PCOO SECRETARY JOSE RUPERTO MARTIN ANDANAR: Magandang araw po sa lahat. Welcome to the “Cabinet Report,” our weekly program where we talk about the strides or accomplishments of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and his Cabinet. This episode is unique since after a few years of airing this show on PTV at iba pang mga media platform ng pamahalaan ay makakasama po natin this time si Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

Marami pa pong mga bagay na dapat ay maliwanagan ng mamamayang Pilipino. Mga bagay tulad ng Halalan 2022, mga kandidatong posibleng suportahan ng administrasyon o hindi, ang PDP-Laban, at ang mga plano sa nalalabing limang buwan ng Duterte administration.

Iyan at marami pang mga katanungan ay sasagutin po ng ating Pangulo. It is my honor to have you on the “Cabinet Report,” Mr. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Magandang araw po sa inyo.

PRESIDENT RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE: Good day, Secretary Andanar. I’m ready to please you with whatever answer I can give to your questions.

SEC. ANDANAR: Alam niyo po, Mr. President, kami’y mapalad at kayo po’y makakausap namin nang harapan. Alam niyo po it is really unprecedented that a sitting president who is enjoying 80 percent trust rating and more than 30 percent endorsement power is not supporting any presidential candidate. Halimbawa na lamang po si President Cory Aquino sinuportahan si President FVR, si President FVR sinuportahan si JDV, si Erap we know what happened to him, si GMA sinuportahan po si Gibo, and then si President Noynoy si Mar Roxas, at si President Duterte po ay question mark. What is the rationale behind this, Mr. President?

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Let me dwell first on your preliminary question. I’d like to thank the Filipino people, maraming salamat sa inyo for the continued support at paniniwala ninyo sa akin, sa pagkatao ko, sa pagkaopisyal ko. And it might be a redundant or a repetitious word or words that you may hear from all mga kandidato pati kami mga officials. Pero I can — on my honor as President, talagang ginawa ko ‘yung trabaho ko at wala ho akong ginawang kalokohan. Iyan ang ma — I’m still the sitting President and anybody can — kung ano may masabi ba sila, especially about matters which ought not to be done by an officer of government, especially those who are elected because we have always strived — your success or failure would depend on the support of the people. Eh ginawa ko ‘yung trabaho ko sa tamang oras, sa tamang pamamaraan, sa tamang panahon. At kung magtanong kayo, I’d like to, I said, proceed to the second question, kung may e-endorse ako.

I may or I may not but preferably I’d like to stay neutral. Ibig sabihin wala akong susuportahan na kandidato unless again having said it, I’ll say it again, there’ll be a compelling reason for me to go out and tell the people what it is.

I would like to bide my time, I’m not in a hurry. But kung naman ‘yung maliliit na bagay lang ano ‘yun — only those however little that it may look by some people but in reality it is really the interest of the people which is at stake. Iyon talagang mapipilitan ako maglabas.

Then maybe, just maybe, I will choose a candidate to support. But at this time wala ka bang suggestions? Ikaw ‘yung mas maano. Nagpapasalamat lang ako na ‘yung suporta ng tao hanggang ngayon at saka ano sasabihin ko na I will not dissipate or waste, itapon ko lang sa basurahan ‘yung… I don’t know if it is an emotional outpouring but going by the numbers, it is quite huge and until now it surprises me. It continues to baffle me. Ganoon rin noong iniwan ko ‘yung pagka-mayor ko, ganoon rin ang ano ng tao, ‘yung emotions na ipinakita sa akin.

I may just be lucky or it might be that people — tinanggap nila ‘yung pledge ko and naniwala sila na ginawa ko. Iyon lang man siguro. When you are an officer of the government, I said especially elected officials, there’s a set of rules that quite rigid to follow. But once that confidence of the people or your trust are broken, then may problema ka.

So I am on my — I’m winding up and I am now on my last days of my presidency. So ‘yan lang nga ang masabi ko sa iyo, magpasalamat sa tao and until now I have yet to decide whether or not to support a candidate. At this time nobody is in my mind actually. And people would ask anywhere out of maybe just to please you, ganoon ‘yang tao eh, “Oh Presidente, sino’ng kandidato mo? Sino bang kandidato natin?”

It could be just a compliment para may masabi lang sa harap at to give you — to boost your ego, eh kasi Presidente ang kaharap mo. Pero for those really na naniniwala talaga hong wala akong kinausap noong ano pa wala pang election period, ‘yung national, silang lahat nagpadala ng emissary and I respectfully just declined to say anybody. Iyong pag-usapan na ‘yung suporta ko para sa kanya. Nakipagkita sila lahat sa akin at…

I am not in a quandary but I — isip ko kasi it’s not easy to come out tapos matalo pa ‘yung in-endorse mo. Maybe the — a choice would be ever na ‘yung sinuportahan mo iyon ang manalo. Ideally it should be in that kind of environment or situation.

SEC. ANDANAR: Your daughter, Mr. President, Mayor Inday Duterte, is leading in the surveys. And obviously, you know, having your name — your namesake the “Duterte” running as the vice president of Senator Marcos, does it mean you not supporting anyone or just being neutral, does it mean that parang may go signal ka na rin na si BBM or si Inday? Para lang maliwanagan po ang publiko.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: You know, I have talked to my daughter Inday only once since months ago. Just like when I was mayor and I was — tapos siya na ang inano ko, pinakiusapan ko kasi abugado eh, it was really the primary reason noon, “You can handle the affairs of the city.” Hindi kami nag-uusap. Basta diyan na, nasabi ko na, “Ikaw na ang patakbuhin ko.” That was it.

