President Rodrigo Duterte is strong enough to finish his term, Senator Koko Pimentel said in a media interview on the sidelines of his engagement with local party leaders in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija.
Pimentel was asked to comment on the Chief Executive’s earlier statement that he does know if he could still finish the remaining years of his term.
Speaking before a national convention of motorcycle riders in Iloilo City, the President said he would not be president for so long.
“I don’t know if I will be able to survive the three years remaining. But God willing, I assure everybody here that I will step down at the end of my term,” he said.
The legislator, who heads the PDP-Laban administration party, said, “Knowing the President, 23 years naging mayor yan eh. Kung kaya ng katawan, matatapos yan (he was a mayor for 23 years. If his body still can, he will finish his term).”
“He was a mayor for 23 years.”
The lawmaker noted that the jokes being crackd by the President during his speeches are indications that he is both healthy and happy.
“Malusog ang ating Presidente. Malusog at masaya. Kita mo naman pag nagtalumpati maraming mga jokes (Our President is healthy. Healthy and happy. It shows when he is giving a speech, he tells a lot of jokes),” the senator said.
Meanwhile, Pimentel said there is still enough time to push for a federal form of government.
“Posible pa kasi pagkatapos po ng halalan ngayong Mayo nasa gitna pa lang tayo ng termino ni Pangulong Duterte so posible pa. Posibleng posible pa (It is still possible after the election this May. We are still in the middle of the term of President Duterte, so it is still possible. Still very much possible),” Pimentel said.
“A federal form of government is still very much possible.”
Transforming the government into a federal system is one of the banner agenda of the President.
During his visit to Cabanatuan City, Pimentel met with local politicians headed by PDP-Laban gubernatorial candidate Virgilio Bote and his running mate for vice governor, third district Board Member Edward Thomas Joson.
Also with Pimentel during the visit were Representatives Estrellita Suansing (1st district, Nueva Ecija) Rosanna Vergara (3rd district) and mayors, including Julius Cesar Vergara of this city, Adrianne Mae Cuevas of Palayan City, and Mario Salvador of San Jose City, among others.
