We are our own enemy — Duterte
Published Jul 22, 2019 09:34 pm
By Genalyn Kabiling and Argyll Geducos
Duterte issues key marching orders:
• Corrupt won’t be spared
• Death penalty must be re-imposed
• Permits must be out in 3 days
• Increase salaries of teachers, nurses
• Reclaim public road to solve traffic
Declaring the “enemy is us,” President Duterte has vowed to spare no one in the campaign against corruption and red tape in government to improve delivery of public services.
FOURTH S.O.N.A. – President Rodrigo R. Duterte delivers his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City on Monday, July 22, 2019. Applauding the President are Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III and Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.
(JANSEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN) In his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) before a joint session of Congress on Monday, the President lamented that corruption has become “pervasive” and “exasperating” while the government works “too little and too slow.” Apart from his anti-corruption drive, Duterte tackled peace and order issue, the country's right over West Philippine Sea, and pushed for priority measures such as death penalty bill, postponement of the 2020 barangay polls and higher salaries for the government workers during his annual public address. “Honesty, 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. We are our own demons preying on the weak and the defenseless,” the President said. He said there is no amount of euphemism that can trivialize betrayal of public trust… it is a national shame. “When will corruption end? I don't know. I've been in government for almost 35 years now. Corruption exasperates, it frustrates. It is also exasperating. There are times when I think perhaps it is blood that we have to cleanse away,” he added. In the fight against corruption, Duterte said he has fired or caused the resignation of more than 100 government officials “without regard to relationship, friendship and alliance.” “There is no sacred cow as the saying goes in my administration,” he said. He mentioned the corruption controversies hounding the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) during his speech. He said he was “grossly disappointed” with the alleged massive fraud in the public health insurance system, saying it proved that “corruption is pervasive.” “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,” he said. On the BOC, the President also said he has sought the filing of charges against more than 60 customs officials and workers for alleged corruption. “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,” he said. “All of them will go out from the premises of the Customs area. I do not want them back,” he said. To combat red tape that derails public service, the President also urged government agencies and local government units to simplify their procedures for permits and other documents or else he would kill them. He noted that he already signed a law on promoting the ease of doing business in the country. He ordered mayors and other local government officials that all clearances and business permits must be out in three days unless there is exceptional reason to process them longer. “If you do not do it, I will personally go to your office,” Duterte warned. Duterte also appealed to fellow government officials “to let your deeds and accomplishments do the talking” and lead by example. He said words ring hallow when not followed by positive and prioritized action. “We in government talk too much, act too little, and too slow,” he said. “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,” he added. ‘Restore death penalty’ At the beginning of his SONA, President Duterte renewed his appeal to Congress to restore the death penalty to curb illegal drugs and corruption in government – two things that his administration has been fighting since the start of his term. Duterte expressed disappointment that three years have passed by and illegal drugs and corruption remain as the country's top problems. “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,” he said. According to the President, the Marawi siege, which he said is funded by drug money, is one of the reasons he is advocating for the re-imposition of capital punishment. “During that Marawi siege, tons of shabu worth millions and millions of pesos, drug money killed 175 and wounded 2,001 of my soldiers and policemen in that five-month battle,” Duterte said. “That’s the reason I advocate the imposition of the death penalty for crimes related to illegal drugs,” he added. Duterte recognized the help of the local communities in the drug war but said it will not enough to truly end the drug trade unless corruption is eradicated as well. “Our citizens have begun to do their part in the war against drugs, and through the barangay formation of anti-drug councils, and actually surrendering bricks of cocaine found floating in the sea into our islands,” he said. “However, the drugs will not be crushed unless we continue to eliminate corruption that allows the social monster to survive,” he added. “I respectfully request Congress to reinstate the death penalty for heinous crimes related to drugs as well as plunder,” he continued. The President said that while there is a long way to go before the government puts an end to the illegal substance, he will not renege on his resolve to fight the drug trade. “I am aware there is still a long way