We do not talk about politics either inside the — except for once. Pero ayaw ko na lang i-discuss kasi hindi kasi maganda. It was between father and daughter. But it was also a conversation about politics pero sa amin na ‘yun. Lessons learned along the way. So hanggang ngayon wala akong masabi sa bagay na ‘yan.

SEC. ANDANAR: Dito po tayo sa mga senatorial candidates. Very unorthodox po ‘yung inyong style of leadership. Again, as we go back in history, tingnan po natin ang administrasyon ni President Cory Aquino, kay FVR, kay Erap, kay GMA, kay President Benigno Aquino, lahat po sila every time mayroong midterm elections for senator, talagang tinututukan ng pansin ‘yung lineup of senators. But we noticed nung midterm po ninyo, midterm elections, ay ni hindi po napuno ‘yung inyong dose. Kumbaga ano lang po, mga apat o lima ang sinuportahan ninyo.

Ngayon po, this campaign, eh parang hindi rin po ganoon ka — shall we say, organized, as the past presidents at very unorthodox, Mr. President. But then again, you were able to get all of your legislative agenda across the board. For example, ‘yung Universal Health Care, ito pong Bangsamoro Organic Law, lahat po ng mga batas na napakahalaga, mga landmark napirmahan po ninyo, napakahalaga po talaga na kakampi mo ‘yung mga senador. Ano po ang rason dito at maybe you can enlighten us?

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Well, I think that the advocacies that I was working on, even when I was a mayor, hindi lang nga nakum — natapos lahat is also shared by many because most, if not all actually, are legislation sa kanila and ang aking the — ang aking proposals tinanggap nila dahil it’s for the public good. Universal Health Care, education, lahat pasok.

At ‘yun lahat kinausap ko rin sila earlier na, “Look, guys, you know, we have to — I have to come up with something during my term. So these are the, well, the proposed agenda.” So sinabi ko na sa kanila.

SEC. ANDANAR: These are landmark laws: Malasakit, libreng edukasyon, nandiyan po ‘yung Bangsamoro Organic Law na hindi po naipasa noong nakaraang administrasyon, Department of OFW… You know, the list can go on and on, Mr. President. Now, you have senatorial candidates —

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Yes.

SEC. ANDANAR: — sa PDP-Laban. Sorry, I have to ask you this: Mayroon bang mga senador na mga kandidato na sinusuportahan po ng inyong lingkod?

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: One is ito si Panelo. Panelo — I’d be frank with you and with the our people — ito si Panelo parang tinatawag nating “character.” The way he dre — the ‘yung attire niya mga parang bata, teenager. Pero if you can just see across, makikita mo si Panelo is a compassionate man, totoo ‘yan, matagal ko ng kilala ‘to eh. Hindi ko ito kinuha noong ano ako. Halos magkasabay ata kami sa Bar ’72. Pero all these years, he was — not really decisive ‘yung mga ano niya noon even in his decision kasi political halos ‘yung…

But si Panelo, kung makita mo, has a critical mind and he is — magtulong talaga. Itong magsabi si Panelo na “gawain ko ‘yan,” ginagawa niya for anybody including lahat kami. “Sige, alright, gagawain ko ‘yan.” At ginagawa talaga and the product is always good, even excellent ‘yung pagkaabugado niya.

Ako mismo abugado bilib ako sa kanya. Sinasabi ko pati sa asawa ko, maganda magsulat ito si Panelo. Sabi ko nga mayroong isang tao, dalawa, na nakita ko when I was a fiscal, makita ko ‘yung mga brief nila, memorandum, ganoon, ‘yung mga memoranda sa required by the court at the end of a trial, sabi ko isa lang ‘yan, si Calida, the Solicitor General — noong fiscal ako — pati si Panelo.

Noong nagkita kami sa korte, sometimes we join forces because we have the same interest, people of the Philippines versus — and they sometimes act as a prosecutor and sometimes they are on the defense side.

Ito mahusay magsulat, wala kang makitang dangling phrases diyan, mag-enjoy ka lang. Lalo itong si Bendigo, ‘yung nag-retire na, ‘yung chief ng prosecution. Iyon, ‘yun ang nakita ko pati si Panelo, ‘yung maganda magsulat talaga, mas mahusay kaysa akin. I seldom admit but I admit because it is true. Itong mga tao, Calida tapos ‘yun si — pati ito si Panelo mahusay magsulat, akala mo… Well, English na maganda pagka-narrate, you know.

So para sa akin, kung si Panelo nasa Senate, he is not just a good lawyer, a splendid writer. Huwag mo lang tingnan ‘yung mga pantalon niya na gusot-gusot. Eh ayaw tumanda ng tao eh. But maybe after the Senate, kung manalo at ibigay ng Panginoong Diyos, he would be mature enough to improve on his sartorial choice of — mga gusot-gusot diyan, may butas dito.

