Opposition solons on Duterte 'stepping down': May naniniwala pa ba sa kaniya?

Opposition lawmakers from the House of Representatives seem unconvinced that President Rodrigo Duterte will be true to his remark that he will step down from his post due to fatigue in efforts to curb corruption.

In a press conference, Caloocan Representative Edgar Erice said he does not believe Duterte is serious about his remark.

"Maraming beses niya na pong sinabi na magreresign siya pero palagay ko po it’s just one way of showing his disgust doon sa mga naipangako niya na hindi natutupad hanggang sa ngayon, yung war on drugs saka yung curbing corruption," he said.

In a speech in Malacañang, Duterte recalled telling military and police officials during the joint command conference on August 7 that he is planning to step down.

"'Guys, I want you to know that I am thinking of stepping down because I'm tired. While I am not angry against anybody, my chase against graft and corruption seems to be endless. It has contaminated almost all government departments and offices,'" he said.

"Graft is so embedded. It is endemic and it is always a part of the territory of a transaction especially by government," he added.

But ACT Teachers party-list Representative Antonio Tinio wondered if anyone would still believe the President when making such remarks.

"May naniniwala pa ba sa kanya? Hindi niya kailanman gagawin yun," he said.

Tinio noted that Duterte would lose his presidential immunity from suit the moment he steps down from his post.

"Hindi niya matatakasan ang kanyang pananagutan sa libo-libong pinatokhang niya na mga maralita so that will never happen," he said.

For his part, Ifugao Representative believes that Duterte's statement is not so much about stepping down from his post, but his plan other than Vice President Leni Robredo to succeed him.

"Parang pinahayag na rin nya na kung maaari lang sa kanya, hindi susundin yung constitutional process dahil kung maaari, military or ang PNP ang pipili," he said.

"Yun ang sigurong mas bigyan natin ng pansin kaysa yung mga pahayag na magre-resign," he added.

Marikina City Representative Miro Quimbo said the President cannot skirt the Constitution on the issue as regards who will succeed him.

"Hindi naman ito kaharian na pwede mong ituro kung sino ang susunod sayo. Ang susunod sayo ay ang nakasaad sa batas at kailangan nating sundin yun. Oras na hindi natin sinunod yun lahat ng ipinaglaban natin sa nakaraan ay nababalewala," he said.

Quimbo pointed out that Duterte has a history of making such statements that he would be resigning from his post, even as he was still Davao City mayor.

"Naging istilo na rin niya yan kahit noong nasa Davao na kunwari magbibitaw para makita kung sino yung magiging takam sa poder, para sino yung mga gustong palitan siya. So we see it is not a deviation from his past behavior," he said.

"Obviously hindi siya seryoso doon sa kanyang sinasabi," he added.

Duterte previously said he would step down as early as next year once the proposed federal charter is ratified by the public. —JST, GMA News