This is the 4th
State of the Nation of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte,that was delivered Delivered
at the Session Hall of the House of Representatives, Batasang Pambansa
Complex, Quezon City on July 22, 2019.
The 2019 SONA speech
lasted 93 minutes, the prepared speech of the President was said to have lasted
only 45 minutes.
For the information of
the public, below is the full text of the SONA speech of President Duterte.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (philstar) |
Thank you. Kindly sit down.
Kumusta po kayo?
Senate President Vicente Sotto III and the honorable members of
the Senate; House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and the honorable members of the
House of Representatives; Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo, magandang hapon
po sa inyo --- sa iyo, ma’am, [applause] kung nasaan ka; former
Presidents Fidel V. Ramos, Joseph
Ejercito, [applause] Macapagal-Arroyo[applause]; His Excellency
Caccia and the esteemed members of the diplomatic corps; Executive Secretary
Salvador Medialdea and the other members of the Cabinet; Chief Justice Lucas
Bersamin and the Supreme Court; my fellow workers in government; mga mahal kong
kababayan.
Let me begin by extending my hand in gratitude to all who kept
faith with me in our most trying times. Numbers speak a thousand words and tell
a hundred tales. But the landslide victory of the Administration candidates as
well as the latest survey results shows that my disapproval rating is
3%. [applause] I hope that the members of Congress --- sana hindi
kayo included sa 3% [laughter] --- inspires me with determination to
pursue relentlessly what we have started at the start of my administration.
Few men imbued with the will and the courage to do what he believes is
right and just and whatever be the opposition in terms of numbers and noise,
makes a majority. For it is not the eagle in the fight but the fight in the
eagle that matters.[applause] Believe me, I will end my term fighting.
It has been three years since I took my oath of office, and it pains me
to say that we have not learned our lesson. The illegal drug problem persists.
Corruption continues and emasculates the courage we need to sustain our
moral recovery initiatives.
Years ago, we saw the terrible devastation caused by illegal drugs. On
May 23, 2017, our law enforcers launched an operation to serve a warrant and to
neutralize terrorists. A group of armed men with sophisticated weaponry and
aided by locals radicalized by extremist dogma and teachings fought our troops
for weeks. During that Marawi Siege, tons
of shabu worth millions and millions of pesos. Drug money killed
175 and wounded [2,101] of my soldiers and policemen in that five-month battle.
I am aware that we still have a long way to go in our fight against this
social menace. Let the reason why I advocate the imposition of the death
penalty for crimes related to illegal drugs. Our citizens have begun to do
their part in the war against drugs, and through the barangay formation of
anti-drug councils, and also actually surrendering bricks of cocaine found
floating in the sea into our islands. I call this responsibility. However, the
drugs will not be crushed unless we continue to eliminate corruption that
allows this social monster to survive.
I respectfully request Congress to reinstate the death penalty for
heinous crimes [applause] related to drugs, as well as plunder.
My countrymen, it is a sad commentary that we cannot distinguish our
need from our greed, our principles from our prejudices, the real from the
fake, and the truth from a lie. The reason is because that many of us, what
matters above all is the “self.” It is selfishness [at] its worst for no
purpose other than personal aggrandizement.
To borrow the language of F. Sionil Jose who said, we have not
risen above and beyond the parochial interests. Our warped loyalty to family,
friends and tribal kin continue to exact a heavy toll on our programs designed
to uplift the poor and reassure our investors, our foreign investors local, and
the business sector in this country.
The recent uncovering of the massive fraud perpetrated against the
public health insurance system proves that corruption is pervasive. Huge amounts
of medical funds were released to cover padded medical claims and imaginary
treatment of ghost patients. I am grossly disappointed. The government is
conned of millions of pesos which could be used to treat illnesses and possibly
save the lives of many. Thus I ordered the NBI to arrest and cause the
prosecution of those liable. I appointed a new PhilHealth President, whom I
know is a man of integrity, a military man, a former military officer, and gave
him marching orders to prioritize ridding the agency of corruption.
By the way, I commend the Bureau of Investigation for its handling
of high profile cases resulting in the arrest and prosecution of
criminals. These culprits will have their day of reckoning in court. I hope it
happens during the last three years of my term.
Concerning the unscrupulous persons manning our ports and scalawags in
uniform, we have been unyielding in our reforms to weed them out of public
service.
I have fired or caused the resignation of more than a hundred officials
and appointees of government without regard to relationship, friendship and
alliance. There is no sacred cow as the saying goes in my Administration.
Institutions that are the stewards of our resources and agents of
development have long been a major source of public frustration. Drastic
reforms within these agencies have yielded results. Our government-owned and
controlled corporations (GOCCs), infamous for high salaries and bonuses being
paid their executives and employees, have started to shape up. As of July
9, 2019, we collected more than P61 billion from GOCCs or government
corporations, 32% of which, or P16 billion, from
PAGCOR. [applause] This is more than the P36 billion collected in
2017. My salute to Andrea Domingo. [applause]Magpasugal ka pa, ma’am, nang
marami. [laughter] Bureau of Customs, though corruption-ridden,
managed to collect Five Hundred Eighty Five Billion Pesos
(P585,000,000,000) in 2018. Imagine how much more could have been collected had
the BOC been clean and less corrupt.