Eh tinatawag pansin ko ‘yan noon, eh kaibigan eh. Sabi ko, “Sal, hindi ka nga tingnan ng ano…?” Sabi niya, “Adre, gusto ko eh.” Probably — I do not know what’s inside his — the grey matter between the ears. Pero I don’t know what’s going on, but he persists until today. Huwag lang ninyong pansinin ‘yan and you’d realize that — you talk to him and probably work with him, talagang mahusay, Panelo.

Kaya noong sabi niya magkandidatura ka… And he’s very honest, he’s really very honest. Lahat ‘yan silang dumaan, kung hindi, hindi kami magka… Tayo, kung hindi tayo nagkaintindihan about itong corruption sa pera ng tao, nagkakasama tayo dahil nagkakaintindihan — naiintindihan ninyo ako. Iyon.

Tapos ang — pareho man tayo ng partido. Sinong listahan mo na ano?

SEC. ANDANAR: [laughs] Nandiyan po si Belgica, Greco.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Well si Greco, he is young, he is very idealistic. He headed the Anti-Corruption Commission dito sa atin sa Executive department. And he’s a tireless worker, his advocacy is good, he is honest, nakikita ko. Makita mo naman, you can see through sa tao. Talagang gustong magsilbi sa bayan natin.

Now, ganito ‘yan eh, kung maniwala kayo, okay lang. Kung hindi kayo maniwala, okay lang. But alam mo sigurado ako, nagkampanya ako dahil makatulong ito sa bayan. Alam mo, maraming okasyon na pabalik-balik na lang ‘yang mga senador diyan. Some of them are guilty of malversation and the cases against them had been pending and umabot na sa Supreme Court. I am referring to — si Gordon.

Eh ‘yung hiniram nila noong sa Subic pa siya, naghiram sila ng 186, kinuha niya ‘yung 86. He never liquidated the amount so he was flagged down by — he flagged by — he was flagged by the COA.

So pina-explain. COA was not convinced, from a — from a division ata he appealed en banc. Then sa COA, talo siya, even to the court, Supreme Court, the final arbiter. And the Supreme Court agreed with COA that the money was not spent lawfully, in other words ni-malverse mo. If the money is not spent lawfully, the word “lawfully”, eh talagang binulsa mo.

Iyon ang nangyari sa kanya. Kaya nagwala ito siya kasi nilabas ko at ‘yung final report niya sa Senate… Ako mga senador sige kung ano lang and I will also comment. Iyong ano lang, palabas man niyo ‘yung totoo.

Ang sinabi ko noon that I am appealing and criticized even the Senate for calling time and again itong si Duque pati si Galvez. At that time, Duque was always at the airport receiving the vaccines, either bought or donated, doon sa airport and supervising their transport.

Ito naman si Secretary Galvez, General Galvez, was working on the vaccines from the outside. Ibig sabihin out of the box itong kanya kasi he was dealing with people.

Ang problema pinapabalik nila nang pinapabalik. Kaya sabi ko, “do not do that.” Sabi ko, “you crush Phar — [ano ‘yun?] Pharmally?” Sabi ko, in Bisaya, “kumota, crumple them o whatever you want with them, just don’t waste the time of these two guys because they are need in a very critical moment of our — in our history.”

At nakita ninyo araw-araw ‘yan sa TV. Sabi ko ‘yung Pharmally eh wala akong pakialam diyan. Ngayon, binaligtad nitong g***** scoundrel. Ito sinabi niya na sinusuportahan ko daw kasi ‘yung Pharmally guys I defended them.

I never said a word in favor of Pharmally. I was adamant on huwag ninyong sayangin kasi papuntahin niya minsan, minsan si Galvez, not only twice but many times. Ganoon ang Senado eh. Galing ako ng Congress, ganoon ang Congress. Patawag ka, hindi ka tawagan hanggang hapon.

So sabi ko, “Do not waste the time of these two guys because they are working on the critical — solving critical issues of the — of the day, itong bakuna.” Eh wala nga tayong bakuna eh. I had to call itong unang shipment ‘pag nagkita kami sabi niya mayroon nang — ‘yung, are you a member of the IATF na ano? Oo.

Sinabi ko wala tayong bakuna and then sabi ko, I made it public, sinabi ko sa inyo I will try to call President Xi Jinping. Tinawagan ko siya sabi ko, “Your Honor, if you have — or I’m sure that you can invent the vaccine faster than the others, please do not forget us.”

So ‘yung unang dumating dito, donated by China, and another donation from China. At sabihin nila ngayon pro-China ako. Bakit? Hindi ka ba marunong magbayad ng utang na loob maski kalaban kayo? By just shaking the hands of Xi Jin — President Xi Jinping, did I surrender anything? Mayroon ba akong binigyan?

There is a book about these things, maybe you have a copy, written by Mr. Tiglao? Iyong “Debunked”. Nandoon lahat, ang ganda pagka iyong presentation at saka on the side, I’d comment that mahusay ito, isa pa. Isa pa itong mahusay na ano, factual reporting talaga. Iyan, nandiyan ang totoo lahat sa ‘yung sa China.

Hindi man minsan na magpunta ka lang dala doon. Eh tumutulong eh. Eh ‘yung Binondo, ‘yung bagong ano diyan is scheduled for inauguration, project. Iyon talaga, from the start, from the first bar to the first nail, bigay ng China ‘yan.

