2017 SONA
TRANSCRIPT: Duterte’s
2nd State of the Nation Address
President Rodrigo Duterte gestures during
his second State of the Nation Address at the House of Representatives in
Quezon City on Monday, July 24, 2017. AP
President Rodrigo Duterte delivered his
second State of the Nation Address, which ran for two hours, on Monday before a
joint session of the 17th Congress at the Session Hall of the House of
Representatives in Quezon City.
Following
is a transcript of that speech, as delivered:
Kindly sit down. Thank you for your
courtesy.
When I was a member of Congress, I… my seat
was over there. The seat… the lady with a violent — not violent but rather
violet dress… seated. But I was always absent, together with the Speaker and
Tonyboy Floirendo, who is still absent until today. [LAUGHTER] And that
started… Ay nandiyan ba? Sorry. But his propensity started almost 17 years ago
when we were members of the 11th Congress.
Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and
the members of the Senate; Pantaleon Alvarez, the Speaker, and the members of the
House of Representatives; Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo; former
Presidents Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada, and former President Gloria Arroyo;
Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno of the Supreme Court and the members of
courts; Archbishop [Giuseppe] Pinto and the distinguished guests of the
diplomatic corps; Secretary Salvador Medialdea and the members of the Cabinet;
my fellow workers in government; my countrymen:
When I took my oath of office a year or so
ago, I knew that our country was reeling from a multitude of problems. That
day, there was euphoria in the air, resulting from a successful campaign. And
the thought that dominated my being was to make good on my promise to the
people to bring change in government, not a change that is passing but a change
that can survive the test of time.
Although I still had to know the magnitude
and gravity of the problems, my feeling then was that, equipped with political
will and braced by a concerned citizenry, those problems would eventually be
bested by us. It was only a matter of determination and collective action. It
was only a question of time.
For as I saw it then as I see it now, there
is no problem in the world which can stop the march of a people with
unflinching and tenacious determination. That was how euphoric – euphoric – it
has been.
Early on, I felt that if change was to be
meaningful, it had to start with those occupying the highest positions in
government because change that comes from below is more transitory than
permanent. And I was aiming for permanence. Let change trickle down from [top
to] bottom.
It has to be a change that is not confined
merely to the replacement of people by people, but a change in the people’s
attitude, disposition and work ethic.
Sadly, although we knew years ago that what
was needed or [what we] ought to do, we did not do [it] because our idea of
government was parochial and we could not rise above family, ethnic, and clan
loyalties as well as loyalty to friends and co-workers. No one wanted to be a
snitch. That is why we are one in saying that genuine change is what this
country truly needs.
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I believed then, as I believe still, that
progress and development will sputter if criminals, illegal drugs, illegal
users of drugs are allowed to roam the streets freely, victimizing, seemingly
with impunity, the innocent and the helpless. Worse yet, there were times in
the past when the protectors of the people were themselves the perpetrators of
the very crimes they were tasked to prevent or suppress. It is ironic as it is
madness.
I have learned that economy surges only
when there is peace and order prevailing in places where investors can pour
[in] their capital and expertise. I have learned from my experience in Davao
City that investor confidence [is] bolstered and fortified only if a potent
force and mechanism for [the] protection of local and foreign investments are
in place.
That is why, I have resolved that no matter
how long it takes, the fight against illegal drugs will continue because that
is the root cause of so much evil and so much suffering [applause]. That
weakens the social fabric and deters foreign investments from pouring in. The
fight will be unremitting as it will be unrelenting.
Despite international and local pressures,
the fight will not stop [APPLAUSE] until those who deal in it understand that
they have to cease, they have to stop because the alternatives are either jail
or hell. [applause] And I will make sure, very sure that they will not have the
luxury of enjoying the benefits of their greed and madness.
I do not intend to loosen the leash in the
campaign or lose the fight against illegal drugs. Neither do I intend to
preside over the destruction of the Filipino youth by being timid and tentative
in my decisions and actions. [APPLAUSE]
To the critics against this fight, your
efforts will be better spent if you use the influence, moral authority and
ascendancy of your organizations over your respective sectors to educate the
people on the evils of illegal drugs instead of condemning the authorities and
unjustly blaming for every killing that bloodies this country.
But don’t get me wrong. I value human life
the way I value mine. Each life that is snuffed out translates into future
generations lost. It is like cracking the acorn from which an oak tree grows –
which, in turn, produce the seeds to complete the cycle of [life in]
perpetuity.
There is a jungle out there. There are
beasts and vultures preying on the helpless, the innocent [and] the
unsuspecting. I will not allow the ruin of the youth, the disintegration of
families and the retrogression of communities, forced by criminals whose greed
for money is as insatiable as it is devoid of moral purpose.
Neither will I be immobilized into inaction
by the fear that I will commit an act that will expose me to public
condemnation or legal prosecution. You harm the children in whose hands the
future of this Republic is entrusted, and I will hound you to the very gates of
hell. [APPLAUSE]
That is why I ask you to join me in this
fight against illegal drugs and all forms of criminality.
The government, equipped with legal
authority, and you, with the moral ascendancy over the sector you represent,
can do so much, and hopefully eradicate this social scourge that plagues us no
end.
Look beyond your biases, your prejudices,
your ambition, your political agenda. The search for change will begin and end
only when we look into ourselves and find it within.
Today, a multitude of problems confront us.
No sooner is one problem solved [when] another surges forth in its place. But
we will not be disheartened. We will not be cowed. We will not be overwhelmed.
It is during trying times and troubled
events that the resilience, perseverance, and determination of the people are
tested. The Filipino is no stranger or neophyte to situations like the one we
face today. We can, and we will, overcome as we did countless times in the
past, [but] only if we work together towards a common goal.
Sad to say, despite all efforts, peace,
especially in the Island of Mindanao, continues to elude us. But of course, it
is not the peace of the dead but the peace of the living that we seek. Peace
flits away like a butterfly when you try to snatch it by the wings. And our
pursuit of peace continues.
The red insurgency has been with us for
decades; the Muslim issue, for centuries.
So much time has lapsed, so many lives have
been lost, and so much destruction has been wrought. But peace eludes us still.
Sometimes I am almost tempted to conclude that peace might not be able to come
during our lifetime. But believe me, it will not be for want of trying.
And I will persist in our goal of attaining
peace to the last day of this administration and maybe even beyond although in
a different capacity. [APPLAUSE]
There is rebellion in Mindanao. The
extremists have declared it their purpose to establish a caliphate within
Philippine territory along the teachings and beliefs of [the] Islamic State of
Iraq and Syria, or otherwise known as ISIS.
The battle of Marawi has dealt a terrible
blow to our quest for peace, especially now that an alien ideology and a
radical shift in purpose have been injected into the local setting.
I declared martial law in Mindanao because
I believed that that was the fastest way to quell the rebellion at the least
cost of lives and properties. [APPLAUSE]
At the same time, the government would be
adequately equipped with the constitutional tool not only to prevent the escape
of rebels who can easily mingle and pretend to be civilian evacuees only to
re-group in another place to fight another day but also to prevent them from
spreading their gospel of hate and violence in the rest of Mindanao.
Martial law and the suspension of the writ
of habeas corpus enable the military to arrest, detain, and question suspected
members and sympathizers of the rebellion similar to what happened to the
parents of the Maute brothers.
As president, I am reiterating my
unwavering support and commitment to the soldiers of our Armed Forces and the
members of our police force, [APPLAUSE] those who are on the ground and in the
battlefields, and those who are risking their lives for our country and our
democracy. I have your backs.
To those who oppose and think that all
these efforts are out of order, I hold myself – me and me alone should be
responsible. [APPLAUSE]
The people of Marawi need help. Caught in
the crossfire between government troops and Muslim extremists, they have been
through hell and we need to help them rise and move forward.
If we cannot provide for the poor and the
needy who are many, then we will not be able to keep from harm the rich who are
few.
At the vanguard of our struggle for peace
and order are our armed forces and police. They are the silent heroes who risk
their lives every day for our country’s security.
In recognition of their valor, we have
crafted a program to provide them with comprehensive social assistance,
including financial, should they meet harm in the performance of their duty.
For the family left behind by those who fell or are rendered totally disabled
in the line of duty, we shall provide shelter, health care assistance,
education, and employment.
That is my way of telling our troops: Never
fear, do your duty. I stand behind you. So does this government and all its
agencies. [APPLAUSE]
To decisively address insurgency and
terrorism, we are working doubly hard towards [achieving] a stronger and more
credible national defense system for the country. We continue to strengthen the
defense capability of the AFP as a deterrence against terrorists, lawless
elements, and other threats.
