President Rodrigo Duterte warned that he could give up his position if one of his children would be proven guilty of corruption.
“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,” President Duterte told the media.
Duterte’s statement came as a comment to issues surrounding his son, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, who allegedly served as “protector” of the P6.4 billion smuggled illegal drug shipment from China.
Earlier, a customs broker named Mark Taguba said that the bribery activities in the Bureau of Customs was backed by the Vice Mayor, which he later claimed as based on hearsay.
“Taguba admitted that his testimony against me was based entirely on rumors. Why would we entertain or believe a hearsay? One does not dignify lies with a response,” the younger Duterte said in a statement released on Tuesday.
Last year, the Chief Executive made the same remarks when he called on the public to halt transactions with anyone using his name to earn money.
“I told my family this, and I will stand by my word. If anyone from my family, relatives, engage in corruption, I will resign immediately,” he said, noting that he will not tolerate his kins who will use his name for ill “racket”.
