President Rodrigo Duterte in his weekly public address on Monday revealed he had offered to resign as president in frustration at the “endless” corruption he has seen in years of being a public servant.
“Ewan ko kung sabihin ko ito sa inyo. I offered to resign as President. Pinatawag ko ‘yung lahat ng [tao ko], sabi ko na I have [to resign] kasi nagsasawa na ako,” he said.
In his days as prosecutor, mayor and now president, Duterte said he encountered corruption at all levels that he had to admit it couldn’t be solved.
“In my years of government, talagang wala nang katapusan itong corruption. Mahirap talaga pigilin. Maski ‘yang mga pastillas, hanggang ngayon,” he lamented.
“Even with the investigation or the clamor for government to shake the tree, wala. Hanggang ngayon, it’s being committed every day. Now, can you stop it? You cannot. There is no way,” he continued.
Duterte mentioned the Land Registration Authority as among the “notorious” government agencies wherein corruption is present up to the provincial level.
He also expressed willingness to discuss with Congress ways to solve the country’s corruption issues.
“I appeal again to Congress…Congress might want to enact a legislation. You know, it has not been done for the for the Philippines but I want Congress to know that I’m ready to appear there and discuss with them, but they should allow me to talk first then discuss how we can cut corruption. Simplify the Ease of Doing Business. I have some recommendation, almost radical,” he said. John Ezekiel J. Hirro