So ‘yun ang inaano niya dahil daw sa itong… Itong si Gordon, he is mixing up everything. I never, never said a word in favor of Pharmally. But I was adamant and insisted na the Senate should not waste the time of Galvez and Duque because their work is really critical to solve that problem at that time kasi wala pa tayo. Eh nakatanga lang tayo saan tayo kukuha.

At the start of the pandemic, I remember rendering an impassioned plea for people to understand, really, kasi wala nga tayo eh. We had people there working on the Task Force looking for the vaccines pero pagharap natin sa tao wala. Until the vaccines came from the first — sabi ko.

Eh trabaho ito ng dalawa eh. Ipapatawag nila tapos hindi nila — parang ordinaryong ano lang. Itong si Gordon, he’s a scoundrel. Siya… Ano na ito eh — how would I characterize the man? Matagal na ito sa Senado, abusado. And when he investigate — ‘yung commit — ‘yung ano niya, committee and they investigate people, walang director-director diyan. Ah that’s… Sinisigawan. Walang nirerespeto. Kaya ako ang mag-una nito, takot siguro talaga sa kanila. Ikaw… I am asking the Filipino people, junk. Marama ‘yan sa — hustler ‘yan, scammer. Totoo ‘yan. Wala akong ano. Sinasabi ko sa inyo. Tignan ninyo ‘yung papeles. Dumating na sa Supreme Court, matagal nang in-affirm, hanggang ngayon hindi siya nagbayad.

You know, if you are handling money of government, once there is a — it is tainted with ‘yung mga anomalies at there’s a disallowance now, kinukuwestiyon ko na, kinukuwestiyon ko nasaan ‘yung pera?

So magpasya doon sa COA mismo then sa I think en banc then he proceeded to the Supreme Court after suffering a debacle. And then because of he’s senador, hindi nagbayad, actually sa COA ‘yan. ‘Pag pinasa na ‘yan sa ano, wala namang ano doon sa ano the term sa criminal law, iba ‘yung sa disallowance ganoon. It’s a very respectful way of saying na, “Adre, ninakaw mo ‘yung pera. Isauli mo o bayaran mo.” Hindi niya ginawa.

Now, he wants to be elected again. So makita mo sa the way how he can control the situation? Katagal na niya diyan sa Red Cross, makita mo ‘yun last — may mukha pa niya. Ewan ko tinanggal na siguro. Iyong Red Cross na van or was it a small truck? I cannot kung ano talaga ‘yun basta looked like a van. Nandoon ‘yung mukha niya nakaplastar. P***** i**.

Ikaw, taga-Davao ka man, may nakita ka ba ganoon, “this is a project of Mayor Duterte?” All these years, palaki ‘yung anak ko. I said lessons learned. Hindi talaga ako… Wala akong nilagay. Hindi mo makita ‘yung pangalan ko and yet I was elected, re-elected, re-elected, re-elected, re-elected, re-elected, re-elected.

I stayed there for 23 years without placing an advertisement there saying that this is a project of… Kasi ‘yung part of delicadeza. Ang sa amin niyan, in our — tayong Bisaya, hilas (mayabang). I cannot exactly find the — to compare it in — sa English but sort of — it’s corny. Nako-corny-han ang tao na makikita nila na pera nila pinagbabandera akala mo.

Kayong mga pulitiko na ano nakikinig sa akin ngayon, kung talagang ginusto ka ng tao… Ako I had seven — seven or eight — seven elections hanggang Presidente, pang-eight, ni hindi ako natalo and always nagla-landslide ako. And yet unlike Gordon, I do not plaster my face on properties that are not really privately owned pero itong kagaya ng… And mayroon pa akong iba. I… I… I… Nakita mo sa… Ikaw, taga-Davao ka man, all the Davaoeños kayo ngayon nakikinig, ni minsan may inilagay ba ako na “this is a project of Rodrigo Duterte?” Ni mukha iyong mga fiesta-fiesta diyan sa San Pedro coming from the National Police sa — barracks ang tawag natin niyan noon eh. Barracks naman ng sundalo ‘yan noon talaga papunta diyan sa kanto ng — nitong San Pedro dito, may malaking kuwan diyan. Ni minsan nilagay nila ‘yung mukha ko, sinabi ko talaga sa kanila, “Gawain ninyo ito uli, ihampas ko ‘yung mukha ninyo diyan sa plywood.” So wala akong… I never allowed. So iyon na lang na… Na-segue na tayo doon sa…

SEC. ANDANAR: Mayroon pa tayong lista.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Go on now with the senators pa.

SEC. ANDANAR: Yes, sir. Villar.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Ah… Villar is a worker. Hindi ‘yang pa-corny-ng public servant-public servant. Worker talaga. And his achievements will speak for itself. The thing will speak for itself.

Tignan ninyong ginawa ni Villar, kilometro por kilometro. Mayaman na, akala mo tamad magtrabaho pero ginawa lahat. And the — what I would term as the scenery doon sa ating dating mga nakita mong may — may isang — I forgot the place. I’d like to go back there na makita mo ‘yung endless ang — diretso-diretso ‘yung highway. That is Villar.

Kung ang mga tao ngayon would find a comfortable road network and the quality of the road itself, tulungan ninyo si Villar kasi malaking tulong niya sa Pilipinas sa taong-bayan.

