”
“This kind of decision is all God’s will. I will leave it to destiny, it’s up to God where he will put me,” he said.
“I tried to say no because I’m not really interested [to run in the presidential race]. But the more I listen to the pain and sufferings of the people, well I need a sign from God,” Duterte added.
Duterte was in this city on Thursday for a forum to promote federalism as a form of government.
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte addresses the crowd in Butuan City during the first leg of his “listening tour” on Thursday, 22 January 2015. MindaNews photo by Erwin Mascarinas
Should he become president, he said he would “leave the county with a legacy of a federal form of government.”
Duterte told the crowd he will go around the country to listen to the voices of the people to help him decide whether to bat for the presidency.
“What I’m sharing with you is my vision for the country. I’m not sharing with you my ambition. But sometimes, it’s just hard to control since a lot had been asking and pushing [me to run]. I’m listening and I will go around the country for a listening tour,” he said.[]
“If ever I will become the president, I will not sit there without any changes. The first task is to put an end to corruption. I will ask them [corrupt officials] to resign from the government. If they won’t resign, then I will have them arrested. If you don’t trust me as a dictator in the presidency, then that’s your problem,” he said.
Former North Cotabato governor Manny Pinol, who was with Duterte, said the event was the first of their countrywide tour to promote a federal form of government and to listen to the people.[]