My fellow citizens: What I have said so far
about the events in Marawi and its neighboring environs is only a part of a
looming problem, which will cut across all classes and all sectors of society
and eventually affect the entire country from north to south, from east to west,
given the fact that Mindanao supplies a great part of our country’s food
requirements.
I refer to climate change, which could
bring drought and long dry spells affecting food production in Mindanao, given
the fact that Mindanao is unusually warming. I ask all agencies involved in
food production to look into this and act accordingly.
Also, I am appealing to all our legislators
to immediately pass the National Land Use Act, or NALUA, [APPLAUSE] to ensure
the rational and sustainable use of our land and our physical resources, given
the competing needs of food security, housing, businesses, and environmental
conservation.
Ours is a rich country. Wealth that this
country is endowed with [is] a gift from God to be utilized for the [people’s]
welfare and the common good. I do not believe that this gift was given to us to
be merely viewed or appreciated, but to be extracted from the earth and
utilized to make life worth living.
That is why I say that it is not enough
that we mine this wealth. What is more important is that we convert the raw
materials thereof into finished products for international and local purposes.
[APPLAUSE] That way, it will not only be the few who are the rich but also the
poor who are many who will benefit therefrom.
Therefore, I call on our industrialists,
investors [and] commercial barons to put up factories and manufacturing
establishments right here in the Philippines to process our raw materials into
finished products. [APPLAUSE]
At this point in my administration, if
possible, we shall put a stop to the extraction and exportation of our mineral
resources to foreign nations [APPLAUSE] for processing abroad and importing
them back to the Philippines in the form of consumer goods at prices twice or
thrice the value of the original raw materials foreign corporations pay for
them.
However, in the extraction and utilization
of these resources, extreme care must be exercised [APPLAUSE] that we do not
recklessly and needlessly harm the environment. [APPLAUSE] Responsible,
regulated and sustainable development is what we advocate and require. The
protection of the environment must be made a priority [APPLAUSE] ahead of
mining and all other activities that adversely affect one way or another. And
this policy is non-negotiable. [APPLAUSE]
I sternly warn, I am warning all mining
operations and contractors to refrain from the unbridled and irresponsible
destruction of our watersheds, forests, and aquatic resources. You have gained
much from mining, we only get about 70 billion [pesos] a year, but you have
considerably neglected your responsibility to protect and preserve – and even
the tax, it’s about five percent – environment for posterity.
I am holding all mining companies and its
officials responsible for the full and quick clean-up, restoration [and]
rehabilitation of all areas damaged by mining activities, and the extension of
all necessary support to the communities that have suffered mining’s disastrous
effects on their health, [APPLAUSE] livelihood, and environment, among others.
Ganito ’yan eh. Medyo alis muna ako diyan
sa… Sasakit ang mata ko diyan sa yawa na ‘yan. [LAUGHTER]
Alam mo, you have the mining. I have to
grant you a mining because you have complied with all the requirements of the
law. And I cannot… I’d be subject to a mandamus if everything is perfect and
you have every right to mine. But in doing so, you destroy the rivers, you
destroy the streams, from which the poor people fish – halwan or mudfish – and
that is protein for the day for them.
Ngayon makita mo naman, not only Gina Lopez
gave you a clear picture of what was happening horrendously. Nakita mo kay Ted
Failon – ’yung kay Ted Failon, talagang nanood ako, dalawang beses. And I
realized that I have to do something about it as a Filipino. [APPLAUSE]
Alam mo, okay na ’yung mining. Subsidiary
ka lang ng isang another giant corporation or you’re a sister company of a
telecommunication. Hindi kayo magugutom. But look at the picture shown to you.
For once, they behaved correctly ang ABS-CBN. Tingnan mo ‘yung pelikula ni Ted
Failon. I salute him for coming with it. [APPLAUSE]
You see the palayan. Ang palayan tumuyo at
ang soil nag-crack. So the farmers cannot eat anymore. They are reduced to the
garbage of what you can get there, salvage anything and sell it to the scrap.
Ganun ang nangyari sa Pilipino. Hindi ko kayo kalaban. As a matter of fact, you
give government almost 70 billion. Pero actually maliit lang ‘yan.
Ngayon, nakikita ninyo itong mga palayan na
tumutuyo and the rivers wala ng isda. The only source of protein. Hindi ka
naman pwedeng mag-hunting. May makita kang eagle diyan, barilin mo, preso ka.
Pakainin mo ’yung… Saan mo ipa…?
Try to go out. Sumama tayo – kayo sa akin.
And try to see how hard it is for them to survive. Now ito ang… Gusto mo ganito
ang pangyayari, tutal sobra-sobra naman ’yang pera ninyo, adre, sa totoo lang.
Mayor ako eh. I can look at your corporate earnings, your sister company, I can
pierce the corporate identity, kayo rin pala. And even diyan sa mga newspaper.
When you are not supposed to… You know, ’pag newspaper ka you are supposed to
be 100 percent Filipino. And yet when you start to pierce their identity, it is
pala fully owned by Americans. Ganun ang nangyari eh. It’s just a matter of
piercing the…
So wala masyado ako… ABS[-CBN], Rappler
kayo ba ‘yan? Have you tried to pierce your identity? And it will lead you to
America. Do you know that? And yet the Constitution requires you to be 100
percent – media – Filipino. Rappler, try to pierce the identity and you will
end up [finding] American ownership.
Mayaman na kayo, mga mining companies. Ito
ang deal ko sa inyo: Either I will raise the taxes, ang kumikita niyan
i-reserve ko to compensate for those who are suffering and in agony. [APPLAUSE]
You have to come up with a substitute,
either spend to restore the virginity of their source or I will tax you to
death. [APPLAUSE] Kasi ‘yung taxes makuha ko, talagang ibubuhos ko. Ngayon, if
you can make an arrangement, an inventory of the.. ’yung nasira, ’yung mga tao
nagutom. Pati ’yung river nila wala nang makuha because… You know guys, kayong
mga taga-Davao, we are not new to it. You want to see horror in your lifetime?
Akong bahala.
NPA [New People’s Army], huwag muna kayong
magpagara-gara diyan, away-away, kay magpunta kami. Samahan ko sila. You stop
your… puro hambog lang kayo diyan. Punta tayo doon sa Diwalwal, doon sa
[inaudible] and I will show you the river. Up there at the source, it’s so
pristine. But doon sa right at the start of the boundary, where the millings
are started, the water there is not clear, it is not brown, it is black.
Your one peso will win one million from me
if I am lying. Kung gusto mo isama ko kayo bukas doon. Ngayon, ’pag tinarget
tayo ng mga gagong NPA na ’yan eh problema natin ‘yan lahat. Sabay-sabay na
lang tayo. Bakante ang presidency, bakante ang Senado pati ang congressman.
Pero totoo ’yan. You should visit the… even
the first spade, even the first spade full of earth that you extract and throw
it away [is] of no use. Itabi mo lang ’yan diyan eh because it’s an open pi.
You dig and dig and dig… is already the first spade there is the decreasing of
Mother Earth.
Alam mo ang isa pang galit sa mining? Si
Speaker. He comes from a mining town, but he hates mining. Ako naman kasi, mga
kaibigan ko ’yung iba, ’yung mga classmate ko mga vice president ng mining,
magpunta sila dito… But it reduces into something – the damage that you have
caused. It’s not about our friendship. It’s not about years of being in the
same room. It’s not about being fraternity brothers. But it is something that…
[RAISES HIS RIGHT HAND] Ganun ‘yan eh.
Alam mo, ’yung martial law, I am not so
much endeavored diyan. Sabihin ninyo na hindi ninyo ibigay? Okay lang. Wala
akong problema diyan. Maski sabihin ninyo na tama na, okay lang. Then I will
still fight. The way I will fight the war – if it is not acceptable to the
normal of civilian conduct, then I am sorry because I am not fighting a
civilian war, I am stopping violence and rebellion. [APPLAUSE] Hindi talaga
ako…
Ibigay man ninyo o hindi, para sa akin
wala. Because ako, I do not intend to go beyond my term. As a matter of fact,
mas gusto kong barilin ako doon sa likod. Eh hindi masyado ako itong bilib
itong trabahong ito? Akala ko bilib ako. Pagdating ko ah l****, sakit ng ulo.
