DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 07 January) — Former President Rodrigo R. Duterte said the performance of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in his first 18 months in office is “okay,” he is “comfortable” with him as President and sees no need to replace him.
Duterte told reporters on Saturday that he has not observed any “major errors” in the current administration, noting that Marcos Jr. is “quite careful.”
He said that the issues on corruption and abuses directed at the President are mere allegations, similar to what the past administrations have also faced.
“I sm comfortable with Marcos. Why should I replace him,” former President Rodrigo Duterte said at the press conference Saturday night, 06 January 2024 at the Grand Men Sent Hotel in Davao City. MindaNews photo by MANMAN DEJETO
“In a sense na wala koy nakit-an nga major errors ba, apil na corruption, wala man (I have not seen any major errors, including corruption, nothing). Apparently, Marcos is treading on a straight path,” he said.
Duterte added that he cannot really say that there is a need for any change in the way the country is being run by the Marcos Jr. administration.
“I do not have contacts anymore since I retired. I do not bother to ask questions so what I see is what I get karong panahona (these days),” he said.
He claimed he is comfortable with Marcos Jr. as President and denied meeting with police and military officials to initiate a destabilization plot against the current administration to put his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, in the presidency.
“It’s all in the mind. Why would I bother to tinker with these things? Why did I not do that when I was at the height of my presidency? For what purpose? To what? To place somebody else in place of Marcos? I am comfortable with Marcos. Why should I replace him? And who am I to replace him at this time of my life?” he said.
Duterte added that he is content with “what I have achieved for myself, for my family, and for my country.”
On the plan of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to probe into the controversial anti-illegal drug campaign of the previous administration, Duterte said that Marcos Jr. has nothing to do with it.
“Marcos has nothing to do with the ICC. It is the f***ing ICC interfering in our private affairs, in a sense that it intrudes into the sovereignty of the other nations. I’m not in any way dragging him into the picture,” he said.
Vice Presidential bet Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and then Presidential bet Rodrigo Duterte shared the same stage in Alabel, Sarangani on November 27, 2015, as guests in the province’s foundation day. MindaNews file photo by TOTO LOZANO
During his time as President, Duterte said he did what he needed to do for the country to keep the children safe.
“Let me just address the Filipino people. If there is anything that I did, it was because I did it for my country. I did that for your children,” he said.
He said he is not bothered whether the ICC pursues investigating the alleged extra-judicial killings.
“As a matter of fact, I don’t really care… I’m too old to worry about these things. I am retired. Tingnan ko lang what they can come up with then sagutin ko sila (I will just see what they can come up with, and then I will answer them),” he said. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)