May I cut and just --- magsalita lang ako kung anong sa isip ko. I went
to the Bureau of Customs two weeks ago and found out that there were about 63
of them facing charges, criminal charges, and 61 of them under investigation. I
hope that I can have the cooperation of Congress. If we cannot abolish their
position and if I cannot dismiss them for the reason that there is a security
of tenure, I will just allow them to have their plantilla positions but they
have to report to Congress everyday to help me in the huge paperwork that we
have to do everyday. All of them will go out from the premises of the Customs
area.[applause] I do not want them back.
We, in government, talk too much, act too little, and too slow. I recall
saying that before the Congressional hearing when I was Mayor of Davao City. I
say that again to emphasize how little we have changed since then. We are long
on rhetorics but short on accomplishments. It’s either you Congress
or --- even the Executive department and maybe me. So I am here to rectify my
own error.
That is why, I implore those who occupy positions of power and
authority, to let your deeds and accomplishments do the talking. Lead by
example. Words ring hollow when not followed by positive and prioritized
action.
Time and again, I have emphasized that like my fellow workers in
government, trabahante lang po ako ng Pilipino.
Last year, I assign --- I signed the Ease of Doing Business and
Efficient Government Service Delivery Act, a significant piece of legislation
to improve service delivery and fight corruption, still until now.
However, much [has] to be done in ensuring our responsiveness to
the people’s needs. Based on complaints received by the Contact Center [ng]
Bayan, Contact Center [ng] Bayan --- that’s in my office --- the LTO, SSS, BIR,
LRA, and PAG-IBIG are the top five agencies that need to drastically improve
their service.
I reiterate my government --- my directive to the government and
instrumentalities, including the LGUs and the government
corporations: simplify. May I… Nandito ba kayo? Simplify. Just like the
others. You can do it electronically. You do not have to go to the office.
I’ve been asking that from you since three years ago. ‘Pag hindi pa
ninyo nagawa ‘yan ngayon, papatayin ko talaga kayo.[applause] Nabibwisit
na…
Simplify and make your services responsive to --- client-friendly.
Your client is the Filipino, our employer --- from where the money in our
pockets come from, from our salaries.
Thanks to Executive Secretary Medialdea, we have increased the
number of lines [for] Hotline 8888 to make it more responsive to the public.
Our ultimate goal is for our people to be freed from using these hotlines
because government service and response have markedly improved.
Again, I will… Ang problema kasi ng Fili --- I’m addressing now to the
Filipino. Kayo rin kasi. Sinasabi ko na sa inyo, be assertive. At ‘pag kayo o
ikaw hiningian more than the required payment by government at humingi pa sa
iyo, I’ve been telling you mag-eskandalo kayo sa opisina. Make a scene.
Sampalin mo ‘yang i** na ‘yan. Kasi aabot rin sa akin ‘yan.[applause]
And I have done that. Ako mag-pranka ako sa inyo, ako lang ang
Presidente na hanggang ngayon nagbubugbog talaga ng tao, diyan sa loob ng
Malacañan.
Pinapakain ko ng pera ‘yang mga y*** na ‘yan. Eh galit na ako sa inyo
eh. Kindly be assertive. Pagka hiningian ka, sabihin mo, i** mo. “Sabi ni
Duterte, the President told us, that if you extort money from me, I will slap
you.”
At sampalin talaga ninyo. Hindi na bale magkaaway. I will defend you. At
kung maari and this is what I’ve been doing all along. There’s an [8888]. Be
sure that it is true. Though you are not liable for libel pero huwag naman
‘yang makasakit ka ng kapwa-tao na wala namang kasalanan. [8888], then place
“To President Duterte, re: abuses by the director asking for money.” Text mo,
lalabas ‘yan diyan. And that is for the public to view.
At kung totoo, Malacañan, I said, is open 24 hours --- 24 hours basta
corruption. And that is why that fiasco about the frigate ni Trillanes was
because ‘yung Koreano na napagbili ng barko, who sold the ship to the
Philippine government, wala pa hong delivery. And it was there already ready.
And that is why that Korean went to Malacañan just to complain why is it
that there is no request for delivery. So I told Bong, “Bong, ayusin mo ‘yan.”
He went to Lorenzana and Lorenzana nagsulat siya. May nakakuha because in
Malacañan, every administration may tao ‘yan diyan. Every administration leaves
some of the men because they are appointed on plantilla position.
Eh kinuha nila then it was brought here and before the Congress. And so
Bong was called to testify. And he said, he was assured it will be a
closed-door. I told Bong, “No, ask for an open and public hearing.”
Sabi ko, “Sabihin mo sa lahat --- wala --- you have nothing. Just say
the truth.” Sabi ko, pagkatapos niya testify, sabi ko, “Bong, maniwala ka
hindi, you will be a senator.” [applause] Totoo ‘yan. That is the
story of how convoluted politics and corruption here in our country works.
Equipped with political will, the government ordered the closure of
Boracay Island for six months to prevent its further deterioration. We cleaned
and rehabilitated the island and allowed it to heal naturally. I am proud to
say that it has been restored close to its original pristine state. Boracay
Inter-Agency Task Force, led by Secretary Cimatu, and fully supported by
Secretaries Año, Romulo-Puyat --- O what’s her name? Puro surname ito,
Romulo-Puyat. What’s her name? Ah si --- ah Berna. Ah, Berna Romulo-Puyat,
Bello and Villar, and then TESDA Chief Mamondiong for this huge
success. Kudos are also due the PMS for integrating the six-month
Rehabilitation Plan, and the NEDA for
the recently-approved [Medium]-term Boracay Action
Plan. [applause]
Boracay Island is just the beginning. And the girls there, the
foreigners are waiting for you gentlemen to visit the place. They are all on
the beach sunbathing. You are invited to --- I have not been there.