[APPLAUSE]
Totoo. Kayo nakikinig kayo. Wala akong
pinirmahan ni isa, putang ina ’yan na para pagkain. Pagkain. Pagkain sa
opisina, eh bayaran ninyo ‘yan. Maglabas ako. I do not collect anything. I do
not remember. I do not sign anything there until now. Wala akong allowance wala
akong tinatanggap lahat except my salary. Tapos dalawang pamilya pa ang
maghati.
Anong masama niyan? [APPLAUSE, CHEERS] Sige
kayo pakpak diyan. Lahat naman tayo. [LAUGHTER] I can count my… Not even the
two hands, one hand lang na exempted sa rule na ’yan. Dalawa, tatlo, apat,
lima. Lokohin ninyo ako, ba’t tayo pa ba ang maglokohan? Just because this is
Congress it has to be a secret, secret. Maniwala kayong mga ito? Pareho kaming
lahat niyan. Ayaw pa tumawa kunwari. [LAUGHTER, APPLAUSE]
So I will increase the taxes. Then I will
think of something that will compensate or make up for the damage or at least
the income restored. Otherwise, I’ll have to stop mining. I will ask you to
stop it. It’s not good. We are a small group of islands. Hindi naman marami.
The coastal – marami ‘yan kasi. Marami paikot-ikot, but we are in a contiguous
territory. Maliit lang tayo.
You must remember that there are so many
billions of the future generations waiting in this stratosphere. Ang gusto
ninyo, para hindi na kayo mandamay, huminto na kayo ng ano. Then let us go to…
Because this will not end here. How about the billions and billions and
billions of Filipinos who will come after us? Kawawa naman. They’ll have to
scratch Mother Earth to eat.
By this time kung walang upheaval, no
regeneration will occur. We are almost like talagang ginaganun natin ang –
maliit na lang ang makuha nila. But maawa naman kayo. Makikita mo ’yung apo mo
kung ganun mo na lang… Kung ganun mo na lang ’yung – embrace mo ‘yung apo mo sa
pangalawang asawa. ’Yung isa ganun rin. Di ba? Di ba, sir? [LAUGHTER] Suntukin
kita diyan ngayon. Liar ka.
Finally, let me make this appeal to those
directly engaged in mining. Declare your correct income. Pay your correct
taxes. Believe me, your failure to do so will be your undoing and eventual
ruin. [APPLAUSE]
Hindi na ako makatakbo. Matanda na ako. I
don’t think I’ll even survive the five years. Pero pagka sinabi ko upakan kita,
upakan talaga kita.
To our employees and officials of the LGUs
tasked with monitoring these mining operations within their territorial
jurisdictions, do your job without fear or favor. I [hold] you absolutely
responsible for any misdeed or failure [by] the mining entities to comply – do
not comply or comply with the guidelines, rules and regulations governing
mining operations and activities within your area of responsibility. I mean it.
Do not try to test my resolve. Absolutely, I have nothing to lose except my
life.
While we can control the acts of man, no
one can control [or] stop the fury and rampage of weather gone wild. When
nature fights back, it does so with a vengeance.
We have seen the terrible toll that Super
Typhoon Yolanda and the succeeding typhoons exacted in terms of human life and
property. And we still have to recover from the beating that we got both during
and in the aftermath of those mega typhoons.
Aside from droughts, tempests, and other
problems taking shape which, according to DOST-Phivolcs, it is no longer just a
distant possibility but a probability – earthquakes.
The series of damaging quakes in Leyte,
Surigao, and nearby provinces and islands attest to this. We were told that it
is no longer a question of “if” but a matter of “when.”
Thus, we need to act decisively and fast
because the threat is huge, real, and imminent.
Come to think of it really, they say that
there is no perfect instrument or human acumen can really predict earthquake. I
hope it will not come. Kasi kung magdating ’yung sabi nila ’yung “Big One.” I
hope it will be just in the mountains and in the rural areas. Because if it’s
right – sabihin nila tinatakot nila ang… media kasi… Nandito eh, in the speech,
I reviewed it last night. I am calling [on] both houses of Congress to
expeditiously craft a law establishing a new authority or department that is
responsive to the prevailing 21st century conditions and empowered to best
deliver enhanced disaster resiliency and quick disaster response.
While the law is [being] crafted with
extreme urgency, we need to undertake immediate action to ensure disaster
resiliency and effective response in the greater [Metro] Manila area, which is
our country’s seat of governance, center of business, commerce, and the
academe. Disaster resiliency of Metro Manila and the surrounding provinces is a
matter of urgent concern.
Iyon nandito ’yan, tinatakot nila dito
because of the high-rise buildings and… Ilang tao ang nakatira diyan? Kung…
Kaya kaya ito sa isang sinkhole? I mean if it cracks and it goes down, can we
still manage to go up? God, huwag ngayon ha, kay nandito ako. Hintayin mo lang
’yan. Sila na lang. Sila dito nag-aaway. [LAUGHTER]
I am directing the Cabinet Cluster on
Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management to immediately work hand
in hand with the concerned LGUs, the private sector and the affected
communities themselves, in undertaking disaster measures, antidotes.
We all need to act fast.
With all the foregoing said, what then is
the state of the nation today?
I will mince no words, and neither will I
window-dress the situation we are in. Let me answer in two brief sentences. We
are in for trouble because we live in troubled and uncertain times. And I fear
that things might get worse before they become better. But like I said I hope
we will cope. We hope and pray.
The West Philippine Sea issue and
federalism are matters that we have to tackle sooner or later.
On the other hand, despite our recent gains
in improving the peace and order situation in the country, there is still so
much to be desired and if we are to completely eradicate the menace of illegal
drugs, criminality and corruption, we must do it.
I therefore ask Congress to act on all
pending legislations to reimpose the death penalty on heinous crimes –
especially on the trafficking of illegal drugs.
There is a shortage… No, no, no. There is a
short clip of CNN about people in Massachusetts. Was it there? Iyong clip nila
ang ipinakita. Tiningnan… Pakitingin lang… It’s repeated for almost every week
yata ’yang mga short clips. Tingnan mo ’yung mga tao doon na hinayaan nilang
mag… They are there. They live under the bridge. They are getting thin. They
are doing nothing. Nakaganun lang sila tapos po-pose ng ano… And they are aplenty
there. They do not work, wala.
Tapos sabi ng UN… Is he here? Are you
there? Iyong UN representative? Na sinabi mo na shabu will not affect the
brain? Are you here? Raise your right hand, if you’re here. Do not worry. I
will just… Do not – the word “delude” as into you… Iyong mga ano ninyo na – but
we know every day that one family raped, dalawa and all are dead. Then you
trivialize it with human rights and due process.
Okay ako niyan. When you go into an anger,
when you burst with rage, okay ‘yan. But with so many killings as brutal and as
cruel as what happened, if you add human rights and due process, you stink and
your mouth smells. If you want to criticize, criticize, condemn the act, stop
there. But do not give the excuse or do not make it trivial by saying human
rights at least we’ll be protected…
Iyan ang pinakabuwang na magawa ng isang
tao. When you criticize, stick on one topic. Then you find an event where you
can talk about human rights and due process, but do not talk about it in the
same time when there is a carnage and you begin to blabber, talk about human
rights. Lalong nagagalit ang tao. Eh putang ina mo. May namatay na diyan. Akala
mo kung sino ka. [APPLAUSE] What have you done in the name of human rights?
Seventy-seven – you have the records. You can summon the police. Seventy-seven
before I became president. All drug- related, seventy-seven thousand. And you
trivialize that with a conference… At saka pumunta dito, ang tatanungin ’yung
nasa presuhan na pinreso dahil nag – just imagine…
I challenge you, you want a debate in
public? Okay, we’ll have it. I will challenge you how also you trivialize the
thing by – ’yung binibigyan niyo ng importansiya si [Sen. Leila] De Lima. You
all know. You were all here. You conducted the investigation. You heard the
witnesses. You saw the videos. Is she a credible woman? Can she be a moral
person? [APPLAUSE] Puro kayo drama diyan sa…
When you talk about an incident, talk about
it. Then condemn, condemn the police. But do not connect it with due process and
human rights. Mag-mukha kang gago sa harap ng Pilipino.
You know why I get this rating? I could not
be brighter than you and my wbork is not more important or your vocation is not
less than mine. But when you talk in public, carry the proper message. Kaya
mag-82 kayo or kaya binobombahan niyo kasi ako ng ganun. Sasabihin naman ng mga
tao: “Eh tama ’yan. Tama ’yan si Duterte.” Kasi nangyayari eh.
