MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte vowed on Friday that the purge of corrupt government officials will be relentless, even if the axe would fall on his close allies or relatives.
“Corruption. Wala akong pasensya (I have no patience for that). And we will continue to purge government. Walang sagrado dito sa akin. Ni anak ko, ni kaibigan ko, wala ako. Basta nandiyan ka, nandiyan ka. Pasensya ka (No one is sacred, not children, not friends, no one. As long as you’re there, sorry) period,” he said in his speech at a political rally in Negros Occidental.
Duterte stressed the point on the same day that Malacañang fired Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) chairman retired general Alexander Balutan over alleged corruption issues.
He lamented that even honest officials sometimes succumb to temptations.
Duterte, however, said he would listen to those who could be victims of discrimination in their offices. He did not refer to any particular situation during his speech.
At the same event, Duterte also talked anew about his wishes to be cremated at once when he dies as he questioned the story of creation in the Bible and challenged the existence of hell.
“Totoo. ‘Yan man ang sabi ng simbahan. “You will burn in hell for all time.” Really? O ‘di i-cremate ka. Pagdating mo doon, sabi nila… Magtingin ka sa langit, ‘yang afternoon on a clear day, saan mo hanapin ‘yang impyerno?,” he added.
Duterte said he would rather be cremated so that he can no longer be burned to ashes in hell.
“Ako, ang sabi ko sa pamilya ko… ‘Yan din ako…. Magpa-cremate kayo kasi pagdating niyo doon sa impyerno ano pa man sunugin ni satanas? Paig ka naman,” he said.
Duterte recalled that he had order the cremation of his mother at once when she passed away at 96 years old a few years ago.
“Actually ang impyerno, nandito sa lupa (hell is here on earth). It’s only a place called heaven for everybody. You might not go inside there, if there is really one. But you’ll just float along the line of… ‘Di mas maganda. Mamatay ka tapos ‘yung soul mo mag-travel ka sa universe,” he said.
Duterte then said he might just be content if he becomes a wandering soul after his death. This way, he can flirt with the souls of pretty women.
“What can a soul accomplish? It’s a big question,” Duterte said, adding he has yet to meet a person who died and returned to tell his story.