Alam mo, nung naayos ‘yan, day before we were told that there’s gonna be
an opening tomo --- so on the TV on that day, magandang hapon. Showed a lot of
buntings and banners, “Salamat Duterte.” So when I saw it I called the military
and the police, “Remove the buntings. I am not going there.” No need to really
arbi --- advertise. I am paid for what I’m doing. Nakokornihan ako. Too much
adulation bordering pretentions, I can smell it in [unclear].
And I never went there until now. What I did was I went to the other
side of the island and asked the DAR what is the status of the land behind the
beach of Boracay. And they are still categorized as forestal and agriculture.
“Not,” I said, “Not commercial?” “No, sir.”
So I told the Agrarian Reform, go to the place, have it inspected
because I will declare the whole of the island a land reform program. And I
gave the islands piece by piece to the Atis, the natives of the place para walang
masabi. Marami kasi ginawa ko raw [applause] para linisan ko, ibigay
ko sa mga kaibigan ko.
Wala akong kaibigang mayaman. Ayaw kong kaibigan ng mayaman because
pagka mayaman ka, tatabi ka lang sa akin, pati ako napahiran na ng kung ano-ano
ang hingiin mo sa gobyerno.
There are those who violate environmental rules. I am giving due notice
to the LGUs and other stakeholders, kayo po, of tourist destinations to take
extra steps in the enforcement of our laws and the protection of our
environment.
On January 27, 2019, we officially started the Manila Bay
rehabilitation. Though we have a long way to go, we are encouraged by the test
results of the waters near Padre Faura. We will relocate informal settlers
--- I hope it can happen during my time --- along the waterways and shut down
establishments that continue to pollute and poison our waters.
Make a choice. I’m going to the… [Malaki ba ‘yung building
diyan?] I’m going to dismantle your burning --- ah building or just simply
burn it down so that we can have a new set-up of environmental friendly,
whatever that means.
Through the Build, Build, Build Program in emerging economic hubs
outside Metro Manila. This will swiftly gain ground, thanks to the efforts of
the Economic Team led by Secretary Dominguez. Hard at work in the
interconnection of our islands and cities by air, land, and sea are
Secretaries Tugade and Villar.
Alam naman ninyo. Magaganda na ang airport ninyo. Inuna ko nga kayo eh.
Everybody’s complaining about the Davao airport and I said, “Davao will be the
last.” Kung hindi na maabutan, sabi ko mga taga-Davao, pasensya na kayo. Para
walang masabi ang Congress sa atin, baka nga 3% sila doon sa kabila.
We also paved the way for the entry of third telecommunications
provider. Do not worry about this. There is no corruption at all. I guarantee
you, upon the grave of my father. I do not allow --- I do not talk to them. I
just say: Just do your work. And kung maari, according to what the
specifications are required by this government.
I challenge this new player to fulfill its commitment to provide fast
and reliable telecommunication services to our people, especially in the
underserved areas. DICT Secretary Honasan will be the lead man in
this endeavor. I hope he is here. [applause]
However, developmental gains will not be felt by our people in the
countryside if we cannot maintain law and order. ‘Yang peace and security,
wala… We need to enforce the law.
After almost two decades of peace negotiation, the Bangsamoro Organic
Law was finally passed and ratified.
For decades, our Muslim brothers in the ARMM have been mired in poverty.
My late Muslim brother, MinDA Chair Abdul Khayr Alonto,
envisioned a progressive, peaceful, and united Mindanao during our
lifetime. It is my hope that the Bangsamoro Transition [Authority] will
fast-track the establishment of regional government that will secure and
comfortable life for Muslim brothers and sisters, and all indigenous
communities in the Bangsamoro Regions.
Additionally, I have taken the helm of the National Task Force to End
Local Communist Armed Conflict and have assigned a Cabinet member to each
region to harmonize government efforts in attaining national development [and]
security.
Through the exceptional leadership of Secretary Briones and the DepEd, I
am proud to say that this year more Filipino learners are receiving basic
education, with over 27 million enrollees from Kinder to Senior High
School. [applause]
And because we have still a little to spare, the fastest population
growth, one of the --- is the Philippines. We are so industrious that we
are producing more people than… I do not want to quarrel with the religious
but…
More than [823,000] --- sorry my eyes is not good --- for the… Isinusuot
ko lang ‘to ‘pag mag --- paminsan-minsan eh. Out-of-school youth and adult
learners were able to access non-formal education through the Alternative
Learning System. For our national sports development, I support the proposed
measure to create the National Academy of Sports for High School
students. [applause]
Almost 86,000 micro, small, and medium enterprises or the MSMEs have
received over P3 billion worth of loans since 2017, thanks to the efforts of
Secretary Lopez and the DTI.
Additional benefits for solo parents, [applause] the
assignment of health workers in all barangays, and the expansion of the
Malasakit Centers, are what we also hope to achieve through the bills filed by
the original concept of Bong Go.[applause] Para manalo sa kampanya, ‘yon
ang mantra niya. Totohanin mo lang, Bong, mapahiya tayong
lahat. [laughter]
I also implore Congress… You --- look. You have to study this very
carefully. Congress has to postpone the May 2020 elections and ‘yung Barangay,
Sangguniang Kabataan to October 2022. Because if you read it,
this… [applause] To rectify the truncated terms. Paiba-iba na eh. The
truncated terms of sitting barangays but also provide them with the ample time
to finish their programs and projects. I suggest Congress should also enact the
Magna Carta for Barangays. [applause]
This Administration’s malasakit at serbisyo program has, of course,
reached the Filipinos who labor in foreign lands. The milestone signing of the
Bilateral Labor Agreement with Kuwait in 2018 is a testament of my commitment
to stop abuses inflicted on our overseas Filipinos. To ensure their welfare,
protection and their access to government services, the establishment of the
Department of Overseas Filipinos will sufficiently address this particular
need. [applause]
Our accomplishments for the past three years and the plans for the next
three are discussed in detail in my mid-term report to the people, copies of
which shall be made available before the day ends.
