(Eagle News) – President Rodrigo Duterte arrived from his successful trip to Israel and Jordan on Saturday, Sept. 8, a day earlier than scheduled, insisting the amnesty of senator Antonio Trillanes IV was “fatally flawed” and challenging those who want him out to come to Malacanang so that he can step down immediately.
“I’m ready to step down anytime.. Kung ayaw na ng Pilipino, bababa ako (If the Filipino people do not want me, I will step down),” he said.
“You don’t have to bring the armors and all. Just tell me,” he said.
“Anybody who is interested I will administer the oath…. Bababa ako. Walang problema yan (I will step down. No problem there).”
Duterte said that he also doesn’t need a loyalty check on the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
“You should focus your loyalty to the flag, to the Philippines, and the Constitution,” he said.
“I do not need loyalties. I was elected as president and I intend to serve.”
But President Duterte said that he will never order soldiers and policemen to shoot at each other just for the purpose of protecting him and ensuring that he is not toppled down.
“Hindi ko na ipapasubo ito na magpatayan. Why will I sacrifice the lives of people?” he said.
“For me to order to shoot at each other, I will not do it. Maghanap na lang kayo ng ibang presidente, I will not do it,” he added.
The 73-year old Philippine leader also said that he is here to enforce the law, which was why he had signed Proclamation No. 572 voiding Trillanes’ amnesty.
He also revealed that it was Solicitor General Jose Calida who did the research on Trillanes.
“Look I am here to enforce the law. Yung kay Trillanes, ang totoo niyan ang nag-research si Calida,” he said.
“Pag sinabi ng Solgen na may mali (If the Solgen says there is something wrong) and it has to be corrected, I cannot refuse, he is the government lawyer,” Duterte said.
But the President, while saying that he believes that it is the President of the Philippines has the constitutional mandate to grant amnesty, said that the one given to Trillanes was “fatally flawed.”
“Yung amnesty is fatally flawed. Nothing valid would come out of a flawed document,” Duterte said.
But Duterte said that he would rather wait for the Supreme Court’s decision on the matter since Trilanes’ petition is already filed with the high court.
“Nandyan na sa Supreme Court. (It’s already with the Supreme Court) We leave it at that,” he said.