Eh kayo man ang front sa pa-ganun-ganun, eh
’pag may namatay diyan na maraming massacre, ni-rape mga babae, bata, hindi
kayo umiimik. [APPLAUSE] Maya-maya pagdating ng mga… [APPLAUSE, CHEERS]
pagdating nitong mga western expert kuno, you give them so much premium and
importance. Saan ba ang utak ninyo? Bakit kayo bilib diyan sa puti? Tingnan mo
ang puti, panahon ni [US President Barack]Obama, una ‘yung spokesman ng State
Department. Akala mo kung sino. Akala nila mas bright pa sila sa akin. Then the
staff of the President, then Obama: “I would like to remind Mr. Duterte that
the policy of…” Eh ‘di yari ako. Pagdating ni [US President Donald] Trump: “Oh
yes, Mr. President, I’ve been expecting your call. You are doing it all right…
And this g*******…” [APPLAUSE] Uwi na ako. Tang ina ’yan.
So? That’s the value of the country that
you value. Ambivalent. Parang electric fan. Okay dito o hindi na okay, it’s
vacillating. Tapos kayong mga – bilib kayo. Hindi ko talaga maintindihan ang
Pilipino. It takes for an American to say that I’m a son of a bitch. And it
takes for an American to say: “Oh you’re great. You’re a hero in your country.”
O saan ako pupunta dito ngayon? [LAUGHTER]
It is time for us to fulfill our mandate to
protect our people from these crimes that have victimized… You know, huwag
ninyo akong takot-takutin niyang preso ‘yung international court of justice.
ShitI am willing to go to prison for the rest of my life. Ang importante sa
akin ginagawa ko ‘yung gusto ko. [APPLAUSE]
Alam mo kasi, in this country, it is a rule
of majority. I did it for the 50 plus one because in a vote of 100, I get 51 –
50 plus one. Fifty is one-half, one, that is majority of one, I win. ‘Yung 49,
‘yon ‘yung mga… I do not have to make them happy.
But when the time comes, eh kung malasin
ako, pupunta ako sa presuhan, do not worry about me. I can take it. Noong
maliit pa ako, labas-pasok ako sa… Wala pa ’yang law ni [Sen. Francis]
Pangilinan. Labas-pasok na ako sa presuhan. Kunin ninyo ’yung record sa pulis
doon sa Davao. Takutin na: “He will be prosecuted.” Hoy, abogado ako because I
will…
Sabi ko nga: Everybody is entitled to come
here and question me. But I have to question you also. At para magaling, let us
make it official. We go to court and we tell the judge that we are hearing by
an international body. Can we have it judicially recorded? And I will place
them under oath. Mahuli ko man talaga ’yan sila. May pinatay ako, tama ‘yan.
When I was mayor, a little over… For 23 years ako mayor ng Davao eh. Makita mo
ang Davao ngayon. You have been LGUs before. What city is now hitting nine
growth percent? Eh nandoon pa kami sa Mindanao, binobomba pa kami sa Davao.
Davao is nine, growth. Tapos sabihin ninyo… Ngayon, paano ngayon i-nine mo
’yung – palabas mo itong nine we are about to hit six or so, sabi nila. Pero
’pag hayaan mo lang ako, mag-abot ito ng 21, the highest in the world.
[APPLAUSE] Kayo lang ang taga-pigil eh.
It is time for us to fulfill our mandate to
protect. Tapos na ‘yan. Kindly… For so long… We have to act decisively on this
contentious issue.
Capital punishment is not only about
deterrence. It is also about retribution. Make no mistake about that.
Iba kasi ako eh. Let us understand each
other, including the international community. Ang aming – our criminal system
uses the Revised Penal Code. That is a law that was given to us by the
Spaniards, the original Revised Penal Code. Though it was translated into
English and in this two books, three books, there are the definition of crimes
and the penalties and everything. And the thrust of that Revised Penal Code,
ladies and gentlemen, is the essence of retribution. That is why you have
penalties.
There is also the word “positivist theory”
that you can nurture a criminal into goodness provided he goes to prison for
two years, three years. He’s released, he’s a sex offender. When he goes out,
he rapes again, kidnaps another girl, and makes her a hostage for so many
years. Ganun kayo eh. Admit it. Ganun kayo. You are so too lenient about this
son of a bitch, a human being that has a virulent brain and his enemy is
society.
And many at times, there were sex offenders
in America released only to rape and kidnap again and kill in just a few months
after release.
In the Philippines, it is really an eye for
an eye, a tooth for a tooth. You took a life then you must pay for life. That
is the only way to even. You cannot place a premium on the human mind that he
will go straight. Nobody can. Not even your best scientist. No one has ever
fathomed how a person would react, especially in committing crimes. That’s the
only way to do it to instill fear – that if you do it, you will die. That’s the
advantage of criminals and rebels and terrorists because they think that you
are afraid to die.
That’s why when I went to Marawi, I was
asked by the media: “Why are you here?” I am here because my soldiers are here
and I came here to die also. [APPLAUSE] Because any battle, any fierce
encounter, you have to be of equal equanimity. Gusto siyang mamatay, eh ’di
gusto ko ring mamatay.
They say that they use the name of God, and
the Christians say: “We have the same thing.” I read the Ecclesiastes 3. What
does it say? Even during elections, there is a time to be great and a time for
defeat. A time to be in the skies, emblazoned there, and a time to be
[inaudible] somebody. A time to have money, a time to be hard up. A time to
just walk so many kilometers to school and a time for graduation and being a
lawyer. A time to be… I don’t know what I am now. There‘s always a time.
[LAUGHTER, APPLAUSE]
Ganun ’yan eh. So I’ll match you. Pag sinabi
mong: “Gusto kong mamatay.” Anak ka ng… Dalawa tayo.
This bully, you know I had dinner with them
sa Bayan. Itong NDF [National Democratic Front] because I used to be friends
really with the NDF. I was crossing the ideological borders before. Ako ’yung
nakakapasok sa teritoryo and we were friends really. But times have changed
because God placed me here and I take care of a Republic. Sabi nila doon
“bully” daw ako. Tang ina pala kayo, talagang bully ako. [LAUGHTER, APPLAUSE]
Putang ina. Talagang bully ako, especially to the enemies of the state,
talagang bully ako. [APPLAUSE]
Ito pa. Sabi ko sa mga sundalo… ’yung mga
human rights na ano, you are flying everywhere, anywhere ’yung mga utak ninyo…
I said: “Take no prisoners.” Which is [GARBLED]… “Kill them.” Which is correct?
But you don’t listen to my speech. This media – lalo na itong ABS[-CBN] – kunin
lang ‘yang “kill them.” [LAUGHTER]
‘Yan ang problema ninyo, kaya minura ko
kayo. Walang Presidente na putang ina kayo because you are not behaving. Now
you’re asking me for talks… [APPLAUSE, CHEERS] When you publish in the
newspaper or quote us in media, itong mga reporters would only quote: “Kill
them.”
I said: “Kill them in a fight. If you have
to shoot them, shoot them at the heart or the head.” Sabi ko: “Why? Because
they will be detained here in Marawi, wala tayong presuhan.” [LAUGHTER]
Ngayon, and the courts will always insist
that they will be – that’s the law – that they will be tried and detained in
the place where they committed the crime. Kaya huwag kayong mag… patayin talaga
ninyo, kasi ilagay natin ’yan diyan sa barracks natin diyan, sa ating
mechanized division. Pag-eskapo niyan, dalhin ’yung kanyon natin, ipaputok pa
sa atin. [LAUGHTER]
Marami. How many jail – anong tawag dito? –
jailbreaks in Mindanao. In Cotabato alone, six. Cotabato City, four. Ang jail doon,
nire-raid tapos pinapalabas.
Alam ba ninyo ’yan? Because you do not
publish. Or itong mga taga-Maynila… hindi kayo… mga bright kayo, bilib ako. Mga
gung-gong. Sabi na: “Why do you…?” Why? What happened last April in Davao? It
was bombed. How many were killed? Twenty-seven. Few years ago, the church was
bombed twice. How many died? Fifty-nine. The airport just as the people were
coming out of the departure – ah arrival – it was bombed. How many died?
Thirty-two.
In the war, three nuns were lining up there.
I had to scoop the brain of the nun to put it in a can because the face was
shattered. Zamboanga. And you say that the violation is only in Marawi? Torpe.
Talaga kayong… Mag-usap tayo ngayon. Dalhin ko kayo doon sa mga biyuda. Kailan
lang ‘yun?
