Duterte to Cabinet: Do not campaign while in my administration

“Sabi ko sa mga Cabinet members, do not launch a campaign here in the office.  If [you plan on] running for a public office or if you have plans to whatever, do not do it here in my Cabinet,” Duterte said in his speech at the flag-raising ceremony in Davao City on Monday morning.

“Ayaw ko ‘yung nakaupo dito na magkandidato, kasi you will just use the public funds and the time and the effort of government just to campaign to win,” he said.

The 71-year-old Duterte said that since his Cabinet is mostly composed of people near his own age, they should just retire at the end of his six-year term. 

“Sabi ko, pare-pareho naman yung edad natin, we retire altogether,” the president-elect said.

Duterte, also the outgoing mayor of Davao City, said that, if asked for advice, he will  discourage people for running for higher public office, especially the presidency, unless one is driven by patriotism. He said he has no intention of running for any position in 2022 and just plans to retire.

“Tama na ito [presidency], binigay ng Diyos ito, tama na [ang pagktakbo] but for the love of country sabi ko ako tanungin niyo ako, ‘Mayor, what is your advice?’ ‘Gusto kong tumakbong presidente’ sabihin ko sa’yo ‘Huwag. huwag, unless you really have the passion to death about your country,’” Duterte said. 

“That is the only thing that remains actually that motivates me to work,” he added.

Aside from ambition of seeking higher office, Duterte also warned his Cabinet members that he will not tolerate corruption, one of the pillars of his presidential campaign.

“There will be no corruption, just like here [Davao City]… [kung] sekretaryo ka sa Gabinete, tapos nanguwarta ka, then I will just have to whisper ‘please go,’” the president-elect said.