Duterte on finishing the presidency: Marunong ang Diyos

President Rodrigo Duterte said Friday he must have made a good impression on God that allowed him to ride through the six years of his presidency.

The President made such self-reflection during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Philippine Sports Training Center (PSTC) in Bagac, Bataan and with less than two weeks before his term as chief executive ends.

"I walk with a limp, due to small fractures from riding motorcycle. Marunong ang Diyos, binigay sa akin ang presidency, katandaan ko [na]...last year, naglabasan na lahat ng sakit. Ang term ko matatapos na rin kaya timing lang, binigay ng Panginoong Diyos," Duterte said.

(God is good, he gave me the presidency when I was already old. Last year, may ailments started to show up, and my term is about to end. It was good timing, God really gave me the opportunity.)

"Ewan ko kung anong nagawa ko sa buhay na ito. Maybe I have done something good, na impress ko si Jesus," Duterte added.

(I don't know what I really did in this life to be given this chance. Maybe I did something that impressed Jesus.)

In one of his earlier speeches, Duterte has cursed God and called Him stupid. 

Faithful to duty

Duterte said that as President, he was faithful to his job and that his salary allowed him to provide enough for his two families.

"Sweldo ko, P196,000. Hatiin ko pa iyan sa dalawang pamilya. Wala na akong bisyo, di na ako umiinom. Sa kama na lang ako," Duterte said.

(My salary is just enough for my two families. I don't do vices, I don't drink. I just stay in bed.)

The President then repeated his previous statement that he befriended communists to get votes, but he ultimately went after them as part of his duty to protect the country. 

"Pulitiko ka eh, boto lang 'yan eh. The police and military should give a bigger window to politicians...aakyat ng bundok, magbabayad...boto eh. But when I became President, sinabi ko, tapos na ang pagkakaibigan natin," Duterte said.

(You are a politician. We climb the mountains for votes. But our friendship ended when I became President.)

"Ako, naging Presidente, I swore to defend the territory of the Republic of the Philippines. Trabaho sagrado 'yan. Kaaway na tayo. There is a time to be a friend, time to be enemies, time for killing, time to be at peace, time to be a shining star in the sky," he added.

(My sacred duty is to defend the territory of the Republic of the Philippines. So, communists are my enemies.)

Duterte then said that come June 30, his days as the star of the show is over.

"After June 30, I will not be a shining star anymore. I will be an ordinary citizen...ganoon na lang kaliit (I would be hardly noticed)," he added.