President Duterte is wishing the opposition camp will win in next year's presidential elections supposedly to get a taste how difficult the presidency is.

The President said he would rather see either Senator Leila de Lima or former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV run and triumph in the polls rather than his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio endure the constant criticisms and other hardships of such thankless job.

Duterte earlier discouraged his daughter from seeking the presidency, saying it was no job for a woman. He previously complained about the difficulties of being the country's leader, from enduring low pay, long working hours to insults and attacks hurled by critics regardless of accomplishments.

"I would rather that ibigay ang gobyerno sa kanila (I would rather give the government to them) Let them win," Duterte said during a televised address Monday, July 12, about Trillanes and De Lima.

"I wish them luck and even wish them win kung manalo sila para kanila na itong gobyerno at gawain nila ang gusto nilang gawin (if they win so they run the government and do whatever they want)," he added.

Duterte alleged that his two critics were "hungry for power," adding Trillanes was rude while De Lima was "wallowing in pity" and has become "almost virulent" in rhetoric.

"I would rather na kung sila-sila na lang ang patakbuhin at sila’y manalo, nagdadasal ako niyan at makita nila kung papaano nila patakbuhin ang gobyerno, kung gaano kahirap (I would rather that they run and win. I am praying for that so that they can experience how to run the government, how difficult it is)," he said.

"Tapos after all your --- iyong pagod mo, walang katapusan ang batikos (And after all your hard work, the criticisms are endless) because they can never be satisfied. They can no longer be a --- ika nga appease by anything except that they are hungry also for power," he said.

If the opposition wins in the polls, he said the people could eventually judge how they will lead the country.

"Mabuti't matikman nila para makita naman natin kung papaano sila mag-perform (It is better so they can get a taste and we can see how they will perform). How I wish that they would run and they will win," he added.

Trillanes earlier declared his intention to run for president in the 2022 elections. But if Vice President Leni Robredo will join the race, the former rebel soldier offered to step aside.

The President's remarks about Trillanes and De Lima came after insisting he was opposed to any presidential bid of his daughter in next year's elections. He admitted that his daughter could run for president "some other time."

The Davao City mayor recently hinted she was not closing her doors to a possible presidential run next year.

READ: Sara says she is open to a presidential run in 2022