President Duterte confessed that he is praying that the next administration will be better than his in all aspects, particularly in talking peace with the communists and resolving the country's problems with illegal drugs.
Duterte made the statement 23 days before the country elects a next president on May 9, 2022.
In his speech during the distribution of aid to typhoon victims in Pontevedra, Capiz, on Black Saturday, the President said he has been praying for what is most suitable for the Filipinos.
"When I think of my country, I hope that the next year, I would wish really. I hope --- I hope, and I pray that the next administration will be much better than mine in all aspects," he said on April 16.
"Dinadasal ko 'yan para sa kababayan, para sa inyo (I am praying for that for you)," he added.
Peace talks
Duterte, in particular, said he is praying that his successor would be successful in talking peace with the communist rebels.
"I hope that whoever comes in next after me they would try to reconnect, and I pray that it would succeed," he said.
"Ako naman wala man ako, para sa bayan lang talaga ako (There's nothing in it for me. It's for the country). Everything that I do, everything that I say, it is really about my country, nothing else," he added.
The President said he is sincere about his wish to find peace with the communists, appealing to them to surrender to the government and run in the elections if they want power.
"I hope that we would find peace with the communists. Ayoko makipag-away sa inyo (I don't want to fight with you). Fifty-three years in the making, ni hindi man kayo makahawak ng (you were not able to hold a single) barangay, and yet you continue to kill my soldiers, my policemen, barangay captain," he said.
"You want another 53 years, and you think that you can win a barangay or a city? Not in a million years. Buti pa bumaba na lang kayo (It would be better if you just come down)," he added.
"Well, if you want to hold power, you drop your guns and sumama ka sa eleksiyon (join the elections)," he continued.
'Kill drug personalities'
Meanwhile, the President renewed his threat to "kill" those involved in the illegal drug trade until the last day of his term.
"Ang droga hintuin na ninyo (Stop with the illegal drugs). Just like the communists, you drop the drugs, or otherwise, I will kill you," he said.
"Iyong pumapasok ngayon bilyon pa rin hanggang ngayon. Ang market medyo nagsikip kasi takot man mamatay (The drugs coming in the country are still worth billions. The market shrunk because people are afraid to die)," he added.
Duterte even compared himself to Russian President Vladimir Putin amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
"Si Putin pinapatay man niya lahat-- bata, babae, matanda, lahat. Ako pinapatay ko kriminal, lalo mga durugista. Hindi ko talaga -- totoo 'yan (Putin kills everybody-- the kids, women, elderly, everybody. I kill criminals, especially those into drugs. I cannot-- that's true)," he said.
The President hoped that the next administration would be as unforgiving as he was regarding the illegal drug trade.
"I hope na yung sunod na administrasyon, si mayor, patayin na rin niya ang mga durugista dito (I hope that the next administration, the mayor, would kill all drug personalities here)," Duterte said.