SEC. ANDANAR: Mayroon pong Robin Padilla.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Robin Padilla is a — how would I…? Let me, let me… He is a crusader. Robin Padilla is a crusader. Kaya lang minsan he is constrained to just keep his mouth shut because wala siyang — there’s no site, ‘yung lugar or via a forum or a platform where he can deliver his message to the people.

Si Robin Padilla gustong tumulong sa bayan. And he would play a critical role in the Senate. Tandaan ninyo ‘to. He’s a Muslim. He is a respected member of the Muslim community in the Philippines.

Ang BARMM, natapos ko na. But there are so many things yet — has yet to be done. And iyong talent niya for conve — mahu, maga… Narinig mo ba si ano mag-Tagalog? Maganda ang Tagalog niyan eh. Mas mahusay pa sa akin. Tagalog natin kasi… He is very articulate and I said he is a crusader and he wants to help.

Ang problema diyan kasi people may never realize that at a certain point in a man’s life, isa si Robin na… Accomplished ano na siya eh, accomplished actor, ginawa na niya lahat, and he is getting old. Ang sinabi niya, “Kung puwede mo akong tulungan, magtakbo ako.”

I just want to help. Period. Hindi corrupt, hindi mayabang. He’s a very low-key person, makumbaba. At he defers to people, nag-bo-bow pa nga eh. Iyon ang mga ano na talagang nandiyan ang — the spirit to serve his brothers and sisters Filipinos, it’s burning. So nakikita ko ‘yung passion.

Kaya sabi ko naniniwala ako kasi personally he’s a very honest man. Talagang ano ito, iyong ano lang ang… Eh ‘yung conviction niya na pinardon ko siya para makatakbo eh illegal possession of firearms. Kung mahuli ka ng baril, kung hindi mo naman gamitin, and then… So pardonable talaga. Sayangin mo isang tao, ipapreso mo, napreso ng ilang taon eh. Tapos pinardon (pardon) ni Marcos — ni Ramos but it was not complete. The restitution of his — the right to hold office, walang disqualification, lahat na-erase kung ako na. I pardoned him on all fours, lahat ng kanto na to restore him as a decent law-abiding Filipino who wants to serve.

Hindi nadadala ng aktoran. Do not vote for itong kay Robin Padilla just because he’s an actor. More than that actually. He has the passion, he has the — well, lahat na. And I — kailangan mo rin siya. At marunong mag-isip ito para sa bayan.

Ngayon, kagaya nitong maraming mga senador. Ilan lang ‘yan sila, pabalik-balik na lang. Pabalik-balik na lang ‘yan sila sa Senado. Bakit hindi ninyo palitan?

I am not saying that it is really per force na sabihin mo na palit — palitan ninyo yan dahil may army ako. Ako nilalagay ko lang rin. Hindi ko sabihin na sila ang pumalit sa iyo — sa iyo diyan sa Senado. Magkampanya kayo pero may preference ako sa mga taong Pilipino.

Si Gordon I don’t know if he’s really a Filipino citizen. Iyong apelyido lang eh hindi na Pilipino. Not — I’m not trying to offend the mga family niya but nagdududa ako saan kaya ito galing si Gordon. So we end up Gordon.

So compare mo kay Robin Padilla kay Gordon. Itong si Robin kung magtanong may “po” pa ‘yan. “Ano po ‘yung nangyari?” Itong si Gordon akala mo — p*** pati ‘yung laway nagtatalsikan. And he does not respect the dignity of a person, iyan ang ayaw ko sa kanya. Iyan talaga ang ayaw ko, nagagalit ako kay Gordon. Lahat ng hearings sinisigawan niya.

Kayo ilang taon na, ilang dekada na nakikinig kayo kay Gordon? ‘Di ba kung mag-committee nandiyan lahat for the roll call that you attended the committee hearing. Pagkatapos siya ‘yung chairman, Blue Ribbon, once he starts to talk dahan–dahan na magtindig ‘yan and he — it always ends on a — siya na lang nagsasalita tapos kung mayroong ano, “ah, that’s impertinent.”

Akala mo huwes ah. Hindi marunong magpakumbaba sa kapwa tao niya eh kung magtanong. If you are a government worker ‘wag kang… Kung ako ang tanungin mo, ganunin mo ako, titindig ako sipain kita diyan sa Senate.

You know, you respect the — bigyan mo naman kaunting dignidad ‘yung — whether they are really true or guilty or whatever or they might really be innocent.

SEC. ANDANAR: Mr. President, mayroon pong mga katanungan si Ms. Chingbee Fernandez —

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Yes.

SEC. ANDANAR: — ang publisher ng The Daily Tribune. Nandito po sa akin ngayon hawak ko po ‘yung mga questions niya: “How do you feel about your term nearing its end?”

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Well, kung sabihin mo sad, no, because minamadali ko nga. Six years ako diyan at itong lumabas na itong mga sa disgrasya ko noon sa motor. Nag — bumibigay itong ito — itong…

Tapos sabi kasi ng — my orthopedic ano, sabi niya na “magbaston-baston ka na lang kaysa maopera.” Baka ang sabi niya there’s always the danger na mag-recur o hindi maganda ang ano lalo na kung… Kaya sabi ko ang dalawa na lang. Ang tumba sa motor noon dito pati diyan eh, so pati sa spine. It’s — I’m paying for what I did to my body yesterday.