to go in our fight against this social menace,” he said. “Believe me, I will end my term fighting,” he added. President Duterte has been pushing for the restoration of capital punishment in the country. But the public has criticized Congress after the House Majority bloc decided to exclude plunder, rape, and treason from the list of the crimes punishable with death. The exclusion is reportedly to help them arrive at a compromise after some lawmakers remained hesitant about voting in favor of House Bill No. 4727. Earlier, Malacañang said that the re-imposition of capital punishment is an important component in keeping a crime-free and drug-free Philippines. “The re-imposition of death penalty is an important component in building a trustworthy government that protects its citizens and youth from crime, especially the kind perpetuated by illegal drug traffickers and violators,” Malacañang had said. Duterte said that he would like to know the rationale why Congress decided to exclude plunder and rape from the list of crimes punishable with the death penalty under the said House bill. Duterte said that while he did not say he will not kill plunderers or corrupt officials, he said that rape is still one of the most heinous crimes that should merit the heaviest penalty. Pay hike for teachers, nurses Aside from death penalty, salary hike for public teachers and nurses and the postponement of the 2020 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections are among the legislative measures endorsed by President Duterte in his SONA. The President sought the swift passage of more than a dozen priority measures that included tax reform measures, in the 18th Congress. “I believe it is time to pass the Salary Standardization Law. Ngayon na. To the teachers, who toil and work tirelessly to educate our young, kasama na po kayo dito,” he said in his speech that lasted for an hour and a half. Duterte also urged lawmakers to move the barangay and SK elections from 2020 to 2022 and pass the Magna Carta for barangays. He likewise pushed for the approval of a measure establishing National Academy for Sports for high school students, the comprehensive tax reform package, including the Trabaho bill, and the proposed rightsizing the national government to improve public service delivery. Other pet bills of the President are measures seeking the creation of the department on water resources, overseas Filipino workers, and disaster resiliency as well as the establishment of the fire protection modernization program. He also expressed support for the bills seeking amendments to the National Defense Act, retirement and pension, and the revival of the mandatory Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program. “Military training will be good for everybody,” he said. Likewise, President Duterte also sought the passage of the National Land Use Act this year to meet the demands of investors. He also called on authorities to reclaim all public roads to solve traffic.
FOURTH S.O.N.A. – President Rodrigo R. Duterte delivers his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City on Monday, July 22, 2019. Applauding the President are Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III and Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.(JANSEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN) In his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) before a joint session of Congress on Monday, the President lamented that corruption has become “pervasive” and “exasperating” while the government works “too little and too slow.” Apart from his anti-corruption drive, Duterte tackled peace and order issue, the country's right over West Philippine Sea, and pushed for priority measures such as death penalty bill, postponement of the 2020 barangay polls and higher salaries for the government workers during his annual public address. “Honesty, 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. We are our own demons preying on the weak and the defenseless,” the President said. He said there is no amount of euphemism that can trivialize betrayal of public trust… it is a national shame. “When will corruption end? I don't know. I've been in government for almost 35 years now. Corruption exasperates, it frustrates. It is also exasperating. There are times when I think perhaps it is blood that we have to cleanse away,” he added. In the fight against corruption, Duterte said he has fired or caused the resignation of more than 100 government officials “without regard to relationship, friendship and alliance.” “There is no sacred cow as the saying goes in my administration,” he said. He mentioned the corruption controversies hounding the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) during his speech. He said he was “grossly disappointed” with the alleged massive fraud in the public health insurance system, saying it proved that “corruption is pervasive.” “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,” he said. On the BOC, the President also said he has sought the filing of charges against more than 60 customs officials and workers for alleged corruption. “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,” he said. “All of them will go out from the premises of the Customs area. I do not want them back,” he said. To combat red tape that derails public service, the President also urged government agencies and local government units to simplify their procedures for permits and other documents or else he would kill