Huwag niyong sabihin na “It’s only in
Marawi.” Rebellion has been going on in Mindanao. Walang sinasanto doon. Hindi
lang ninyo binabasa nang husto. What’s the… It’s very porous. Kung separate
islands ’yan, maybe. Kung separate ‘yan…. Very porous, they can go… And
Mindanao… This is not to… The Moro has nothing to do with it, pareho tayo.
Pareho tayong Maranao, so just shut up. Huwag kayong ma… Ito ang totoo.
Maraming Muslim sa Mindanao. Lahat… Eh sa
Abra, meron eh. In this fight… Well, where do you think the Moro would side?
Kung patayan na. They will side with government? Kung ako ngayon, kung nakatira
ako, hindi kami umalis ng… Hindi ako dinala ng nanay ko sa labas. I’ll be a
resident of Marawi. What do you think will be my sentiment? Sulu, Davao – puro
Muslim enclaves ’yan. There are enclaves, parang baryo-baryo. Kapag
sentimiyento ang putukan, magputok ‘yan sabay-sabay.
On another thing, I’ll talk it about in the
[news] conference. Sumobra itong left eh. Maggawa ka ng bahay, nakawin. Ang
sabi ko sa sundalo: “Do not force the issue. I will just build yours. Ibigay mo
na lang.”
May project ngayon, gusto na naman nilang
kuhanin. Do not commit that mistake. Here and now, I will tell you, including
the Congress of the Republic of the Philippines: You do anarchy, I will order
the soldiers and the police to shoot. Even if I have to bury thousands of
Filipinos. Huwag ninyo akong ganunin.
Either you’re… Either… Let us understand
this beginning today: Either we have laws in this country or we do not. We
enforce the laws against the miners and the rich, but I will also enforce laws
against anarchy, disturbance, and create trouble. Kayo rin, natatakot din eh.
[APPLAUSE]
Takutin ninyo ako na occupy the streets?
Anak ng jueteng. You stay there. You ask for two days, I will give you six
months. Huwag kayong umalis diyan. Kainin ninyo pati ’yung dumi ninyo diyan.
Takut-takutin mo ang gobyerno. I’m sorry,
I’ve exceeded my time, but… Eh kailangan kong sabihin eh. Para maintindihan din
nila. Tutal nandito na lang rin ako sa media. Nakikinig pati lahat. Kayong mga
left, I will not talk to you. Why should I? [APPLAUSE] Huwag mo na akong
pilitin na magpatayo kayo mga pro-poor, shut up. Wait for two years, because I
have…
You know, this is my proposal. I may be
totally wrong and I will accept it, but this is mine. From now on, I will save
money for the Armed Forces of the Philippines. We have lost so much soldiers.
[APPLAUSE] And there are thousands already incapacitated to fight. Pati ’yung
police ko, araw-araw ninyong ina-ambush. Pati ang convoy ko, kasi doon ako
mag-sakay, in-aambush nila.
Pati akong — gago. Putang ina, pati ako,
patayin nila. Sabagay, malayo ako doon. Pero convoy ko kasi ’yun eh. Waiting
lang ako doon sa ano… Alam mo ginamitan niyo ng machine gun. Kaya lang
armorized.
Kayong mga congressman, senador na ayaw
ninyong – baka may kalaban kayo. Asawa ba ninyo ’yung katira ninyo ngayon?
[LAUGHTER] O inagaw ninyo? Pa-armorize ninyo. Totoo. Proven, M60. [APPLAUSE]
Si… Si Senator [Franklin] Drilon, M60, sir. Hindi talaga ’to maalis. Kasi
binara na nila. Nasira na lang ‘yung – ’di talaga nila. And the soldiers inside
were all there all the time, mina-machine gun na, hindi tatalab.
Mga gago, pati ‘yung convoy ko, ambushin.
Hindi nila alam na nakasibat na ako. [APPLAUSE]
Kaya gusto niyo kong mag-usap tayo, no,
sumobra kayo. Ikaw, [Jose Maria] Sison, tang … Mag-inom ka ng Tang. Yung
orange. [LAUGHTER] Matanda ka na. Kayong Pilipinas, makinig, buong Pilipinas.
Kayong mga bata, kayong mga Lumad natives, itong matatanda na ito: Sison is
sick. May colon cancer. Ang gastos ng Norway, sumurender na siya. Kasi naging
isyu sa pulitika eh. This government who sponsored those 0– who provided the
good offices. Matatalo sa eleksyon dahil sa issue diyan. Kasi pabalik-balik ang
mga buang, kala mo mga turista. Wala namang pinag-uusapan.
Pagdating dito, gusto ng ganito, gusto ng
ganyan, ah lint mo. [LAUGHTER] Huwag mong sabihin ’yung meaning doon sa mga
bisita. Napura na ako ba. Talagang ano ako, sir. Masyadong demanding. Ni hindi
naman kayo nanalo ng elections ni minsan. You cannot even hang on into a
barangay. And you keep on killing people – hindi lang ‘yung mga pulis, pati
‘yung mga civilians na ayaw magsali sa kanila.
Kaya sabi ko ano… sabi ko talaga, “Buang
ka.” And sinabi ko talaga. Pardon pa si…. Pinutang ina ko talaga siya the other
day sa Davao. Sinong tinatakot ninyo? Katanda-tanda na ninyo eh. At lahat tayo
mamatay. Kayong mga naiwan diyan sa kalsada, mabuti pa umuwi kayo. Wala kayong
makuha diyan sa komunista. [APPLAUSE]
Do you think that if the ISIS prevails in
this country that you will have a place in their society? You must be awfully
stupid, as stupid. [APPLAUSE] Wala kayong makuha. Lahat tayo damay. Thank you
for allowing the exhaust dito.
In our sustained effort to achieve just and
lasting peace [LAUGHTER, APPLAUSE]… Class, be courteous. Do not make a noise.
The visitors are listening. [LAUGHTER]… just and lasting peace for a [unified]
nation, we are pursuing an inclusive peace process, promoting the participation
of all stakeholders, including those conflict-affected areas.
We took steps to promote inclusiveness in
the Bangsamoro Transition Commission [BTC] by expanding its membership through
Executive Order No. 8 which I signed in November last year.
By giving representation to indigenous
peoples, women, children, and sultanates, and key stakeholders in the drafting
of the Bangsa[moro] Basic Law, we ensure a Bangsamoro government that truly
reflects the aspirations of our Muslim brothers and sisters as well as our
indigenous brethren. [APPLAUSE]
We have embarked on various initiatives to
advance our national interest in the global community. We pursue good relations
with all nations anchored on an independent – on an independent foreign policy
[APPLAUSE] – and the basic tenets of sovereign equality, mutual respect and
non-interference. [APPLAUSE]
As an independent nation, we will uphold
and promote our national interests in the international community. We will
strengthen and seek partnership with those who share our values. We will engage
nations with full respect for the rule of law, sovereign equality, and again,
non-interference. These are the principles that we are upholding as we advance
to this year for the meeting as the chair of the Asean.
We have cultivated warmer relations with
China through bilateral dialogues and other mechanisms, leading to easing of
tensions between the two countries and improved negotiating environment on the
West Philippine Sea.
At this point, allow me to take a step back
in time, in 1901. In 1901, there was known as Balangiga, and that is Eastern
Samar. It was the time for Philippine-American War.
A combined group of Filipino villagers and
guerrillas, in an effort to defend Samar Island from the alien invaders,
attacked and overwhelmed a US – a United States infantry garrison. Forty-eight
American officers and men were slain in the attack. On the Filipino side, the
casualty count was twenty-eight killed and twenty-two wounded.
In retaliation, US gunboats and patrols
were sent to Balangiga, Samar with the order to “make a desert of Balangiga”
and to reduce Samar Island into an island of “howling wilderness,” where every
male citizen from the age of ten and above, and capable of bearing arms, would
be put to death. The Church bells of Balangiga were seized by the Americans as
spoils of war.
Those bells are reminders of the gallantry
and heroism of our forebears who resisted the American colonizers and
sacrificed their lives in the process. Krag against bolo – Krag was the
standard rifle issued to the American troops. And that is how the historians
describe.
[TO SOMEONE NEAR THE PODIUM:] Nauna ka,
pababa mo. Hindi, baba mo, tumataas ‘yan. [LAUGHTER]
Mahirap talag kung director ka, ikaw pa ang
speech. [LAUGHTER]
Many historians describe – [sige] the
Philippine-American war. That is why I say today: Give us back those Balangiga
bells. [APPLAUSE] They are ours. They belong to the Philippines. [APPLAUSE]
They are part of our national heritage. [APPLAUSE] Isauli naman ninyo. Masakit
‘yun sa amin.
