Duterte to Cabinet members: We all retire together

Three days before taking his oath as the Philippines’ 16th Chief Executive, President-elect Rodrigo Duterte said Monday that he would not want his Cabinet members running for public post after his administration.

During his last speech as Mayor of Davao City, Duterte stressed that he will not allow his incoming Cabinet members to run for public office after serving his administration.

“Sabi ko sa mga Cabinet members: Do not launch a campaign here in the office. If you have plans to whatever, do not do it here in my Cabinet,” he said.

He explained that he would not want his Cabinet members to use the resources of the government to build a name for themselves.

“Ayoko ‘yung nakaupo dito na magkandidato kasi you will just use the public funds, the time and the effort of the government just to campaign to win,” he said.

He added: “Pare-pareho naman ang edad natin, we retire all together. Binigay ito ng Diyos, tama na.”

No to corruption

Duterte also assured the public that there will be no corruption in his administration. He said he would personally push the corrupt official to quit.

“There will be no corruption. If you are a Cabinet secretary and you are corrupt, I will just whisper, ‘Please go.’” he said

Duterte’s pronouncement on corruption has been the highlight of his campaign before the May 9 presidential elections. He said he would suppress crime and corruption within his first six months as President. 

“It has to stop. I am hell-bent in stopping corruption. Ayaw ko talaga. Yan ang tandaan ninyo kasi you’ll never get any help from me kung may kaso kayo ganun,” he said. — Kiersnerr Gerwin Tacadena/RSJ, GMA News