“Kung sino sa mga anak ko ma-involve sa corruption, I will immediately resign!” President Duterte Addresses Allegations Against Son, Paolo Duterte!

On August 9, during a business forum in Mandaluyong City, President Rodrigo Duterte boldly claimed that he would resign if the allegations of corruption against his son, Davao City Mayor Paolo Duterte, were proven true.

According to a report by the Inquirer, the president reiterated his previous statements where he vowed to leave office  any of his children were confirmed as corrupt. The controversial President said:

“Corruption was really one [thing] I do not like. Pati ‘yung anak ko ngayon, sinasali diyan sa Customs. I told you before and I’m telling you now again, kung sino sa mga anak ko ma-involve sa corruption, I will immediately resign. That, you have my word.”

Besides resigning, President Rodrigo Duterte also swore that he would press charges against any family member or official involved in corrupt practices. He added:

“Kaya sabi ko, kung sino man yung official who entertains with the intervention of any of my sons and daughter that is enough for me. I will fire you and I will press charges against you and my relative wherever he is and you will have the luxury of seeing me go down. Di ko na kailangan ang trabahong ito, sa totoo lang. I have enough.”

Last Monday, customs broker Mark Taguba accused five officials of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) of bribery. Taguba claimed that Mayor Paolo Duterte was involved in certain transactions with a “Davao group” at the Davao City Bureau of Customs.

President Duterte’s statement came two days after Taguba’s hearing at the House of Representatives.

However, Taguba clarified that he did not have any evidence to support his claims, basing them off of a rumor. He also admits that he has never spoken to Mayor Paolo Duterte.


The president’s son has since denied the accusations

Duterte’s supporters need not worry about him losing his seat of power as this is not the first time President Duterte has claimed he will resign. During the 2016 electoral period, then-Mayor Duterte and his running mate, Alan Peter Cayetano, vowed to eliminate crime and corruption within six months of their term or else they would both resign. Needless to say, President Duterte and Foreign Affairs Secretary Cayetano are still in office as crime and corruption still run rampant across the Philippines.

President Duterte remains as popular as ever and his grip on power is still quite secure.