We now talk about our overseas Filipinos.
They are our heroes. They and their families have sacrificed much to the… for
the country. We all know how a large part of our economic – economy comes from
their remittances. That is why to ensure that their rights are protected, I
ordered the increase of our assistance to the OFW from 400 million pesos to
more than 1 billion. [APPLAUSE]
We have been hard at work in securing the
rights and welfare of our OFWs.
A year ago, I also warned government
officials and employees that I will never tolerate corruption in my
administration, not even a whiff of it. Let the dismissal of several
high-ranking officials – whom I myself appointed – serve as a warning to all
that I will never back down on my commitment to cleanse this government and
corporation. [APPLAUSE]
In order to bring government services
closer to the people, we established hotlines, government centers that receive
public concerns, one of which is the Hotline 911, which allowed us to receive
and immediately respond to emergencies.
We also launched Hot… launched Hotline
8888, the Citizen’s Complaint Hotline. This is a public hotline facility that
receives feedbacks or concerns on government services.
Since we launched this hotline, we have
received numerous complaints from the public on government – slow government
processing, unclear or changing procedures and requirements, centralized
issuances of clearances and permits in Metro Manila, and discourteous
government employees, among others.
Time and again, iyong pag-transact ng ordinary… no, no the ordinary people who
transact business in government. In the last Asean Ministerial Conference, I
don’t know why Malacanan has to… My office has to do some work for… Or the
orders like itong mga barong. It’s always the – that outfit takes care of the
attire that will be given to the ministerial, this time to the heads of state.
Alam mo, I’d like to address this myself to
government. Iyan bang bayaran, pabalik-balikin ninyo ang tao. I know that,
because I’ve been mayor for 23 years. I never allowed it in my city. But dito,
alam mo iyang mga sastre, diyan sa Parañaque haggang Cavite, iyong mga
tailoring diyan, ang negosyo ang niyan in bulk – Boy Scout, teacher’s uniform,
Girl Scouts – naghahabol iyan sila ng mga kontrata. And they are just the
stores that you find along the way until Cavite. They grouped together during
times of ganito, may Asean and they look for a person to represent them. This
is not… No offense intended, but you see they look for beautiful women, the
young, who would do the talking, arrangement, you know, because it’s the… Well,
it’s the reality of life and the beautiful women get the attention always.
Tapos, pag na-deliver na nila, nasukatan
na, pabalik-balikin ninyo and right there in Malacanan, it happened. So I will
fire the lady, whoever was connected with her. As I have fired anybody else… a
Cabinet member for buying an 18 million truck in Austria. That was not our
contract, it was contract of the previous administration, 14 of those 18
million were already delivered. This Cabinet member was… I was informed about
it and I said, the legal, his legal office, to stop it.
You know what? He went just right ahead,
travel there, signed something for the… another tranche of delivery. So right
there, right in the Cabinet meeting I said: “Wwere you able to read the opinion
of your law, your own law office?” He said no. But [Trade Secretary] Sonny
Dominguez was already passing to me the 0150 iyong sa Iphone. So I was reading
it, while I was talking to him. Sabi ko: “Putang ina mo. You are fired. You are
lying.” And so I fired him. “Go out of this office. I don’t want to see your
face again.”
Ganoon ako ka istrikto. So iyong… the
Cabinet members – they are here – they are only given noon, one year, two
years, one month. The directors, makinig kayo sa gobyerno, bantay kayo.
Directors, you are only given 15 days and I do not want directors out of their
office. You eat your lunch there – lahat kayong taga-gobyerno – so that you can
resume to work immediately. [APPLAUSE]
Now ito ang deal ko sa public. There is the
8888, I cannot stop corruption and wrongdoings if you do not cooperate. You
text me. Libre iyan: 8888. You name the public official. Name his sins in that
bulletin and I will take it from there. Do not be afraid about libel. I will
take care of that. [APPLAUSE] Iyon ang gawin ninyo. I have to have your help.
Hindi kasi kayo mag ano, wala eh. Lahat, police, military, lahat pati ako. If
you think that some of – may nagawa ako na masama, di sabihin ninyo, do not be
afraid. We are all workers of government! Kayo iyong employer namin. We get the
money from your pocket to our pockets. Since when have you heard me talk about
government and officials? I always address everybody “workers of government.”
I seldom mention Malacañan Palace. It is
not a Palace. It is just a house of wood. So why should I call it the Palace?
Give me something like the European style. Kaya ako I just called it office.
Palace-Palace ka diyan eh. And besides, all the rats of Pasig are there.
[LAUGHTER] It’s just beside Pasig River. So, iyong lahat ng mga daga diyan kung
saan-saan, doon nagla-landing eh. It has a wide field. And they are not killed
because they are presidential mouse. [LAUGHTER] Iyon ang sabi ng.. .sundalo.
Sir, hindi daw ipagbaril, kay presidential mouse. Putang ina, mabuti pa ang
mouse dito, hindi pa pinapatay. Iyong tao kinakatay ninyo.
The people’s patience is wearing thin. So
is mine.
I am reiterating my directive to all
government agencies from frontline services to our people from womb to tomb –
to further streamline their respective services to make these truly efficient
and people-friendly.
We want to ensure that our people receive
the quality services that they deserve, minus the delays caused by bureaucratic
red tape. I expect speedy reforms along this line.
We will right size the national government.
Let us trim the excess fat and add more muscle through the expeditious passage
of “The Act Rightsizing the National Government to Improve Public Service
Delivery and for other Purposes.” I therefore urge Congress to pass this at the
soonest.
For the government owned and controlled
corporations, isa pa kayo. The implementation of the existing Salary
Standardization Law pending the review in the Compensation and Position
Classification System, it’s excessive, extravagant, and unconscionable.
Salaries and allowances, incentives, benefits, and bonuses across the
government owned and controlled corporations – at this time increases will have
to pass by my office. And I am not inclined to increase your allowances,
bonuses, and salaries at this time. [APPLAUSE] Wala na. You cannot do it on
your own. You have to direct it to the executive secretary and I will just tell
you, I am not inclined to give increases right now. Maybe seven years from now,
when [Sen. Franklin] Drilon makes it to the presidency.
I also appeal to the Supreme Court to
seriously consider the national interest and our development goals before
issuing TROs and injunctions on critical government projects and cases
involving government assets.
I am just a co-worker also, ladies and
gentlemen. May I be allowed to be also, just as frank. Tutal wala naman akong
ina-ano eh… I do not need to offend you, but I cite, for example, the Supreme
Court TRO that prevents the Department of Health from distributing subdermal
implants, which will cause the wastage of 350 million pesos worth of taxpayers’
money. I also note that since its issuance two years ago, this TRO has impaired
the government’s ability to fully implement responsibly family planning and
methods and the RH Law.
It is time that we put an end to the
practice of some parties of resorting technicalities in our laws, prevent the
government from fulfilling its mandate.
Ganito iyan, ma’am, eh. Tutal, this as good
as any other time to talk to you and may I be understood by you. I am sorry to
say this. Really I am. I do not intend to do it. But if you have to talk about
government and our sins, which I am not an exception or are… you know delays,
lahat naman tayo nagkakamali.
Ganito iyan, two things, wala na talaga
akong panahon. I don’t know if I can make another SONA again in the future.
It’s not for me to tell that. Itong TRO has been the vain of projects and even
Consunji, iyong mga Ayala nag-aaway iyan. Just to make you understand na hindi
lang kayo. Tapos iyang TRO na iyan, would delay the projects.
Now God… and I am asking Congress find me a
law na kung may bidding naman at it was regular, dapat ang korte or somebody
else should not be messing it up because it will delay the projects which has
been the case in the provinces. Alam mom mag-file iyan ng kaso. Either it is
really the truth… well, the COA will find out or makahati siya. I will withdraw
the case and dissolve the TRO, of course. Then you just give me a few…sabihin
mo 10 percent. Ganoon ang ugali ng Pilipino.
Kaya iyang TRO na iyan is the vain of our
efficiency. And I really do not know whether… I will not attribute anything,
ma’am, sa Supreme Court. Maybe I am at fault, so I am sorry, if I misquote or I
did not have the complete facts.
But itong Congress na ito passed the
Reproduction Law. It was already a law na dapat i-implement, because we are
really going into a family planning. I am not for abortion. I am not for birth
control. But certainly, I am for the giving of the freedom to a Filipino family
the size ng pamilya niya. [APPLAUSE] How many children would they be able to
support and send to school?
