While staff fears he'd swear on live TV, Duterte claims he's now quite behaved

With just a few weeks before his term ends on June 30, President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday indicated he was now well-behaved compared to when he was new on the job as Chief Executive.

“Nakalagay dito, Mr. President, we are live on television. Takot sila mag mura ako,” Duterte said before the Puregold Sari-Sari Store Negosyo Convention 2022.

(It was indicated here, Mr. President, we are live on television. They are afraid that I might curse.)

“I assure you I am quite behaved nowadays,” he added.

Duterte has been known to use expletives in his speeches. Among those who have been at the receiving end of his ear words were former US President Barrack Obama, the European Union, and even the Pope.

On Wednesday, Duterte thanked those whom he said believed and supported him.

“To those who believe in me and for I am on my tailend sa presidency ko. Yung tumulong sa akin, sumuporta all these years at yung umintindi ng mga hangarin ko sa ating bayan and brought me sa pagkapresidente ko  for six years I would like to express my gratitude sa inyo at maraming salamat po,” he said.

(Those who helped me, supported me all these years and those who understood my aspirations for our town and brought me to my presidency)

He also thanked Puregold for assisting the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) which he identified as vulnerable to “financial crisis, disasters, and forced changes in the business movement” amid COVID-19 pandemic.

“Let me thus express my immense gratitude to Puregold not only for conducting this event but for making the company's fundamental purpose to assist more businesses the sari-sari stores,” he said.

Duterte's term ends on June 30, 2022. -NB, GMA News