President Duterte will proudly turn over his seat in Malacañang to his successor, saying he has done his best to serve the Filipino people.
Duterte made the statement as he joined other world leaders in the Summit for Democracy on Friday, December 10, Manila time. The summit, attended by close to 100 countries, was convened by US President Joseph Biden.
In his intervention, the President said that while Filipinos are free, the country's democracy continues to be a work in progress but the gains of his administration's hard work will continue.
"Philippine democracy is indeed a work in progress. But the Filipino is free. The Philippines is free," he said.
"I step down in June 2022. The work of our imperfect democracy will certainly continue," he added.
He assured that there will be honest elections on May 9, 2022, and that he will proudly turn over the presidency to his successor, knowing that he did his best for the country.
"My administration will ensure an honest, peaceful, credible, and free elections in May," he said.
"It will be my highest honor to turn over the reins of power to my successor knowing that in the exercise of my mandate I did my best to serve the Filipino nation," he added.
With his remaining months as president, Duterte, who is eyeing a Senate seat in 2022, said he will make sure that no Filipino will be left behind, especially in the recovery from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
"We have made significant headways especially in economic expansion but COVID-19 struck and reversed many of our hard-earned gains," he said.
"In the remaining months of my term, we will forge ahead with reforms ensuring that no one is left behind as my country recovers from the pandemic," he added.
The President looked back at the time when he pledged meaningful change and bared his aspiration for a government that works for the Filipino people, especially the poor and the marginalized.
"Hard but necessary reforms needed to be made, deep wounds of divisions needed to be healed, and stark inequalities needed to be redressed. All difficult undertakings but we did what we could and should," he said.
"My government worked to give the Filipino people the basic means to lead a life of dignity. This entails creating jobs, safeguarding peace and security, and instituting social safety nets," he added.
One of the changes Duterte wished to make in the country was to transform the Philippines into a federal government but finally accepted that this will no longer happen.
"My government also sought to broaden democratic participation through federalism but my constitutional project did not get Congress support. So be it. I respect the separation of powers vital for democracy," he said.