Duterte 'sorry' for lacking statesmanlike qualities

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<figure class="op-interactive"><div style="padding-top:66.375%"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1455989" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></div></figure><p>President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday apologized for not possessing statesmanlike qualities, saying his transition to becoming the country&#x27;s most powerful figure has not been easy.</p><p>&quot;I never really graduated from being a mayor to being a president . . . I&#x27;m sad to say that, I&#x27;m sorry,&quot; Duterte said during the inauguration of the People&#x27;s Television Network&#x27;s Cordillera hub.</p><p>The statement came after Duterte cracked a joke about wanting a woman to embrace him from behind to keep him warm amid Cordillera&#x27;s cool weather.</p><p>Duterte has raised eyebrows over his tendency to deliver informal and impromptu speeches during official events, while his supporters lauded the former Davao City mayor&#x27;s ability to speak the language of the masses.</p><p>&quot;What is sad in this world is you cannot be funny anymore when you are in front of the public,&quot; Duterte said.</p><p>&quot;I&#x27;m not taking life as a joke but at least we should have a degree of (humor) . . . kasi uptight tayong lahat . . . Sabi nga nila, &#x27;Itong presidente natin hindi naman statesman.&#x27; &quot;</p><p>Duterte has said he has no plans to become a statesman, who is given a monument after his death.</p><p>He prefers instead for his body to be cremated and buried within 24 hours with &quot;no necrological services and prayers.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Wala akong ambisyon na ganyan. Do not do it to me . . . I&#x27;ve done all of that during my lifetime,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>"I never really graduated from being a mayor to being a president . . . I'm sad to say that, I'm sorry," Duterte said on Saturday.</p>

"I never really graduated from being a mayor to being a president . . . I'm sad to say that, I'm sorry," Duterte said on Saturday.

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Duterte 'sorry' for lacking statesmanlike qualities

Duterte 'sorry' for lacking statesmanlike qualities

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 11, 2017 08:37 PM PHT

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Updated Mar 11, 2017 08:38 PM PHT

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Rodrigo Duterte

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