MANILA, Philippines — Three days before assuming as the 16th president of the country, President-elect Rodrigo Duterte still appears to be reluctant to perform the role.
Duterte, who won by a landslide in the presidential race with 16.6 million votes, said he would not have sought the highest elective post in the land if he could turn back time.
"You know, if I can go back in time, I would decide not to run for president. Honestly, swear to God. If this is just a bad dream, I hope it is," Duterte said in a speech delivered during his final flag ceremony as mayor of Davao City.
Duterte noted that the salary of a president does not match the demands of the job.
"How much salary will you get? P130,000? That's just for Honeylet (Avanceña) and Elizabeth (Zimmerman). Nothing will be left for me," he said.
Avanceña is Duterte's common law wife while Zimmerman is his former spouse.
Duterte said he would also advise anyone against running for president.
"Ask me: 'Mayor, what is your advice to me? I want to be president.' I would tell you no unless you have the passion to death about your country. That is the only thing that motivates me to work," he added.
Duterte recalled that he did not go to the Commission on Elections in Manila to file a certificate of candidacy last October because he has decided not to run for president.
He, however, claimed that public clamor prompted him to change his mind.
"I did not have governors, mayors or barangay captains outside Davao supporting me except for a few whom you can count with your fingers," the incoming president said.
"I saw the crowd. It's not a crowd. It's a multitude. Every time I am introduced, they became wild. They did not only applause but they were shouting 'tumakbo ka na kasi hirap na kami (run because we are suffering),'" he added.
Duterte said the pressure for him to seek the presidency did not come from Davao City but from Manila and Cebu.
Now that he is set to become the next occupant of Malacañang, Duterte said he is bent on fulfilling the promises he made during his campaign.
"I am just consistent with the promises I made for the people," Duterte said.
"I am not the type who would say these things just to impress you and get your vote."
Before the campaign period, Duterte repeatedly rejected calls for him to join the presidential race, saying he just would like to stay as mayor of Davao City.
Duterte, however, changed his mind in November after the Senate Electoral Tribunal dismissed the disqualification case against neophyte senator and presidential candidate Grace Poe.
The case, filed by defeated 2013 senatorial bet Rizalito David, alleged that Poe is not a natural-born Filipino.
"I cannot accept an American President," Duterte said, referring to Poe. – with a report from Natasha Isidro