Let me repeat what I said many times before. Honestly, I have identified
the enemy who dumped us into this quagmire we are in. I have met the enemy
face-to-face and sadly, the enemy is “us.” We are our own tormentors ---
addressing the Filipino people --- we are our own demons; we are as rapacious
predators preying on the helpless, the weak and the voiceless. We find
corruption everywhere in government with every malefactor watching his cohort’s
back in blatant disregard of his oath when he assumed public office. Even the
language has evolved to soften the wickedness of the criminal act. “For
the Boys”, “sponsoring an event” or what-else-have-you. No amount of euphemism
can trivialize or normalize betrayal of public trust or any other criminal
offense. It is an injury laced with insult. It is both a national embarrassment
and a national shame.
For every transaction, a commission; for every action, extortion; and
a request that goes on and on – endlessly and shamelessly.
Catharsis is what we, individually and collectively, need to do today –
not tomorrow but today. Self-purgation followed by the resolve to do what is
right and proper, is good for the nation’s health.
Let me ask you: When will corruption end? Kailan ba talaga ‘to? Hanggang
kailan? Well, I don’t know. I’ve been in --- with government for almost 35
years now. I am not singling out myself. It’s the entire gamut of our system.
Corruption exasperates. It frustrates. It is also exasperating that there are
times when I think that perhaps it is blood that we need to cleanse and rinse
away the dirt and the muck that stick to the flesh like leeches. Of
course, it is only a thought. I am simply thinking aloud. To dispel any
controversy that my statements in this regard will create something
else. Words of Pedro Guerrero who said, “Sometimes they write what I say
and they write --- and they write what I say and not what I mean.” So ‘yung mga
pa-purga-purga lang diyan. I use similes, metaphors, hyperbole, and other
figures of speech every now and then, to prove or stress a point. I am as human
as anybody else.
On the matter of the Philippine --- West Philippine Sea. The avoidance
of conflict --- armed conflict and protection of our territorial waters and
natural resources compel us to perform a delicate balancing act. A shooting war
is grief and misery multiplier. War leaves widows and orphans in its wake. I am
not ready or inclined to accept the occurrence of more destruction, more widows
and more orphans, should war, even on a limited scale, breaks out. More
and better results can be reached in the privacy of a conference room than in a
squabble in public. That is why I will do in the peaceful way, mindful of the
fact that it is our national pride and territorial integrity that are at
stake.
Short of expressly advocating a call to arms, there are those who say
that we should stand up and stop those who fish in our economic zone. Of course
we will do in due time. There is…
Alam mo ganito ‘yan eh. Noong --- when I became President and when the
M16 rifles were cancelled by America upon the prodding of the US Congress, I
found myself in a quandary because reports were already very ripe na there was
the passing of arms in Marawi.
And because of the arms were already --- mostly in the hands of the
police, hands-me-down from the army were quite old and sometimes the bolt that
pushes the bullet flies out and the barrel has really become lose, and there
are no more lands and plains to push it into a circular trajectory to maintain
its accuracy.
So I was forced to go to China. Eh mabuti’t na lang nasabi ko sa inyo
‘to. Then in China, we had a bilateral. I brought along the military man ---
Año, the chief of staff then, and all of them, Lorenzana, Esperon, National
Security.
In that meeting, I said --- Cabinet members were there --- “I want to go
to my territory to dig oil.” That was the word, “I dig.” Because that is
ours. Ang sabi ni President Xi, “Well, you know there is a conflict there. Do
you think, rather than go there and have a confrontation --- not necessarily
the grey ships, war ships. But you know a squabble there could lead to
something else.” Sabi niya, we just became friends. And perhaps we can talk
about this. But not an outright precipitate move because… He said it softly,
“It can mean trouble.”
If the trouble comes out from the mouth of a president of a
republic, anong magawa ko? So what did I answer? “Well then maybe, sir, we can
talk about this at some other time.” But definitely, before I go, we must talk
about the West Philippine Sea. We cannot you know, have our cake and eat it
too.
You know, I cannot go there even to bring the Coast Guard to drive them
away. China also claims the property and he is in possession. ‘Yan ang
problema. Sila ‘yung in possession and claiming all the resources there as an
owner. We are claiming the same but we are not in the position because of that
fiasco noong dalawang nag-standoff doon during the time of my predecessor si
Albert, ambassador. If I’m correct. I do not know his real name.
Tayo ang umatras. Pagsabi niya umatras, that was a kind of a compromise.
Tayo ang umatras. Noong umatras tayo, pumasok sila. Marami na.
That day, we lost the Spratly and the Panganiban Island. Iyan ang
totoo. Walang bolahan ‘yan. Ngayon, may arbitral ruling. I… I said, I could not
even ask for the oil claiming the entire resources of the…
Anong sabihin ko sa kanila?
Kaya sinabi ko, “Let us do this mutually.” Of course, when Xi says, “I will
fish,” who can prevent him? And sabi ko naman, “We will fish because we claim
it.”