SEC. ANDANAR: “What happened to PDP-Laban? It’s the most dominant party yet it’s left with no presidential candidate.”

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Well, simply because wala rin kaming makita. I do not want to give an assessment or evaluation because may mga — mga projections kami about this man pero noon pa sinabi.

Sinabi ko na sa kanya noon — early nung nagbisita dito — sabi ko, “Adre, hindi ka manalo.” At sabi ko noon sa Davao sinabi ko, “Huwag mong sayangin ‘yang pera mo”. Pero wala pa ‘yun, wala pang survey, nag-aano pa kami.

Tingin ko it was a tall order. It was really a tall order from what he is — was to the presidency. If you can understand it’s an idiom, I think, a tall order. Iyan ang — I cannot find the appropriate words to say.

SEC. ANDANAR: Another question from Ms. Fernandez: “Drug rehab and drug elimination, drugs labs, wala na po sa Pilipinas pero mayroon pong underground economy na galing na pong abroad.”

Mr. President, noong kayo po ay tumakbo pagka-pangulo noong 2016, you ran under three platforms, one is peace and order. Nandiyan na po ang Bangsamoro Organic Law, ‘yung National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict ay nagresulta po ng more than 20,000 rebels na sumurender, more than 40 rebel fronts po ang natanggal na po, nawasak na po.

Pagdating sa law and order more than 60 percent ng crime volume bumagsak, halos dalawang milyon ng mga drug addicts ang nagpa-rehab. Successful po.

At pangatlo, ‘yung tinatawag na poverty alleviation. So ‘yung poverty incidence from 22 percent bumaba po ng 14 percent pre-pandemic. At ang ating GDP ngayon kahit na tayo po’y nagkaroon ng pandemya, last quarter of last year ay nasa seven percent.

Pero mayroon pa pong hindi na-deliver. Although napakadami na pong na-deliver na mga polisiya tulad po ng libreng edukasyon nabanggit na po kanina, ‘yung Bangsamoro Organic Law, ‘yung Malasakit Center ni Senador Bong Go. Pero ‘yung federalism po hindi po na-deliver. Kulang po ba ‘yung anim na taon?

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Filipino people is not ready. It is not accepted. Akala siguro nila ‘yung nag-a-advocate ng federalism na wala akong ginawa. Alam mo nagkamali kayo. I — I called them — every now and then I called the mayors, diyan sa Region I muna.

Noon pa noong umpisa pinapunta ko — kung mapunta ako, kinakausap ko ‘yung mga tao. Tanungin mo lang sa barangay captain. And itong DILG na… Hindi talaga ano ang tao. They are not enamored with the — hindi, pati tayo may — because there are many forms of parliament.

‘Pag diyan mo na inaano, ang mga tao hindi talaga nakakaintindi. So may strong… Hindi na ano, hindi kami nagkulang. Pero as President and as honestly as I can be, hindi talaga tanggapin ng tao karamihan kaya hindi nag-take off. Kaya ako nagtiklop na lang. It was not because I was procrastinating na balang araw gawain natin ‘to until the six years is over. Ayaw talaga, so hindi na lang rin ako.

Sinabi ko sa kanila, ayaw ng tao. Ayaw ng tao. Matakot sila na may more expanded powers ang… So — kasi they would always equate it with the local struggle. Who’s the best to handle it?

And if these guys are given a more expanded governance, medyo — hindi nila naintindihan o ayaw nilang tanggapin. Kaya masabi ko ‘yan dahil ‘yung mga governors pati mayors hindi naman ito mga ano, usually may utak talaga ‘yan, ayaw. So I gave it up, that’s a futile endeavor.

SEC. ANDANAR: Mr. President, balik po tayo doon sa eleksiyon ‘no.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Ah ang hindi ko pa natapos gawin?

SEC. ANDANAR: Yes, unfinished business. Nabanggit niyo po na you will continue working until the end of your term albeit you will be in Davao, magpa-pack na po kayo sa Abril. At tinatanong po nila ni publisher Fernandez, ano po ba ‘yung laman nung inyong suitcase?

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Well, I said that I will retire from politics. I will start by just staying neutral in this except for a few guys who I think should be there in the Senate. Iyong tinatanong mo kung sinong mga kandidato ko. Pero if called upon by my country or whoever is in power tapos maghingi ng tulong or advice, I can always give him one or two suggestions.

SEC. ANDANAR: Now, ano po ang inyong marching order sa Department of Energy — again, this is from Ms. Fernandez — and NGCP to ensure we have enough power to safeguard the sanctity of the votes dahil mayroon pong mga balita na magba-brownout po sa — ?

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Iyan kasi hindi kasalanan ng… It’s a — itong Energy is not being played solely by — marami itong — tawag nito? Intramurals. So between the providers, the power and kunin ‘yung — ‘yung — kunin ang energy then distribute it sa itong mga power distribution.

Malalim ‘yan, pati ako nalilito na ako. So ang sinabi ko lang, ito tandaan ninyo, mabuti’t sina — tinanong mo, I will never, never, never condone election-related violence. Hindi talaga ako papayag na terrorism or intimidation. This is for those who believe in me and for those who do not. Do not do it kasi I will see to it na itong eleksiyon na ito malinis at walang dayaan, walang patayan sa panahon ko.

