Duterte spurns Rolex watch given as gift for coming birthday

President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday said that he was given a Rolex watch for his coming birthday on March 28 but added that he had refused to accept the expensive watch.

“My birthday is coming up. Do not give me the gifts. Somebody gave me a Rolex watch, gold, in advance. I returned it. He does not want to accept it,” he said at the 31st Biennial Convention of Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) in Pasay City.

Since the giver did not take it back, Duterte said he was planning to sell it at a lower price.

“Well, I will sell it again to the—at a discount. Why should I be—Rolex, now who would believe me if I talk about corruption then I wear a Rolex?" Duterte said.

"You think I can afford a Rolex? That’s why I’ve been complaining also of my salary. That is really what happens if you have two wives,” he added.

“Eh you have to support the children. Never mind the wives. But children are very important. You are the one responsible for—so ‘yan ang mensahe ko,” he added.

Duterte is turning 72 on March 28.

Duterte in December lectured Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol that he could have purchased rice for the people using the Rolex watch he received as Christmas gift, instead of just returning it.

"Kaya si Piñol nagyayabang na at bakit naman niya isauli ang Rolex?" Duterte said in Legaspi City then.

"Sabihin mo kay Piñol, ilang Rolex ba ang ... how about the others? Siguro mga coming Christmas, isauli ninyo lahat iyan? Ibigay n'yo sa akin ipagbili ko ibili ko ng bigas, ipakain ko sa mga tao," he added.

Duterte added that during his time as a mayor of Davao City, he would urge gifters to give him rice or viands and send them to some communities.

"Pero ako sa Davao, every Christmas, sasabihin ko na alam ko madaming magbigay, mayor eh. Hindi mo talaga maiwasan ‘yan. Sabi ko, 'Huwag na kayong magbigay sa akin. Bigyan n'yo ‘ko ng bigas. Kung gusto ninyo magbigay sa akin, bigas.' O pagkatapos niyan, ‘O, sige ipadala mo doon sa ano.’ ‘Yan, ... Bigas o ulam," he said. —NB, GMA News