Nation’s problems make me want to hang myself – Duterte

A day after admitting that he regretted running for the country’s highest post in 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said the nation’s problems made him want to hang himself.

“Honestly, if you were the president of a nation such as this, you would be tempted to hang yourself because there are so many problems,” Duterte, who was speaking before land reform beneficiaries in General Santos City, said in his native Cebuano.

Moments earlier, the president asked his security detail to remove the bullet-proof barrier that was installed on the podium to protect him.

He explained that he had the barrier removed because he had done nothing wrong to the nation for him to be assassinated.

“Why would you shoot me when I did nothing wrong to you? Just choose anyone from them here. They all came from the military. They are all generals,” he said, referring to the former military men who were now civilian officials in his government.

“But don’t shoot us politicians because we are just serving you.”

A day earlier, Duterte said he regretted his decision to run for president as he again vented his frustration with government corruption.

He then discouraged his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, from joining the presidential race because she would be likely be “disrespected” by critics. — DVM, GMA News