Maghanap kayo ng ibang presidente, huwag ninyong gawain sa akin kasi pupuntahan talaga kita. At ginawa ko ‘yan — ayaw ko, tapos na eh — ginawa ko ‘yan noong nakaraang eleksiyon. Ni-landing ko ang chopper doon sa harap ng barangay hall. Doon ko sinabi, “’Di ba sinabi ko sa inyo pupuntahan kita? Ngayon, ayaw ko ng… Nandito ako, mag-usap tayo.”

Ginawa ko. Iyan ang gawain ko. Mag-terorismo ka doon sa ano… Eh pinaka — well, pinakamagandang sitwasyon ngayon ang army pati pulis. Una, ‘yung suweldo nila. And of course, providing with the necessary things that are needed to enforce the law and to guard the security of the nation.

So ‘yan ang trabaho ng military pati pulis. And I continue to be the Commander-in-Chief and we have agreed, itong mga military pati si Lorenzana nag-usap kami kahapon ng talagang diretsahan, that this election, under me, would be walang takutan; vote buying, pero hindi mo man maano ‘yan, tago ‘yan eh — itong takutan, patayan, tapos puwersahin mo sarili mo.

Look, if the people do not like you, do not force yourself into their lives na gusto mo na maging mayor ka — mayor, governor, na gusto mo dito banda walang eleksiyon, mag — you create an artificial scenery there na maging — ‘yang environment would not be conducive to a fair and honest election.

Huwag ngayon. Maghanap kayo ng ibang presidente, huwag sa panahon ko. Sinasabi ko ‘yan sa kapartido ko, sa kasama ko, whatever, kaibigan ko o kalaban ko, ‘yung hindi ko kinakausap. I will see to it and I will guarantee to all candidates, I will be neutral, and the military and the police will see to it that the Constitution, the man — mandated by the Constitution, upon their shoulders, will produce a clean and honest election.

Hindi talaga ako papayag. Basta mag-terorismo ka na diyan, hindi ako mag-order-order dito sa Malacañan, puntahan kita doon sa bahay mo. Tanungin kita kung bakit ganoon ang ugali mo. Iyan, totoo ‘yan. Hindi ako nananakot ha. Hindi ako nananakot kasi I have a sacred oath to follow. And that sacred oath is not only for friends or enemies but for all Filipinos.

Kaya pagdating sa eleksiyon, tingin ko tabla lahat. I may egg people to vote for somebody, but I’m sure they are not — lahat naman ito hindi naman eh. At kung mayroon man, sasabihin ko talaga, “Adre, p***** i**, huwag mong gawain ‘yan. Kaibigan tayo, ‘pag pinilit mo, magkalaban tayo.”

At huwag mo akong — huwag mo akong pilitin. Huwag mo akong pilitin. Do not do it sa panahon ko. Maybe ibang presidente siguro, huwag sa akin. Kaya sabi ko pupuntahan talaga kita.

SEC. ANDANAR: So two things left, Mr. President. Nabanggit niyo na po, na-explain niyo na ‘yung clean and honest elections. Ito pong pagba — pagbubukas muli ng ating ekonomiya, ‘yung pagsasara ng libro ng COVID-19, ito po ay nahuhulog din sa inyong administrasyon. You have five months, what will the people expect from the Duterte government?

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: I will — I will make my exit but I will also place things in order. Kung may awa ang Diyos and everything — if everything at the rate that we’re going, everything is going to appears to be rosy. And I hope it would be so that I can go out — para akong tatay, paglabas ko sa bahay ko, ‘yung mga anak ko ayos na, gumaling na, at wala na masyadong problema, wala ng lagnat at wala nang mamamatay. Iyon ang gusto ko at gagawain ko lahat.

Itong COVID to the last… Hinahanap ko nga kung sino itong COVID. Kasali ito doon sa mga drug lords na… Ano ako ‘yung — I will put things in order. Iyong ekonomiya, ah well, we — ‘pag sinabi i-open, we can always — we support the Secretary of Finance. But what is really very telling is that until now, ‘yung grade natin is BBB sa ratings sa Fitch.

SEC. ANDANAR: Fitch, Standard and Poor, tapos A- po sa Japanese credit rating.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Ibig sabihin ang BBB, puwede pa tayong maghiram at marami pang magpahiram. ‘Pag ‘yan ang rating mo BBB, we are still capable of borrowing. Puwede pa tayo makahiram, hindi pa sira. ‘Pag bumaba ‘yan, wala nang magpahiram sa iyo kasi hindi ka na makabayad. But sa awa ng Diyos, ‘yung rating natin na BBB, pati ‘yung sa Japanese ano bang — ?

SEC. ANDANAR: Japanese credit rating yeah, minus — A-.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: A, tama, A-.

SEC. ANDANAR: Mataas po ‘yun.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Pataas ‘yan. So ibig sabihin the country is still ready to accept investments that there’s a guaranteed… Alam mo pumasok dito pera ‘yan. Hindi ‘yan papasok dito kung hindi pera. Pera ‘yan and they can do business and they can expect ‘yang — ‘yung they can progress at kikita sila. It’s always money. Iyang GDP is ano eh ‘yung to measure the country’s condition. It’s income actually. GDP is — it’s money, it’s income. Iyan ang pagkasimpleng explanation diyan.

