Press Release
August 22, 2018

Duterte's empty resignation threat another diversionary scheme - De Lima

Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has called Mr. Duterte's oft-repeated resignation threats as a mere diversionary tactic meant to cover up for the lack of governance, incompetence and corruption that hounds his administration.

De Lima, a known human rights defender, said the infamous "I-want-to-resign" antics of Duterte are more than ravings of a madman.

"Gustong pagtakpan ni Duterte ang mga tunay na isyu gaya ng katiwalian at pag-abuso niya at ng kanyang mga kasama. Pansinin na lang natin ang nadiskubre lang na P6.8 bilyong halaga ng shabu na nakapuslit sa bansa. Patunay ito ng kapalpakan ng sinasabing kampanya ni Duterte laban sa korapsyon at kontra droga," she said in her recent Dispatch from Crame No. 364.

Based on media reports, Duterte recently said he is ready to step down from presidency before his term ends in 2022 because he has grown exhausted of fighting illegal drugs and corruption in government.

Duterte said he is willing to resign as President if the likes of Bongbong Marcos Jr. and Sen. Francis Escudero would be his successor.

Prior to Duterte's resignation threat, De Lima recalled that Duterte also vowed at the beginning of his term in 2016 that he would resign if he could not rid the country of drugs and criminality after three to six months.

A year and some months after, however, Duterte admitted that "drugs will not be solved at the end of my term," adding that the problem might even worsen instead of being eradicated.

Last June, De Lima continued, Duterte also threatened to leave his post if women would protest his controversial kiss involving an overseas Filipino worker in South Korea.

As if these were not enough, she recalled that Duterte has also vowed to step down from presidency last July if anyone who has gone to see God and have a "selfie" with Him would come back and prove the existence of God.

De Lima said the words of Duterte, who is notorious for breaking his promises, are not anymore reliable.

"Sa kabila ng mga banta at pangako ni Duterte, sumisigaw ang katotohanan: lumalala ang kriminalidad at kalakalan ng droga, lumulubha ang korapsyon sa gobyerno, at gumagrabe pa ang kanyang kamanyakan at kabastusan," she said.

"Sino pa nga ba ang naniniwala kay Duterte? At may kapani-paniwala pa nga ba sa mga sinasabi at ikinikilos nya?" she added.

The Senator from Bicol said that instead of taking Duterte's empty resignation threats seriously, the Filipino people should exert concerted efforts in revealing Duterte's ultimate goal: "ang manatili sa kapangyarihan gamit ang kasinungalingan, karahasan at panlilinlang."

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