Ang nangyari nitong TRO mo, sir-ma’am, may
na nag-file doon sa inyo, Supreme Court, tapos nag-issue kayo ng TRO two years
ago. In the meantime iyong… ang gobyerno nagbili ng medisina itong subdermal
pati itong mga pills worth 360. It was not really a reckless purchase. It was
in preparation for the implementation of the law because hindi naman akalain na
mag-TRO-and it has been two years, the medicines will expire next month. I told
[Paulyn] Ubial, the health secretary, to find out if there is a nation, a law
which would allow it and i-donate na lang rather than go to waste. Iyan ho ang
nangyari. I do not blame you. You might have been very busy or something. Wala…
Ako, I’m just, I am below you actually. Pero sinasabi ko lang, may isa pa.
Huwag na lang itong speech, walang makuha diyan.
The vain isa pa, itong… the Congress and
tayo sa gobyerno, including the judges and justices, should understand that by
this time, iyong lowest bid iyon ang nagpo-promote ng graft and corruption sa
ating bayan. [APPLAUSE].
COA [Commission on Audit], you are here at
malaman na lang ninyo na may violation ako. Doon sa military I do not allow
them to bid but just to buy the weapons from everywhere. Because almost all
countries are making arms, the tawag nila – small arms industry. We are just
fighting a rebellion. True, we do not need the armaments, but diyan sa Marawi
you have to hit hard because they are pre-positioned inside buildings. And
until now we cannot proceed fast because there are 300 hostages.
Sabi ko: “Do not assault. If necessary,
we’ll just have to wait, wait it out.” But we have to give food. You do not go.
I don’t care if they are Moro or Christian. It’s not… We do not have that
luxury. Kasi kapag there’s a distinct possibility that we are there, they will
just behead everybody. So find out a way to do it. If you cannot find a way to
do it, then just I just said: “Wait it out.”
Iyan na ang nakatagal. Baka sabihin hindi
marunong itong sundalo. Ako iyong pipigil. Initially, sabi ko ang bomba eh.
“Sir, hindi talaga madala sir. Every window is occupied iyong high rise sir.”
And we were losing because of the snipers.
And they are in a hurry. I said: “Slow down.” When I was – hindi ako
nagyayabang – when I was in the camp sa Ranao, well, I was briefing. I was
being briefed by the military and I was giving the instructions. I heard about
16 pumutok at saka iyong bala na weng, weng, weng. Iyong mga reporter nandoon
sa likod ng stage kasi semento iyon eh. We will… is this… is the way how it
should wait, then I will wait. Unless you can find a solution, somebody here
who has the good, even a horse sense to negotiate for the release of…
Iyang itong isang… Ibalik ko iyong lowest
bid. “Alam mo ang ganda niyan adre ha.” Ang magbabagsak ng lowest bid iyong
walang pera. Ang magbabagsak ng lowest bid sasabihin niya doon sa… “Magbibigay
po ako sa inyo.” Kung sino-sino iyan mga official. So, lowest bid papanaluhin
siya. So with no capital magbibigay siya ng pera tapos bibigay… lahat bigyan
niya, connected who will… lahat. Pagkatapos niyan if it’s 100 million projects,
he has to pay so many guys, ang naiwan niya 100… out of the 100, 40 million na
lang, so that is the cost of the project.
So when I was campaigning for the
presidency, I was all over the Philippines. My God, I could see a… the
appropriation. Pero ang airport nila 3 meters long. So ginawa na lang
basketball court. [LAUGHTER]
And there is a province here, hindi kayo.
Not you. If you look into the records back in time na puro na complex ang roads
diyan, talagang daan dito, daan doon pero pagpumunta ka isang daan lang. It’s
only one highway, that is how corruption destroys the nation.
Ngayon, last. I have to say this. Kailangan
ko siyang sabihin, sir, eh.
I was elected June 30. Nag-oath ako sa
July, nagpunta na ako sa Davao, sa AFP Medical Center. Nakuwento ko na po ito
sa inyo? Hindi pa? Tapos sabi ko: “I’m quite familiar, kasi I signed a lot of…
noong mayor ako eh. Sabi ko: “May MRI ba kayo?” sabi ko. Sabi niya: “Wala sir.”
Sabi ko: “May state of the art ba kayo na x-ray?” Sabi niya: “Wala sir.” Sabi
ko: “May hyperbaric ba kayo?” That’s the chamber where you are placed inside,
iyong if suffer the bends, iyong – you are the… nagdi-deep dive ka. But it is
also high pressure that can arrest gangrene, especially those who are extracted
from the field of battle about two days na, gangrene sets in. So they are
placed there and it can work miracles for our wounded soldier.
So in one upuan, one sitting, you did
this…then I saw the building and I went inside, iyong drainage nila bumabalik.
So I said: “You know I’m really surprised. You know, military men… Would you
allow that kind of thing? The dirt is going back to the… how do you expect the
sailors to the soldiers to get well?” Tapos that’s the only building, the
oldest. I said: “Okay you rehabilitate it. I’ll give you a new one, in the
meantime.
But about last month, I went to the back of
my office, doon sa barracks ng presidential guards. So there were
groundbreaking for the hospitals of the soldiers, and I asked the soldiers who
were there also from V. Luna: “Are you now using the equipments?” Alam mo ang
sinagot sa akin? “Sir, tayo-tayo na lang mag-usap. Huwag na lang ’yan sila.”
Tang ina, wala. Hindi pa na-deliver. Sinabi ko: “If this is the way how you
treat our soldiers and they are dying now, and that machine was ordered a year
ago, then a coup d’état, a mutiny is not a surprise to me.”
Kaya sabi ko kay Ubial, hindi niya
kasalanan. It’s because of the procurement, pero ganoon kahaba. Is Secretary
Ubial here? Are you here, Secretary? Change the procedure because I will change
you. [laughter, applause] Talagang mag-coup d’état ito…
Marami nang-we are losing about, by this
time… Every day we lose about… ten? Sometimes I say it’s a useless war here,
but there is a rebellion. Sabi ko maski kung ako ang sundalo ninyo, and there
is a machine already ordered, it could have saved my life. Tapos wala, ma’am…
eh putang ina, mag-coup d’état ako and let us get the machine by ourselves. I
will not be surprised if it’s already in their mind. Ako, I’m be too willing to
step down.
But as a long-term solution, I urge
Congress to thoroughly review the existing procurement laws, and come up with
legislation that will ensure prompt delivery of goods and services to the
people – especially medicines and hospital equipments. Kasi itong military, ay
sabi ko do not mind COA, I will answer for that.
Since COA is here, I limited to three
places where military can buy the equipments because I am sure that they will
work and they can kill the enemies and make even our forces stronger or in
parity with what they have in on the other side. Itong armas, sabi ko, ’wag
mong sundin iyang ano. I will explain to COA why. ’Wag mo akong papabilhin
diyan sa mga lugar nang… gawa ng South America at lahat diyan sa mid-European.
Eastern European countries are also… there are good ones, but I limited them
to… especially, equipments in listening. Kasi kung magbili ka doon sa iba
nakikinig rin sila, sabay na kayo. Tatlo na kayong nagko-communicate. Tawag sa
Bisaya “Brin!”
Our laws should support and not impede
national development in a speedy and sustainable manner.
In our bid to accelerate human capital
development, we should ensure lifelong opportunities by enhancing quality of
and access to education, training programs.
We have sustained investments in higher
education and committed to the full implementation of the K-to-12 Basic
Foundation Program. We have widened the reach of skills training and increased
the number of out-of-school children and youth who have availed of the
Alternative Learning System.
To ensure that Filipinos are given
equitable access to quality and affordable health services, we expanded health
insurance coverage and benefits. The destitute and the indigents, or those who
just could not afford hospitalization, can now be provided with free services
of government-operated and public hospitals as well. We have strengthened the
implementation of the No Balance Billing Policy. [APPLAUSE]
Kayong mga Pilipino nakikinig sa akin
ngayon: Magpa-hospital kayo. Ako ang magbayad. Tutal hindi man nila ako
mademanda. Pasok lang kayo doon. Occupy the hospital, sabihin mo lang… totoo.
Pasok kayo ng hospital, sabihin ninyo na sabi ni Mayor Duterte, pagamot daw
kami, siya daw ang bahala magbayad.
Marami tayong tresurero dito, ilan oh.
Huwag na iyan, iyong iba naman. Sa taas na.
