As Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte is willing not only to give orders to the troops but also join them in action.
Alas, age has caught up with Duterte and he can’t be with soldiers in the battlefield because he has several ailments.
“Ako, kung maari lang kung pwede lang rin ako makisali sa inyo, sasali ako,” Duterte told members of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry (Magbalantay) Brigade of the Philippine Army in Iligan City Friday (May 26).
“Kaya lang, ang isang kilometro sa akin, wala na. Limang araw na walang chok chak ‘yan kasi wala na, inutil. Naglabasan ang rayuma pati arthritis,” he said.
The 72-year-old Duterte said he could’ve joined the soldiers in fighting the terrorist Maute Group if he became President years ago.
‘Kung nabata lang ako na Presidente, sasali ako sa inyo. Eh ‘yung gusto ko ‘yung baril-barilan eh.”
Duterte gave a pep talk to the soldiers amid the ongoing clash between government forces and the Maute group in Marawi City.
While Duterte is too old to fight, he said he’s willing to be with the soldiers wherever they want him to.
“It’s late in the day. I’m a leader, I’m supposed to show the way. Pero kung saan ninyo ako gusto, ipatawag ninyo, tawagin mo ‘yan si Mayor, papuntahin mo dito. Pupunta ako,” he said.
