'You can't bring me down,' says Duterte amid supposed ouster, assassination plot

TARLAC -- On the eve of the supposedly clandestine plot to assassinate and unseat him, President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, September 20, remained unperturbed, as he stressed that his political rivals cannot bring him down.

Speaking to the military, Duterte was confident that the Philippine troops would be on his side, despite the alleged plan of his critics to topple his government.

"So I guarantee them that for as long as I have my Armed Forces na (who are) loyal to the Constitution and to the flag only, ako, isa lang akong beneficiaries diyan (I will be one of those who will benefit there)," Duterte said during the 12th activation anniversary of the Mechanized Infantry Division.

"You remain loyal to the flag, to the Constitution. Hindi nila tayo matutumba (they cannot bring us down), I guarantee you," he added.

On September 11, Duterte revealed that he had been told that there were plans to remove him from office and to kill him as well.

The President suspected that the assassination and ouster plots might happen on Thursday, September 21, exactly the day when the country commemorates the 46th anniversary celebration of martial law regime under the leadership of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Prior to this, Duterte accused the communists, the opposition Liberal Party, and Magdalo group led by his fierce critic Senator Antonio Trillanes IV as being behind the ouster moves.

Earlier Thursday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. expressed confidence that the moves to remove Duterte from office would not prosper.

"It's not anything that the state cannot deal with. Dream on to those who want to remove the President," he said.

But for Duterte, he reassured that he would not cling to power.

The President also vowed to step down from office, if the Filipino people are no longer happy with his performance.

"Look, I do not ingratiate myself to you. I was elected by the people. You have your mandate. I have my work definition. Trabaho lang ako (I just do my job)," the Chief Executive said.

"If the time comes I am no longer relevant, tomorrow will take care of itself. Kung ayaw na ng Pilipino o gusto ako ng Pilipinas (If the Filipinos no longer want me or the Philippines wants me), I said, let it be tomorrow and it will correct itself," he added. (SunStar Philippines)

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