Duterte: No comment on anti-Leni rally

President Rodrigo Duterte distanced himself from the rally staged by his supporters on Sunday calling for the ouster of Vice President Leni Robredo.

During his visit at Camp Evangelista Station Hospital in Cagayan de Oro City on Sunday afternoon, Duterte was asked by GMA News reporter Cedric Castillo if he supports the rally, dubbed "Palit Bise."

The President said, "No," reiterating he is "beyond" politics.

"Look, ganito 'yan, eh. I am not a politician anymore. I'm beyond that. In the first place, why should I waste my time about politics. I am no longer eligible for any public office after this," he said.

"Second is, I do not hunger for popularity anymore. I do not need it... And ito namang mga haka-haka na ma-impeach ako o ma-kudeta ako, you know everything is nasa destiny ko," he added.

The President then went on to talk about his win in the May polls, which he credited to his "five messages," including his campaign against corruption, illegal drugs, and criminality.

After this, Castillo asked Duterte what his message is to supporters who trooped to the anti-Robredo rally.

At this point, the President asked: "Ano 'yan? 'Di ko kasi naintindihan kung ano 'yan. Ano 'yan? Laban sa akin?"

When Castillo pointed out that it was against the Vice President, Duterte replied: "Ayoko ko mag-comment diyan, mahirap 'yan."

The "Palit Bise" rally was staged amid talks of impeachment against Robredo, who has been heavily criticized for her video message at a side session organized in line with the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs annual meeting.

Raising irregularities of the drug war in the said video, the Vice President has since been accused of involvement not just in the impeachment complaint filed against Duterte, but in a destabilization plot against the administration as a whole.

The President himself initially alleged that Robredo was in a hurry to claim the presidency.

However, he eventually called on those moving to impeach Robredo to stop and "lay off."

The two officials were last seen together at the graduation rites of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) class of 2017.

Here, Duterte offered to host dinner for the Vice President and her three daughters. No date has been set yet, but Robredo said she will go. — BM, GMA News