And sabi ko, “Please allow
because…” Before that, they were driving away our fishermen. ‘Di ba inaabog
nila? Kaya sabi ko, “Do not drive them away because the Filipinos are of the
belief that they are also — they claim it.”
Now, if you deprive — deprive
the Filipinos of — there, magkagulo talaga ‘yan. And it could lead to ano — not
really war, and I said, “we have to…”
Kaya ang sabi ko… When I said,
“I allowed,” that was on the premise that I own the property. Pero hindi tayo
in control of the property. Ayan magsabi sila, “Of course, I will allow you.”
Kaya pinabalik.
Eh ‘yung disgrasya, ‘yung
pagsabi “a mere incident — legal, marine incident,” ‘yan ang ginagamit sa batas
‘yan, “a marine incident happened.” Hindi naman sinasabi na “marine accident.”
It was just nabanggan, wala
naman. So they wanted to talk, tapos ayaw dito. And so, “So sige, we will
investigate and you investigate, and when you are ready, we should meet and
compare notes, and let us determine who pays for what damage.”
Ganun lang. Ipadala ko ‘yung
marines ko to drive away the Chinese fishermen. I guarantee you, not one of
them will come home alive.
Kung ipadala ko ‘yung limang —
pati ‘yung frigate ko na bago, ‘yung pinagkaguluhan nila ni Trillanes diyan sa
— that made Bong a Senator, ubos ‘yan because there are already guided missiles
in that island.
And the fastest that they have
installed there can reach Manila in seven minutes. You want war? Alam mo,
asaran ‘yan eh. Supladuhan ‘yan. Kung supladuhan lang, murahin, “P***** i** mo,
l**** ka. Umalis ka diyan.”
Kung ganunan lang, bright ako
diyan. Hanggang bunganga lang. Pero kung bunutan na ng baril, ah pwede siguro
basta dalawa lang. But the problem is, there — whether we do it in a diplomatic
way, there will be heated arguments, sigurado ‘yan.
We do it in a confrontation
doon. We try to drive them away, it could lead to a violence. Any way ‘yan. By
the way the President answered when I said “I will dig my oil” the first time I
went to China.
Nakita ko ‘yung tao eh. So you
can, more or less, draw a profile of his, “Please do not do that because there
will be trouble.” Ano… Anong magagawa ko?
I go there, I said, “The
fisheries who were…” And besides, I was invoking ‘yung traditional fishing
rights. It is in that arbitral ruling. Ayaw lang ninyong gustong tignan.
It is mentioned there that even
before countries were in existence, people around an ocean or a lake had
already been fishing there for generations. And that is why fishing rights are
allowed in the so many cases between Finland and Germany, decided by UNCLOS —
UNCLOS and the International Law of the Seas.
UNCLOS is a product of a
treaty. That treaty is also a part of our land because we are a signatory. Eh
kung basahin lang ninyo ‘yan nang husto, it is there. You might just…
China and everybody recognizes
traditional fishing rights for the natives who were there even before the
creation of republics and governments. That law is a humane law.
So I’m sorry I have to… I
promised you 40 minutes. My God, I… You want me to stop? We can go home now.
[laughter] I have exceeded my… There is the, you know, there is a time for everything.
Do not believe the others
because they are not my friends. They are my political enemies. They said I do
not believe in God. Who says? I am a believer of a universal mind there.
But [applause] I do not believe
that a God so perfect would create hell for his creation. What kind of God is
he? He is not my God. There is a time to — for everything. A time to negotiate
and a time to quarrel with your enemy, with your political opponents or with
your wife.
That is why some lives here
are… And a time to antagonize and a time to make peace and a time to go to war,
and a time to live and a time to die. That’s Ecclesiastes 3.
Our ownership of the Philippine
— West Philippine Sea is internationally recognized. However, both the United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Arbitral Award in the
case of People — “Republic of the Philippines vs. People’s Republic of China”
recognize instances where another state may utilize the resources found within
the coastal state’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
The arbitral ruling even
states, the one that they are charging me for violating the Constitution…. Sino
gani ‘yon? Suntukin lang kita diyan ngayon mabuti pa. Nandito eh. The arbitral
ruling even states that the Philippines may enter into fishing agreements with
other states, provided certain conditions and requisites in the UNCLOS are met.
So ‘yung akin, sabi niya,
“Let’s go fish.” Sabi ko, “You have to act…” You know, they have been there
fishing since time immemorial. I think it was Adam who got the first Lapu-Lapu
there.
Let me assure you, that
national honor and territorial integrity shall not — shall be foremost in our
mind, and when we may take the next steps in this smoldering controversy over
the lines of arbitral ruling, the West Philippine Sea is ours.
There is no ifs and buts. It is
ours. But we have been acting, [applause] along that legal truth and line. But
we have to temper it with the times and the realities that we face today.
Poverty incidence fell from
27.6 percent in the first half of 2015 to 21 percent in the first half of 2018.
The most important number, though, is the six million Filipinos we need to pull
out from poverty. Kindly help me on this. [applause]
And you know, as I said,
corruption is everywhere. You are free to investigate. I don’t take offense. If
there is anything wrong in my department, the Executive, you are free to open
the investigation anytime.
You do not have to call me.
Call the idiots, expose them, and send them to jail. You are helping me. Do not
be… I am not… I’ve been a prosecutor. I know how it works. Feel free. Feel free
to expose anything that is not in accordance with law.
