Duterte behind bulletproof glass: Someone wants me killed

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday spoke behind a bullet-proof glass when he addressed the ruling PDP-Laban's campaign rally in Malabon.

At one point in his speech, Duterte said someone wanted him dead as he inspected the protective panel.

Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte nagsasalita sa podium na may bullet proof glass, Potrero Malabon.@dzbb pic.twitter.com/kizjUVtkWO

— Tuesday Niu (@mamutuesday) April 2, 2019

"May gusto mang pumatay sa akin. Pero palagay ko pa naman ang buhay ay swerte-swerte lang. Kung panahon ko na talaga, wala na akong magawa," Duterte said.

"Tingnan ko lang kung gaano kakapal ‘to. Mukha hong hindi matablan ito ng bala, baka pintik siguro kaya," he added.

Duterte said he had no "control" over the security arrangements prepared by the Presidential Security Group (PSG).

"Alam mo ha itong picture frame na ito ha iyon ang hindi ko na kontrolado. Sumama man ang loob ko, magalit ako, hindi ko mautusan ang security setup ng PSG, Presidential Guards, kasi sila talaga ang masunod," Duterte said.

"Noong bago pa ako, I kind of insisted na ‘yung akin ang masunod kasi ang mga tao po ay hindi na nakakapaglapit sa akin. Eh, sanay na ako ‘yung mayor tuloy-tuloy ako, ine-embrace ko sila. Lalo na kung maraming babae, talagang natatagalan ako," he added.

He recalled that when he assumed the presidency in 2016, the PSG asked him to keep a safe distance from the crowd.

"Pagka-presidente ko iba ang istilo at gusto nila distansiya at hindi makadikit," he said.

Duterte had earlier said that ensuring his safety would be tantamount to "protecting the nation."

"When you protect me and you believe in my advocacy you are protecting the nation, not me. My life is just like an ordinary Filipino. If it's my time today, tonight, tomorrow so be it," Duterte told the PSG in a speech at the Malacañang Park on May 30 last year.  —NB, GMA News