President Duterte: ‘Sometimes, dynasties can be good’

MANILA, Philippines — Political dynasties may be giving governance a bad name. But not all the time, especially for President Duterte, who credited his being part of a dynasty for his decision to run for president and leave his longtime job as mayor to his daughter Sara.

“I agree with you that dynasties are bad, but sometimes it can be for the better,” Duterte said in remarks at the Go Negosyo 10th Filipina Entrepreneurship Summit in Pasay City yesterday, while praising his daughter’s achievements as Davao City mayor.

Had Sara not accepted the challenge of replacing him as mayor, Duterte said he would not have left the post to run for the presidency.

“If Inday (Sara) actually did not run, I would not be in front of you right now because I never wanted to leave Davao. Manghinayang ako eh (I would have felt sorry). Most especially so that Davao is in Mindanao, and Mindanao is a troubled land,” he said.

He again defended his tough anti-drug campaign, saying it was meant to protect the people.

“Now, I’m going to ramble on to the next – yung droga (drugs). So maniwala ang human rights o hindi (whether or not human rights groups believe it), it is not my business to do their biddings. I have a duty to perform and worse, I made it a solemn promise,” Duterte said.

At the same event, Duterte assured the public that he does not intend to stay beyond his term in 2022. “I will step down,” he said, even calling on the military to stop him from overstaying.

“The soldiers of the Republic, I told them, do not owe your loyalty to me. I do not need it. You stick with the flag – that is your real master,” Duterte said.

Duterte also allayed fears that his authoritarian tendencies could lead to a dictatorship. He said he is already tired leading the country.

“Dictatorship – you have two things to do – either kill me or oust me.  Wala akong ambisyon mag diktador, pagod na ako (I have no ambition to be dictator, I’m tired),” he said.