If President Rodrigo Duterte can be believed, the presidency is so tiring he’s raring to resign once a federal system of government is established.

He described how exhausting his days are as president during his speech on Thursday, December 1, at the 3rd Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Local Government Summit in Davao City.

First, he likened his experience as president to his experiences as a long-term mayor and one-time congressman.

“It does not really seem different from what I’m doing now. Opisina lang o balay, opisina (I’m either in the office or the house, then office.) Same, I study at night. But that’s about it. The suweldo (salary), I cannot compare,” he said.

One activity that tires him out is reading piles and piles of folders from various government agencies at night, after a long day’s work.

“Sa pagod mo, pagdating mo, lahat ng department diyan sila may folder. Defense, Foreign Affairs, galing kay Dabs. Basahin ko ‘yan gabi-gabi. Ako maglagay, ‘OK’, ‘Disapprove’,” he shared.

(You’re tired and when you get there, all the departments have a folder – Defense, Foreign Affairs, from Dabs. I read them every night. I put, ‘OK,’ ‘Disapprove.’)

The 71-year-old president, the oldest president the Philippines has ever had, says he has no choice but to go through all those files because he needs to decide on them.

They keep him awake until early next morning, he claims.

“Anong oras ako matulog? Alas-tres, alas-kuwatro, alas-singko, minsan alas-sais (What time do I sleep? Three, 4, 5, sometimes 6 am),” said Duterte.

His long nights mean he usually wakes up at 12 noon. This is apparently why most of his official activities begin after lunch. 

“Tapos magising ako nang alas-dose. Gisingin ako ng security kasi opisina na (Then I wake up at 12 noon. The security will wake me to go to the office). Or that I have to fly somewhere else,” he related.

In the early days of his presidency, Duterte admitted feeling “lonely” in his residence, Bahay Pangarap, and being besieged with work.

‘I will resign’

During his Thursday speech, he repeated his intention to step down from the presidency once the Philippines transitions into a federal government.

He even urged House Speaker Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez to hurry up the process in Congress.

“Sabi ko sa kanila, ‘Bot, dalian ninyo ‘yan.’ Sabi ko, ‘Matapos kayo ng dalawa, tatlong taon, I will step down as president.’ You can have my word. Itaya ninyo ‘yan,” he said.

(I told them, ‘Bot, hurry up.’ I said, ‘If you finish the process in 2, 3 years, I will step down as president.’ You can have my work. Bet on that.)

In the same speech, he blasted some Filipinos, specifically Manileños, for thinking he will declare martial law. He claims the opposite: rather than wishing to extend his years in office, he wants to step down as soon as he can. (READ: Duterte: ‘Martial Law didn’t improve our lives’)

“‘Pag nagkaroon ng parliament at mag-election ng presidente (If a parliament is established and there will be presidential elections), I will willingly step down. I will resign. I will not hang on to power. I do not need it,” he said to applause.

Will Duterte finish his 6-year term as president? Will a federal set-up be established soon enough for him to step down? What’s your bet? – Rappler.com