them. He noted that he already signed a law on promoting the ease of doing business in the country. He ordered mayors and other local government officials that all clearances and business permits must be out in three days unless there is exceptional reason to process them longer. “If you do not do it, I will personally go to your office,” Duterte warned. Duterte also appealed to fellow government officials “to let your deeds and accomplishments do the talking” and lead by example. He said words ring hallow when not followed by positive and prioritized action. “We in government talk too much, act too little, and too slow,” he said. “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,” he added. ‘Restore death penalty’ At the beginning of his SONA, President Duterte renewed his appeal to Congress to restore the death penalty to curb illegal drugs and corruption in government – two things that his administration has been fighting since the start of his term. Duterte expressed disappointment that three years have passed by and illegal drugs and corruption remain as the country's top problems. “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,” he said. According to the President, the Marawi siege, which he said is funded by drug money, is one of the reasons he is advocating for the re-imposition of capital punishment. “During that Marawi siege, tons of shabu worth millions and millions of pesos, drug money killed 175 and wounded 2,001 of my soldiers and policemen in that five-month battle,” Duterte said. “That’s the reason I advocate the imposition of the death penalty for crimes related to illegal drugs,” he added. Duterte recognized the help of the local communities in the drug war but said it will not enough to truly end the drug trade unless corruption is eradicated as well. “Our citizens have begun to do their part in the war against drugs, and through the barangay formation of anti-drug councils, and actually surrendering bricks of cocaine found floating in the sea into our islands,” he said. “However, the drugs will not be crushed unless we continue to eliminate corruption that allows the social monster to survive,” he added. “I respectfully request Congress to reinstate the death penalty for heinous crimes related to drugs as well as plunder,” he continued. The President said that while there is a long way to go before the government puts an end to the illegal substance, he will not renege on his resolve to fight the drug trade. “I am aware there is still a long way to go in our fight against this social menace,” he said. “Believe me, I will end my term fighting,” he added. President Duterte has been pushing for the restoration of capital punishment in the country. But the public has criticized Congress after the House Majority bloc decided to exclude plunder, rape, and treason from the list of the crimes punishable with death. The exclusion is reportedly to help them arrive at a compromise after some lawmakers remained hesitant about voting in favor of House Bill No. 4727. Earlier, Malacañang said that the re-imposition of capital punishment is an important component in keeping a crime-free and drug-free Philippines. “The re-imposition of death penalty is an important component in building a trustworthy government that protects its citizens and youth from crime, especially the kind perpetuated by illegal drug traffickers and violators,” Malacañang had said. Duterte said that he would like to know the rationale why Congress decided to exclude plunder and rape from the list of crimes punishable with the death penalty under the said House bill. Duterte said that while he did not say he will not kill plunderers or corrupt officials, he said that rape is still one of the most heinous crimes that should merit the heaviest penalty. Pay hike for teachers, nurses Aside from death penalty, salary hike for public teachers and nurses and the postponement of the 2020 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections are among the legislative measures endorsed by President Duterte in his SONA. The President sought the swift passage of more than a dozen priority measures that included tax reform measures, in the 18th Congress. “I believe it is time to pass the Salary Standardization Law. Ngayon na. To the teachers, who toil and work tirelessly to educate our young, kasama na po kayo dito,” he said in his speech that lasted for an hour and a half. Duterte also urged lawmakers to move the barangay and SK elections from 2020 to 2022 and pass the Magna Carta for barangays. He likewise pushed for the approval of a measure establishing National Academy for Sports for high school students, the comprehensive tax reform package, including the Trabaho bill, and the proposed rightsizing the national government to improve public service delivery. Other pet bills of the President are measures seeking the creation of the department on water resources, overseas Filipino workers, and disaster resiliency as well as the establishment of the fire protection modernization program. He also expressed support for the bills seeking amendments to the National Defense Act, retirement and pension, and the revival of the mandatory Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program. “Military training will be good for everybody,” he said. Likewise, President Duterte also sought the passage of the National Land Use Act this year to meet the demands of investors. He also called on authorities to reclaim all public roads to solve traffic.