I have signed Executive Order No. 26
imposing a ban on smoking in public places to mitigate its consequences. We
want to minimize access to tobacco products, and provide a more supportive
environment for those who are attempting to quit tobacco use.
Alam mo bakit, tinamaan ako ng… hindi ba
ito. I’ve been very frank. I have a Barrett and I have a Buergers disease
caused by smoking. So, ang problema niyan in a survey in the Philippines, all
over the world. Why is it that the women force… workforce in an office and the
men have acquired an equal, almost in parity in numbers, sick of cancer. It was
found out, because if the poor girl has also to inhale your smoke, kaya iyan
inumpisahan ko sa Davao. In Davao, you cannot see a person there walking with a
cigarette. Foreigners, they are very… they can argue with you. They say: “My
money, not your money.” Well, then okay: “Eat your money or I will shoot your
balls.”
Investing in the health sector is never a
cost to be endured but an opportunity to be explored.
If we have to embrace the vision of a
prosperous Philippines, we have to start putting value to our people’s
well-being – because the success of every Filipino’s pursuit to life, liberty
and happiness directly mirrors the fulfilment of our aspirations as a Filipino.
I would like to reiterate my personal and
this administration’s commitment to fully implement the Magna Carta of Women to
the barangay level tapos na ito. To this effect, an executive order will be
issued to local government units institutionalizing gender and development
programs and services.
We are targeting to increase government
spending on infrastructure from 5 percent of the GDP in 2017 to 7 percent of
the GDP by 2022, amounting to a total of 8 to 9 trillion pesos or 160 to 180
billion dollars. [APPLAUSE]
Infrastructure projects. We will make the
next few years the Golden Age of Infrastructure in the Philippines to enhance
our mobility and connectivity, and thereby spur development growth equitable in
the country. In other words, we are going to build, build and build.
To improve our sea connectivity, we launched
15 brand new Ro-Ro vessels to ply major nautical routes all over the country.
We also opened an Asean Ro-Ro Shipping Route connecting the ports of Davao and
General Santos, Philippines to Bitung, Indonesia.
To address the congestion of our sea ports,
we modernized the Ports of Iloilo, General Santos, Cagayan de Oro and
Zamboanga. We shall complete strategic road and bridge projects and some of the
road sections shall be widened and improved to address the worsening traffic.
Alam mo, si Ma’am Grace… You are pushing
for – you know, when I became President, Edsa was already horrendous, as it was
a horror of the other administrations. Now, I brought in [Transportation
Secretary Arthur] Tugade, because Tugade is to me, a bright boy. He is a
billionaire. He was my classmate. Ewan kong nandito siya. He was our
valedictorian in the law class. Talagang mahusay. But we needed money and we
tried to get your help to raise money. Eh ayaw naman ninyong ibigay. Di
hanggang ngayon, andiyan pa iyong Edsa.
Okay lang, at least gumanda ang lahat.
Mag-iwan naman tayo ng pangit. We will not make it all smooth in the
Philippines. We leave a little alley known as Edsa as the road to perdition.
But, anyway, since I could not get any funding, I traveled to China and made
friends with them. And the ambassador, Ambassador Zhao… thank you for the help.
And as a matter of fact, [APPLAUSE] they are willing. They said if your
Congress has no money, we will give you the money. And China has committed to
build two bridges to span Pasig River free of charge. [APPLAUSE] So that you
will be comfortable in crossing Pasig.
Well, anyway, all of these strategic road
and transport projects shall go to naught if we cannot free our streets, which
continue to be obstructed by illegally parked vehicles. Iyong Edsa na iyan,
traffic obstructions and undisciplined drivers who stop in the middle of the
road, and unsanctioned barriers in some areas.
I am directing the MMDA and the LGUs of
Metro Manila, as well as the LGUs of Metro Cebu and all our regional centers to
ensure the free flow of traffic, and immediately clear our roads and thoroughfares
of all unnecessary obstruction, including vehicles parked on the
streets/barriers. [APPLAUSE] Sanctioned by the government, and penalize all
traffic obstructionists regardless of stature – sometimes, hindi mo maano
diyan, because the police, it’s a Cabinet member. Pero me, I have not
authorized my Cabinet member to utilize the low plate. It’s not for us to… you
just use an ordinary plate. Para walang masabi iyong tao. And I do not want you
parking there, when there’s no parking.
Please, we move… airports. We are building
new airports. We might get some money also from China and we’ll have new
airports in the coming days and we are now accelerating the implementation of
the communications, navigations, surveillance and air traffic managements system
projects which will result in the on-time arrivals, departures better managed
air traffic, reduced flight operational cost and safer and more convenient
travel experience.
Revenues are the life blood of government
which enables us to provide for the people’s needs.
Last May 31, 2017, we achieved the first
step towards more equitable taxes to fund better services for the people. I
commend the House of Representatives for heeding my urgent certification of the
tax reform by passing the first of five packages of the Comprehensive Tax
Reform Program with an overwhelming 246 votes, representing almost 9 percent of
the Filipino people.
The fate of the tax reform is now in the
hands of the Senate. Ano ba ang gusto ninyong gawin, magluhod ako diyan? Well
really, I leave it up to you. We are all Filipinos. If you think that’s a
waste, fine! If you think, it’s not good, it’s okay with me. I can survive.
I call on the Senate so support my tax
reform in full and to pass it without haste. [APPLAUSE]
Ayaw man mag pakpak, pati is ano, wala.
They are not clapping. Si [Sen. Sonny] Angara, ayaw ring mag-clap. [LAUGHTER]
Bantay ka lang sa eleksyon, tingnan mo. [LAUGHTER]
These reforms are designed to be pro-poor,
especially when the people understand how the revenues will be spent.
The passage of the Tax Reform Law is needed
to fund the proposed 2018 budget which I am submitting here and today.
The poor and vulnerable are at the heart of
my tax reform. Your support would ensure that the benefits of the tax reform
can be felt immediately by them.
In the meantime, the DOF [Department of
Finance] and BIR [Bureau of Internal Revenue] are strengthening and running
after tax evaders. [APPLAUSE]
I have directed the DOF and the BIR to
accept Mighty Corporation’s offer of P25 billion to settle its tax liabilities.
After the settlement, Mighty will no longer engage in the tobacco business.
This will be the biggest tax settlement on
record. It will produce a windfall for government, which is significant since
we have face the unexpected costs of rebuilding Marawi and Ormoc.
The acceptance of the tax settlement offer
does not preclude other criminal charges against the company that the BIR may
decide to file. A settlement will allow government to avoid a long court battle
that, as we saw in previous cases, could take years to resolve.
Let this be a lesson to others. This
administration will spare no one found cheating the government of its due.
We view information and communications
technology, or ICT, as an effective medium to implement positive and meaningful
changes in our society.
To this end, my Cabinet approved the
National Broadband Plan of 2017 to begin the work of bringing affordable
internet access to every community and improving broadband connectivity in the
country.
We have also installed free WiFi internet
in almost 400 public places around the country. We hope that the public…
[Applause] will use them to access important information and services.
The National Government Portal, which we
launched recently, will allow faster and easier delivery of public services and
reduce the number of visits of the public to agencies for government
transactions.
The Digital Terrestrial Television
Broadcasting Migration Plan has also been launched. The switch to digital from
analog transmission will not only give a better TV viewing experience but also
provide effective and reliable information to Filipinos in times of calamities.
The government-owned Salaam Digital TV, the
first Muslim TV in the Philippines, is now already on test broadcasting.
These are some of the things that we have
done for the past twelve months. A more detailed narrative is contained in my
“Report to the People,” will be released soon. Whether or not my first year of
administration was a year of gains or a year of setbacks is not for me to say
but for the people to judge; I defer to the people’s judgment.
My fellow citizens, [APPLAUSE] much remains
to be done. Corruption persists like a fishbone stuck in the throat. It pains
and it is disconcerting. We need to pry corruption from government corpus which
is deeply embedded and we also need to put an end to squabbles and bickerings
with an agencies focused truly on speedy provision of quality public services
to our people.
Believe me, it is easier to build from
scratch than to dismantle the rotten and rebuild upon its rubbles.
Nevertheless, let us work together and lay
a new foundation upon which a better Philippines can be reconstructed. Help me
build a better tomorrow.
Let me end. Gusto ninyo uwi na tayo? Oh
buksan ninyo pinto, malapit na ang pinto sa inyo. Let me end by wishing
everyone in the language of the old: “May God keep us forever sheltered in the
hollow of His hand.”
Salamat.
/atm\