We have pursued tax reforms to
fund our poverty reduction programs. I therefore implore Congress to
immediately pass Package 2 of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program, or the
TRABAHO Bill, which shall gradually lower the income — corporate income tax,
and rationalize and improve fiscal incentives.
It will energize our MSMEs and
encourage them to expand their business and hopefully generate, hopefully — I’m
missing the word hopefully para sabihin na “you’re all talk” — hopefully [1.4]
million jobs in the coming years. The MSMC — MSMEs hold the promise of raising
a lot of the Filipinos.
I therefore believe that it is
now time for Congress to approve a new version of the Salary Standardization
Law. Ngayon na. [applause] And to the teachers, alam mo dito who toil and work
tirelessly to educate our young.
Kasali na po dito ‘yung hinihingi
ninyo. Hindi naman masyadong malaki, pero it will tide you over during these
hard times. A little bit bigger than before. [applause] This is intended to
increase the salaries of national government workers, including teachers and
nurses. Nurses, correct. [applause]
I am also asking Congress to
pass the remaining packages of my Administration’s Tax Reform Program, and the
bills that would further raise excise taxes on — very good, let us do it —
tobacco and alcohol.
Sinong naninigarilyo dito? They
should be exterminated from the face of the earth. [laughter] They are the
ones… You know, I… I’m… I do not hide my — what’s wrong with me. I acquired
Buerger’s disease because I smoke.
But I made it a national policy
because you know when I was new mayor, I went around to see the discos and
night clubs. I could hardly see the faces of the people inside. You have to
wade into a thick smoke to just recognize one.
So that’s when I decided. But I
was still smoking. But I decided because I knew, I already had it. So it’s time
to — sabi ko. And a national law, para lahat na, that at 12 o’ clock,
everything closes.
I am not trying to pull a chair
here. Mine was that two o’clock noon sa Davao, it was two then I reduced it to
one. When that boxing mayor there became mayor, she reduced it to six. Walang
order, no orders in advance.
Kasi we have ordered already,
so you can close but we have to drink. Itong ngayon, at 12, everything closes
down. Nobody works. So I… I think that we should adopt it. Most of the states,
in many states, in many countries, ganun man. Alas dose, sarado na talaga.
We have to stop drinking. And
jukebox, they’re only good up to eight, nine. Eight, maganda ‘yan. It’s a… It’s
there in every corner, store. Blares out noise and the children who will go to
school and the working class, and you are there with your store.
I have prohibited it in Davao.
And at 12, as you see, Davao is quiet because everybody is resting already. Be
it in the memorial parks, cemetery, or in the comfort of their homes.
The valuation system has also
to be improved local government units and rationalize capital income
[taxation]. I urge Congress to review and pass the Government Rightsizing Bill
to reconfigure the existing Metro Manila-centric bureaucracy; streamline
government systems in order to deliver services without delay and within a
short timeline.
These reforms would be for
naught if we cannot avert of a “new poor” every time a disaster strikes. The
Philippine experience has shown that natural disasters and — are poverty
creators.
That is why, we need to hasten
the establishment of a Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR) so that these
department focus on the natural hazards and climate change. I urge Congress to
fast-track the passage of the Administration of this bill — Administration
version rather. In 2017, I reminded all of you of the probable consequence of a
catastrophic earthquake in Metro Manila and its surrounding provinces. Since
then, I have established the Project Management Office for the Earthquake
Resilience and the Greater Manila Area to implement two-pronged strategy on
earthquake resilience and mitigation efforts.
I just heard, it’s not in my
speech. I just heard that from a psychic that the first crack when the “Big
One” hits, will be right here in the center of this… [laughter and applause]
‘Yan man ang sabi nila.
“Philippines is so corrupt, it’s so lousy that if you kill all congressmen,
senators and the president, we will have a new day.” [laughter] So I pray that
if the earthquake comes, it comes now. This moment. [laughter] Kumpleto na
tayo. May madamay pa tayo doon sa harap. [laughter]
We weathered one damaging
effect of climate change this year. The El Niño were wreaked havoc in the
agricultural sector and caused water shortage in the greater Metro Manila area.
We need to pass bill creating the Department of Water Resources and Water Regulatory
Commission. [applause]
Alam mo, the agencies and the
guys there handling the — the entire water works system — you have to change it
immediately.
You know what, there was this
three-day no water. I was in Davao. So everybody was complaining and I was even
afraid to come here because what if my girlfriend will not be able to — to take
a bath. [laughter] She will smell like hell. So I said, I’ll wait for the water
to wash her.
Alam mo kung hindi ako nagmura,
kung hindi ko sinabi, “p**** i**, papatayin ko kayo, p**** i** niyo.” And then
when I arrived in the morning, there was water. And my girlfriend was fresh.
[laughter]
I also call on Congress to pass
a law mandating a Fire Protection Modernization Program. Diyan tayo nagka-ano.
If you go to Davao, you’ll find the best. The best of everything, 911, all the
cameras, all the screens. We did that if you can find it.
Alam mo — alam mo sabi ni… Is
there… Sonny is here? Secretary Dominguez? Ah Sonny. Siya man ang magyayabang.
Sabi niya, “marami tayong pera”. Pero ‘pag tanungin namin siya doon sa Cabinet
meeting, “tsk tsk tsk tsk, walang pera, walang pera”. [laughter] Si Diokno
ganun rin kaya gi-tapon ko sa Central Bank. [laughter]
Every time sabihin mo, you know
we discussed projects, we plan and we submit it to Congress, it’s final
imprimatur. Eh ‘di kami ang, “May pera ba tayo diyan, sir? “Wala.” “Magkano?”
