By Genalyn Kabiling
President Duterte has declared that Vice President Leni Robredo cannot become the country’s president due to incompetence.
Vice President Leni Robredo and President Rodrigo Duterte (Photo by OVP / MANILA BULLETIN)
The President issued the scathing comment about Robredo’s ability after she declared she was willing to unite and lead the opposition groups in the country.
“I don't think she can ever be ready to govern a country. Reason? Incompetence," Duterte said during a press conference in Clark, Pampanga.
"She's not capable of running a country like this, Philippines," he added.
The President also made clear that he would not step down early amid federalism moves just to let Robredo succeed him.
Duterte insisted that the transition leader who will oversee the country’s shift to federal government must be elected by the people, and not through succession.
"I will not resign because it will make her president. My resignation is addressed to the people para makapili sila ng gusto nila ,” he said.
The President even invited Robredo to cut short their six-year terms to pave the way for the election of new transition leaders.
"I will invite them, her to resign with me, or not really to resign but to agree to being, hindi naman dismiss, but to cease being president and vice president," he said.
The President earlier asked the consultative commission to include a provision in the draft federal constitution that would enable him to step down and call for an election of a transition leader. He claimed that he was tired and prefers a younger replacement to take over.
The commission chaired by former Chief Justice Reynato Puno earlier proposed that the President would lead a federal transition commission until the election of the new leaders in 2022. The commission has reportedly revised the provision, this time calling for the election of a transitory president and vice president.
In his remarks Tuesday, the President insisted that he was willing to step down in 2019, saying he has a “killing job.”
"I would like to cease being President and somebody else take over. If they can call a presidential election, madali lang 'yan. It's a one-day affair. One ballot, one name," he said.
"It cannot be a succession because I don't have any agenda except that I would like the Filipino to choose a new leader lalo na it is a new structure....they might want to get an experienced official who would have competence and enterprise to form a government structure whatever federal type of government," he said.
Duterte, however, said his proposal to declare the Office of the President vacant and call for new election of transition leader was a mere suggestion to the lawmakers. He said it was still up to Congress to decide on the matter.
"They are free to accept it or not. Kung ayaw nila, kung ayaw ng tao, o di..because I am elected to serve until 2022, that will be the election year," he said.