So kung makakaya ko, I will leave — as I have said, at the start of the campaign, I cannot promise you anything but I will try to make this country comfortable for you. Ang problema, kakatapos ko lang nasabi ‘yan, pumasok ang COVID. Doon tayo nagka — hindi ako nag-ano, I’m not making any excuses. Nakita naman ninyo ang performance ng gobyerno. Doon tayo sa COVID talaga nabugbog.

SEC. ANDANAR: Marami pa pong pag-uusapan, Mr. President, at mayroon pa po tayong pagkakataon sa mga susunod na araw, alam kong mayroon pa kayong lakad. The last question would be — will actually be a message, I will ask for a message from you dahil obviously the marching order is to stay neutral pagdating po sa presidential —

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Sa lahat ‘yan.

SEC. ANDANAR: Paano po ‘yung mga presidential appointees na ngayon po ay lumalaro na doon sa mga iba’t ibang kandidato? Ano po bang — ?

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Well, it’s all — that’s always politics and maybe a greener pasture way beyond. Okay lang ‘yan but during the last election, pinagbawalan ko talaga ang Cabinet na mag-campaign. Kagaya mo, you can campaign as a PDP, pero it’s a privilege given but binawalan ko kayo except Cusi because Cusi is the party president of a political organization. So hindi mo mapigilan ‘yan. You cannot deprive him of that right also.

Pero sa lahat na, huwag na lang kayong — sa mga — even the Cabinet members, huwag na kayong sumali para walang masabi. Sabi pa gagamitin ‘yung pera ng departamento mo, giving projects here and there para ma-compromise ang — ma-compromise ang political equanimity mo. Iyan ang problema diyan when you begin to tinker with politics. That’s my experience, that’s what I’m saying. I said it before, I’ll say it again, maraming papasok diyan kung…

But may I end this talk with a message that if there is I said a compelling need, that compelling need is me, it does not belong to anybody to tinker ano ang… But that is always reserved for what is good for the country, the Republic of the Philippines.

SEC. ANDANAR: Pasensiya na po kayo, Mr. President, pero mayroon pong pahabol na humihingi po ng opinyon. Itong tumatakbo po pagka-senador na si Congressman Marcoleta, ano po ang masasabi niyo? Itinaas niyo po ‘yung kamay niya.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Adre, mataas ang respeto ko diyan sa taong ‘yan. Sabi ko sa Pilipino, binibigyan ko — binibigyan kayo ng choice. Ito piling-pili na ito. Sa Bisaya nahimay. Ano bang Tagalog sa himay? Naano ko na ito sila. Marcoleta is very good in the vernacular. Ang galing. I could never talk like that, ever. Iyong Tagalog niya flawless and well lalo na English, abugado eh. He is focused masyado ‘yan. Ngayon nakikita ko sa kampanya he’s really focused.

Alam ninyo iyan ‘yang mga ‘yan sila Sal Panelo, ito si Marcoleta, si Robin Padilla, ‘pag you’re given a — every generation is given a chance of choosing the best of their generation. Alam mo, hindi ako nagpapaano. Hindi dahil — wala na akong hangarin pa. Bakit ko ilagay sa puwesto ‘yung mga tao na magsisira ng bayan ko?

Iyong mga matagal na diyan na mga senador, palitan na ninyo. Hanap kayo ng bago, huwag na kayo niyang mga… Hindi kayo mag-ano kasi hindi nag-aral, walang — pagdating, name recall lang. Ah ‘yun lang ang lista ninyo. Tulungan naman ninyo ang bayan ninyo. Tulungan ninyo ako. I’m giving you the wisest choice of people out there seeking acceptance and I will add more next time sa mga tao. Pero ‘yang sinabi ko ngayon, walang talo kayo diyan, maniwala kayo.

Palitan ninyo ‘yung iba, 12. Junk mo ‘yan si Gordon. Walang ginawa ‘yan kung hindi magkaroon ng pera sa gobyerno. Milyonaryo siya pero saan galing? You are a millionaire. Where is the eight — 185, 86, 185? Eh idagdag — kunan na lang natin ng isa.

Saan na ‘yung hiniram mo noong opisyal ka pa ng SBMA sa Subic? Saan na ‘yung pera na hinihingi ng COA na ibalik mo? Disallowance ‘yan eh. Disallowance means ibalik mo. Kung hindi mo ibalik, pagdating sa COA, pagdating sa ano Ombudsman or fiscal, walang disallowance na — ang term diyan is “malversation” o hindi estafa, it’s malversation. Walang ibang… And the guy has been there. He malversed 85 million of your money tapos bilib ka pa sa kanya.

So next time, I will talk with an expanded topic of the other senators and how they would — if they win again for all would — ‘yung mga ano nila advocacies and what they have in mind to improve the — my country and your country and everybody’s country.

SEC. ANDANAR: Maraming salamat po sa pagkakataon na ibinigay ninyo sa amin, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. At mga kababayan, just like what the President said, sa susunod po na usapan dito sa Cabinet Report ay mayroon pang idadagdag posible na mga senatoriables si Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: And other issues.

SEC. ANDANAR: And other issues more importantly. Thank you so much. Good night.

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