“Four billion.” “Tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk that is not the tsk tsk practice. No
money, no money.” P***. Saan pala ang pera natin dito? Sa bulsa ninyo? [laughter]
Karaming collection natin dito. But Sonny says that we can fund. This one we
have to answer.
Now, I would like to remind…
Pagbigyan na lang ninyo ako tutal para naman ito sa lahat. Alas-sais pa nga
ginugutom na kayo. Hindi pala kayo nag-merienda?
Alam mo, ever since
na-integrate ‘yan you would notice in your cities and provinces the
deterioration of the service itself. Wala ng mga truck, luma na. And would you
believe it in Davao City, I’ll show it to you, we have a 1934 Studebaker fire
truck. Maganda pa.
So we have to — we have to do
better than this. There are other cities which are utterly — – utterly without
the tools to respond the challenges of fire. We have to come up with something
that is really good.
I mean at this age, it would be
a shame if you cannot put up a fire in two days, three days, my God. We have to
set aside.
Sonny, you have the money?
[laughter] Oh yes. Oh see. Basta sa maraming tao mahiya man mag-deny.
[laughter] Totoo ‘yan. Totoo ‘yan. We have the money so maybe Sonny can give you
a figure that we can set aside.
Nakakahiya talaga itong ano
natin. Ang Davao, meron. Davao has a very good 911. Hindi ako nagyayabang. And
we have cameras in every corners that’s why we can solve crimes immediately.
And meron kaming 911. “What is your emergency?” That’s the standard. So it’s
fire, they call the fire department.
Sabi ko, “911.” “Yes.” “What’s
your emergency?” “I — I seemed to lost my — to have lost my girlfriend.” “We
know you, Mayor. You go back to Manila there are plenty left there. Go.”
[laughter]
This will equip the fire —
Bureau of Fire Protection with tools to respond to the challenges. I further
ask Congress to urgently pass the Na — ito — the National Land Use Act or NALUA
within this year. [applause] Paki lang po. So that we can proceed with the new…
Well, we can meet the — the demands of the new investors coming in. Ang lupa
natin ang problema eh.
A science-based national land
use plan would serve as basis for the LGUs in crafting respective development
plans, and help disperse economic activities to the countryside.
The dispersion of economic and
business activities to Visayas and Mindanao is not just a campaign promise. It
is an economic imperative and a key to our country’s sustainable and equitable
development. We will encourage investments that would develop the rural areas
and Metro Manila and other mega urban areas.
Let me cut here, tutal maliit
na lang. I would just like to remind everybody. No offense intended to the
mayors and governors to the local government. Pero ‘yang style ninyo na it
takes about three days, four days for the employees of a certain company,
store, or whatever to go back and forth, back and forth.
When they go back, you have a
new regulation. He gets it, he secures it and when he goes back, oh there’s still
you have to follow — you have to get this paper.
I will tell you now. Hindi ako
nagyayabang. In Davao, it’s one hour unless there is a need for ocular
inspection. I am directing you publicly mayors — mayors. I am directing also
the DILG, Secretary Año of the local government to see to it that this is
honored. All clearances, permits emanating from your office that would need
also your approval, must be out at the very least within three days. [applause]
You do not do that. I am
directing si Secretary Año, is he here, sir? Nandito ka? Oh Secretary Año, he
is the former chief of staff, he’s also a military man.
I want three days, unless there
is an exceptional reason, three days, para hindi na magpa-balik-balik kasi
diyan ang perahan eh. Pagdating doon meron na naman hingin, pagdating doon may
hingin.
Kaya I said the Filipinos if it
is done to you, I’m telling you, slap the guy, create a scene, create a scandal
because that incident however little will reach me. And if it does, you can be
sure, if I do not call you and the idiot, I will go there myself. That is a
promise, that is a pledge. [applause]
Make it a part of my oath of
office. Lahat kayo diyan pati ‘yang tsk — easement. Well, under Villar, okay
na. Pero ‘yang easement billion dollar — ah billion pesos. Well, if it’s a
foreign company, it’s a billion dollar thing.
Ganun ‘yan. Pabalik-balik at
hindi binabayaran. That’s why nagpatong… If all moneys and revenues due
government are collected in good faith, marami tayong pera. I’m telling you as
President. Marami tayong pera para extra money to uplift the — the mass of
Filipinos who are suffering. Maski ospital lang and housing.
Jobs, it’s the economy that
runs it. If the economy is good, more jobs. At the meantime, itong
hospitalization, education, the basic things at saka itong relocation. Kaawa
talaga.
Kung makolekta lang lahat hindi
ma-corrupt ang pera, marami tayong pera. Kaya ako nagsabi. That’s why I — I
resi…
You know, I will make it
public. I was at the Nayong Pilipino. I gave it to a group of people. Tapos
nagpa-bidding sila. Ang nagbidding nila is to allow a gambling casino to be
erected there inside the Nayong Pilipino.
Kaya ko nagsabi t*** i** ninyo.
Anong kahulugan ng Nayong Pilino kung lagyan mo ng sugalan and without a
bidding? You know, nandiyan na ‘yung mga generals, they are there, chief of
staff. Kasi pag galing doon pumunta ako sa command conference. Pagdating ko sa
command conference, may ipinasa si Sonny ghost delivery sa AFP hospital. Eh
galing pa ako doon sa…
When I was facing the military
and police, sabi ko, “Look, I thought I had my back covered by you? If I cannot
trust you, you better tell me now. Because if you the commanders of the Air
Force, Army pati Albayalde and the Navy, I will step down now. I am resigning,
I’ll go back to Davao. You do the explaining to the people why.”
