President Rodrigo Duterte once offered that he will resign after he cannot end graft and corruption.
Now, the President reiterated his “offer” alongside his Cabinet members if he—or any one of them—is proven to be corrupt.
However, Duterte is convinced that his Cabinet members, who were previously in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), remain clean of any corruption.
“Tingnan mo ang DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) wala nang reklamo, wala nang corruption, DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) ganoon. Tapos magtanong kayo, eh bakit military? Hindi naman lahat military.
“Tingnan — gusto ko lang ‘yong talagang matapang na sinusunod,” said Duterte during his televised address on Monday, April 19.
“Hanggang ngayon wala akong narinig kasi kung mayroon, sabay kaming mag-resign, sa totoo lang,” he added.
But this declaration from Duterte only made some personalities and Netizens urge him to do it.
Former Bayan Muna congressman Teddy Casiño does not believe that Duterte will resign. He even described him as “the boy who cried wolf.”
He offered to resign AGAIN? Parang boy who cried wolf na ‘to. Pwede ba ituloy mo na? #DuterteResign https://t.co/A62Irz4ZOo
— Teddy Casiño (@teddycasino) April 21, 2021
Others do not believe Duterte. A Netizen thinks that it is only a ‘gimmick’ of the President.
Ang daming gimmick. Puro drama. Kung gusto talaga may paraan, kung ayaw naman talaga at nag-iinarte lang, laging may mahahagilap na dahilan. https://t.co/4NPrmSHaZ3
— Isabel Felix (@isabelfelixdin) April 21, 2021
A twitter personality criticized Duterte for saying such a thing. He concluded that since the President is a “narcissist”, getting him to leave his position is impossible.
Ohhh? You’re a narcissist. That. Wont. Happen. https://t.co/Libkvhlle4
— simply_clinton (@Simply_Clinton) April 20, 2021
Duterte earlier said that Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and state forces have a say regarding his position as the President.
This happened after Duterte was “sad” as some military men planned to withdraw their support to him.
“Anytime, kalabitin lang ako ni Delfin, na apat [army, air force, navy], ayaw na, pati siya, oh di sige,” said Duterte.
But netizens do not believe him. A Netizen even claimed that it is just another act from the President.
https://twitter.com/wanakopake/status/1384674369226612736
Lawyer Manuel Laserna Jr. asserted that the President’s actions are similar to former President Ferdinand Marcos’s.
He also criticized how Duterte says things that are contrary to how he acts.
Duterte, kapit tuko ang dynasty mo sa kapangyarihan, a la Marcos dynasty. Wag mong paikutin ang ulo namin. Iba ang sinasabi ng aksyon mo sa dakdak mo. https://t.co/Ci46hQWOql
— Manuel Laserna Jr. (@lcmlaw_ph) April 20, 2021
Duterte’s latest statement that the state forces have the right to remove him from his position, twitter personality Miracel Juanta encouraged the AFP and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to withdraw their support for the President.
Ayun naman pala go afp and pnp withdraw your support! https://t.co/GAZHjLUviA
— Miracel Juanta (@MiracelJuanta) April 20, 2021
On the other hand, Twitter personality Ken Callawood questioned how the heads of the AFP and the PNP have the right to tell him to resign.
Callawood even stressed that Filipinos voted him, thus, have the right to be heard.
Bakit po, heads of the AFP and the police lang po ba ang nagluklok sa inyo sa pwesto?
Di po ba, mga mamamayan?#DuterteStepDown https://t.co/AVRfIYPbZG
— Citizen Ken (@DukeOfMetrics) April 20, 2021
Sarcastic in tone, a twitter personality contradicted Duterte’s statement, who said that if Lorenzana pokes him, he will resign and go home to Davao. The personality said that he should be kicked, not poked.
Duterte: "If they want me to step down, I will resign and go home to Davao city…"
"Anytime, kalabitin lang ako ni Delfin (Lorenzana), na apat (army, airforce, navy), ayaw na, pati siya, o di sige."
Bakit kailangan pang kalabitin? Sipa hindi kalabit ang bagay sayo! Gunggong! https://t.co/DatsjO8akx pic.twitter.com/KqmKikaVDj
— #SyLicoNgaAko (@SyLicoNgaAko) April 20, 2021
While, Zion Ryan Cruz on twitter wants Duterte to be held accountable for his crimes, and not only him, but also every single one who is involved with his actions.
I want Duterte accountable.
Too much blood and suffering have been spilled not to mention territory ceded to China.
I also want everyone complicit w/ PRRD held accountable— not dead— accountable. Every single one of them need to be held accountable.
I will call that justice. https://t.co/kOaattsSEs
— Zion Ryan Cruz (@zryanverse) April 20, 2021