DESPITE supposed moves to oust him in October, President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, October 4, continued to express aversion to the constitutionally mandated succession policy and hinted that he would rather have a military junta take over the government than Vice President Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo.
Duterte said that while he was ready to vacate his post, he could not allow Robredo to replace him. He described Robredo as "very good" and "gentle" but she has "poor" strategies.
"Huwag ninyo akong bigyan na ano -- kasi talagang aalis ako (Do not give me the --- I will really step down). The one [whom] you're trying to get rid of really wants to go out if you want to give me a reason," the President said in a speech delivered before the Philippine Military Academy alumni.
"I will not resign to give it to... I do not mean to offend the lady. She's very good. She's gentle. Pero mahina talaga si Leni. Walang... Mali-mali ang... Medyo mahina, mahina ang -- hindi 'yung utak, pumasa ng bar e -- mahina sa diskarte," he added.
(I will not resign to give it to... I do not mean to offend the lady. She's very good. She's gentle. But Leni, she has no ... She's wrong when it comes to... She somehow has poor -- not poor brain function because she passed the bar -- poor strategies.)
He also called on the state forces not to stage a coup d' etat because he was willing to step down upon their recommendation.
"Do not create a spectacle because you look stupid to me na (that) you want to fight me," he said.
"All you have to do is to come here, the major commands. If you feel like having coffee with me then tell me, I will go down. Then I would say, I will announce, 'I am, was deposed a moment ago by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the police. They are now the ruling junta of the Philippines.' I am going to personally swear them to office,'" Duterte added.
This was not the first time Duterte expressed doubt over Robredo's ability to lead the country.
In July, the President said Robredo was "incompetent" to take his place, should he decide to step down from office.
Duterte's latest statement came following his earlier revelation that Robredo's political party, the former ruling LIberal Party, was colluding with the communist group to unseat him.
Robredo and the communists denied the supposed connivance.
The Duterte administration, however, maintained that there was a unified effort from the communist rebels and members of the opposition to topple the government by October.
On September 26, the President expressed dismay over some soldiers who are allegedly also part of the ouster plot. (SunStar Philippines)