Ginanun ko talaga. And in one
of the Cabinet meetings ganun rin. There was this two-year, pabalik-balik na
‘yung — back and forth, back and forth, for two years it was sitting on their
ass, the papers.
So when they were explaining to
me the revised plan and with so many requirements, clearances from NBI, I stood
up with the Cabinet members, lahat kami. In a Cabinet meeting I said, “Stop.
That idiotic matrix is not for me. That is intended for the next — maybe the
president after the next.” Lumabas ako sabi ko, “Inyo na ‘yang gobyerno ninyo.”
Sabi ko wala ako… I — I’m
tired. I’m tired and I am… Talagang gusto ko na rin mag-resign. Sabi ko I am
not happy anymore. Sabi ko anytime — ah the military said, if you want to go
out? If you want to take over coup d’etat, go ahead. Do not bring your armors.
Do not bring your weapons here. Just call me and we’ll have coffee.
I do not believe. I think
Marcos and Estrada were correct that they did not allow the… Kasi ‘yung
guwardiya mo, guwardiya dito, pareho ‘yan. Lahat sila dadaan ‘yan sa
presidential command. All of them will be assigned. Nag-iikot ‘yan sila lahat.
A taste of everything. Hanggang Mindanao kaya kilala ko ‘yan sila lahat dumaan
ng Mindanao eh.
Sabi ko talaga, “Inyo na. Ayaw
ko na.” Sabi ko, “Sige, sinong gusto? Raise your right hands. I…” “I…” “Duly
appointed member of the junta, will now make the SONA next month.”
Ah bahala kayo diyan. You
threatened about… If you think that you can run the country better than the
elected one, go ahead. That’s not my — it’s the problem of the Filipino people.
Talaga sa Cabinet na — na tsk…
Kaya abutan ako ng topak, magbaba dito ako ngayon. Bahala na kayo diyan. I’m
going home.
One ese — one estimate pegs
economic losses at P3.5 billion a day due to traffic congestion in Metro
Manila. So meantime, I reiterate my directive, my request, my pleadings to the
MMDA and all concerned local officials in Metro Manila, and all other cities,
to undertake immediate action to ensure the speedy and smooth flow of vehicular
traffic. Reclaim all public roads that are being used for private ends. Marami
diyan. [applause]
And again, I asked Secretary
Año to see to it that this is enforced. If there is a mayor or a governor, or
kung ano kang — sino kang demonyo ka, i-suspend mo Sir Año. Give him time and
if he cannot — if he is not up to it, then pagpahingain mo na lang. Suspend mo
na. Wala talagang — wala tayong magawa.
They just keep on pleasing
their own constituents just because they are constituents — a leader. Ganun
kayo eh. The only way to do it… Anyway, me, I have no problem. Me, I am an
inutil official. Me, I cannot run anymore. Me, after six years I might lose my
head. Wala na ako. I… No more challenges in politics. No more mountains to
climb. I will just do my duty.
And most of my Cabinet members
are actually military men. You know why? Gusto ninyong malaman? Do not be
embarrassed. Atin-atin na lang ito. Huwag mo na silang pansinin, ‘yang mga ano
diyan. Parang nag meeting-meeting lang tayo dito. [laughter] ‘Yung parang
nagpulung-pulong lang. Do not mind them. Eh kung tignan kasi ninyo mahiya kayo.
Kasi ganito ‘yan, my penchant
for military men. I want to ingratiate myself to them? What? I was elected by
the people, not by the military, not by the police. But to — why do I have this
I said — this predisposed of… Kasi utusan sila madali. Kasi ‘pag sinabi mong
walang corruption, walang corruption. Kaya lang ang military and just like any
organization, ‘pag ang top diyan general o ang commander-in-chief corrupt,
ku-corrupt ‘yan lahat.
Pero kung sabihin mo na matino
ka, they will follow. So Boracay I sent Cimatu. Sabi ko, “Puntahan mo nga
doon.” Is General Cimatu here, si Roy? Ah yeah.
Itong si Roy nakilala ko ito sa
Mindanao. Hindi ko man ‘yan kilala. Mindanao… Na-mayor kasi ako 23 years. So
all of them passed by Mindanao, kilala ko. ‘Pag inutusan mo, kaagad. And they
know that I will not give illegal orders for them to implement. Alam nila
abugado ako. Sabi ko sundin lang ako ninyo.
Kaya I was surprised when I
ordered Cimatu to go there — to Boracay, Sir Frank. Alam mo ang ginawa niya?
The next day lumabas siya roon sa Daily Mirror. Naglalakad siya doon sa beach,
naka-t-shirt ng blue at ‘yung mata niya nandoon sa dalawang Caucasian na nag…
[laughter]
“G****** it, Cimatu. Akala ko
ba inutusan kita?” “Yes, sir.” “O bakit ka nagpalakad-lakad diyan sa beach
tinitignan mo ‘yung naka-bikini na dalawang puti?” “Sir, napadaan lang ako
sir.” Sabi ko, “Trabahuin mo ‘yan ha.” And they did it in six months’ time. Of
course with a… [applause] I like Cimatu because he mixed his pleasure with
Share us your thoughts by simply
leaving on the comment section below. For more news updates, feel free to visit
our site often.
Stay updated with today's relevant
news and trends by hitting the LIKE button.
Thanks for dropping by and reading
this post.
Report from PhilStar
0 Comments