By Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos
CASIGURAN, Aurora – President Duterte said here on Tuesday that Chinese President Xi Jinping won’t allow him to be removed from office.
“The assurances of Xi Jinping were very encouraging. ‘We will not,’ eh nandiyan naman sila. ‘We will not allow you to be taken out of your office, and we will not allow the Philippines to go to the dogs,” Duterte said during the commemoration of the first anniversary of the renaming of Benham Rise to Philippine Rise to assert the country’s ownership of the underwater plateau.
“Siguro kasi freely elected leader naman ako, it could be a very justified statement,” he added.
Duterte has been saying that China will protect the Philippines. In a speech in Davao City early this month, Duterte said that China has assured that it will protect the Philippines from external threats.
He also said that he approached China and Russia to enable the Philippines to have assistance when needed. Duterte said both countries responded positively.
“Bakit ko nilagay diyan? Mas mabuti ng may garantiya ako. Kung tutulong man ang America, which I doubt, meron sila ‘yung mga missile-missile,” Duterte said.
“They have lost so many wars. So China said, ‘We will protect you. We will not allow the Philippines to be destroyed. Nandito lang kami at kung gusto mo, anytime, tawagin mo kami.'”
