañang, President Rodrigo Duterte broke off from his prepared text to say that he was thinking of resigning–but not without conditions.

He recalled telling the military and the police that “I am thinking of stepping down because I’m tired.” But he said he would do so only if he’s replaced by either a military junta, by Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., or by Sen. Chiz Escudero.

A lawyer who’s supposed to know the law, Mr. Duterte was in effect telling the police and military that his stepping down is premised on violating the Constitution, which provides for the vice president’s succeeding the president  in case of his or her death, permanent disability, removal from office, or resignation.

A Well-Worn Tune

In the two years of his presidency, Mr. Duterte has repeatedly threatened/promised to resign. CMFR looked into past media reports on the subject and found the following:

February 2016: A Three to Six-Month Deadline to End the Drug Problem

• “If elected president, give me about three to six months, I will get rid of corruption, drugs and criminality…If I fail in three months, better leave the country or I will step down…”(“Duterte vows to end criminality in 3 months”)

July 2016: If PH Government Becomes Federal

• “If they can shorten the proceedings, you have a Constitution that is federal in two or three years, then you have to elect a president. Of course, that would automatically legally [mean] hindi na ako p’wede (I will have to be replaced), so I will offer to resign.”(“Duterte: I’ll offer to resign once PH becomes federal”)

August 2017: If His Children Are Involved in Corruption

• “Corruption is really one I do not like. Pati ‘yung anak ko ngayon, sinasali diyan sa Customs (Even my son is being dragged into the scandal involving Customs). I told you before and I’m telling you now again, if any of my children is involved in corruption, I will immediately resign. That, you have my word.” (“Duterte repeats: I will resign if any of my children are corrupt”)

November 2017: Losing the Drug war? / If Constitution becomes ‘inclusive’

• “If I cannot control drugs, then maybe it is time for me to think about resignation.” (“Duterte considering resignation if ‘he cannot control drugs’”)
• “Let’s have a Constitution nakasali lahat, inclusive. Then when it is done, this year—or I will resign at the end of the year, it would be fitting.” (“Duterte: I’ll resign when Constitution is ‘crafted to improve everything”)

June 2018: If Enough Women Say So, After the Viral Kiss with an OFW

• “If there are enough women to … Well I think if all women here would sign a petition for me to resign, I will resign.” (“Philippines’ Duterte says will quit of enough women protest his kiss”)

July 2018: If God exists

• “And if there is anyone of you there, the noisy ones, who would say that you have been to heaven, and talked to God and saw him personally and that he exists, the God that is yours. And if that is true, I will step down from the Presidency tonight.” (“Duterte: If you can prove your God exists, I’ll resign”)

The president, however, has not made good on any of these threats/promises.  Recall that he spent almost ten months before he finally began officially campaigning,  saying that he was not running and was ready to retire, but that he could change his mind. (See: “In Context: Duterte’s ‘Last Minute Strategy’”)

Should the media continue report on the talks of resignation or any rambling thought related to his supposed desire to step down?

There is only so much of what the president actually says that should be covered as news. Perhaps, it is time for the media to treat his declarations on resigning as non-news. If they do report them, they should at least accompany the text with a list of the other times he said pretty much the same thing.