Interview

Media Interview of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during the Oath-Taking of Senator-Elect Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go

Event DURING THE OATH-TAKING OF SENATOR-ELECT CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE “BONG” GO
Location Rizal Hall, Malacañan Palace

Q: [off mic]

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Ang problema I have yet to see Murad and the other officials of the BARMM.

Ang nangyari kasi ganito walang nagtitimon for the national government. I am not saying that they do not know how to govern. As a matter of fact, they are experts. Most of them because they are once upon a time politicians or in — somehow involved in politics.

Ang problema I called the attention of — I think it was during the — when was that? Sinabi ko na move — I do not see any movement there. And your place is rich both in natural resources and ang mga tao doon mga edukado ‘yan.

We go… There seems to be a disconnect dito sa akin pati sa kanila. So I was looking for Murad, eh wala doon. Sabi ko, ‘Hurry up. Set up the government that you have long wanted for.’ Gawain na ninyo at one of fears of the Moro of Mindanao was that the Liguasan Marsh — was they think — and I believe them that is really full of resources including oil.

Sabi ko eh di exploit na ninyo ‘yan. It’s all yours. Nobody will ask for it except Dominguez maybe for the taxes. At ‘yung minimal naman, taxation just for regulation. It’s not really for income.

Well, if our Moro brothers would feel generous, they might also on the side probably share whatever wealth there is underneath those swathes of lands there.

Tapos ang mga utos ko to implement it after I signed the one. Wala and I cannot see anybody in the horizon except Piñol who knows and grew up — was born in Mindanao and grew up there. He is a farmer, then a governor.

So sabi ko kailangan ko ng timon. And that Mindanao Authority position is a Cabinet position. Sabi ko, ‘pumunta ka na lang doon, tulungan mo na lang ako.’ Get them started hurry up, hurry them up so that they would have the first regular organized government that they have long wish for.

Q: So you are accepting his resignation?

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: I have to… He had to have his — more than just a rapport, friendship. They have to arrive at the mechanics of they would connect on all fronts.

Ang amin, we do not interfere. We will just guide them and whatever their longings are Piñol would bring it — bring it to the attention of the Cabinet.

Q: Sir, segue lang ng ibang topic. Sir, ‘yung pong kahapon niyong speech sa PSG, just a little bit of clarification, are we granting China the right or the privilege to fish in our EEZ?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: That is… You know that question is bordering — I would not say the word.

We do not need to give or disallow China because in the mind of China and everybody else down to the last soldier and citizen, kanila ang China. Kaya nga kinuha nila eh.

And they claimed an ocean — kasi until now I am [unclear] of what it is. Is it a law or the medieval times or modern law that you can claim the whole ocean?

That question is panghuli lang, to put me… Well, and those who would like an answer — to formulate this stupid question. Very stupid.

Sabihin ko sa China, huwag mong gawain ‘yan. Kung gagawin niya, gagawin niya. Kung sabihin ko naman huwag mong gawin ‘yan, gagawin niya. Kung gawain mo ito, o hindi niya gawin. Huwag mong gawain ‘to, gagawain niya.

And you are there for an embarrassment. Iyan naman ang gusto ng mga kamoteng ito including Carpio. Just to embarrass us. Remember he should not forget that it was during the time of Aquino ‘yung ano niya — well I don’t know what was his relation, strong connect nila sa politika.

It was the time of Albert. Nandoon ‘yung isang barko, binangga ni Admiral Wong ng Navy natin. And to think that guy is Chinese. Binangga niya, iniwan niya. That is the boat that is being occupied by the Marines. And the other one was there. There was this confrontation during the time of Aquino.

Albert on his own struck a deal with the Chinese and I think one government official of the United States, sabi nila, ‘sabay-sabay tayong mag-alis.’ And you know what Albert said? ‘Sige.’ Nauna siya, ‘paandarin mo na at alis na tayo.’

That day we lost the Scarborough Shoal. Iyang isa ang paghihinakit ng mga Magdalo. That’s why they revolted. Hindi ko panahon ‘yon. We lost China Sea during the time yet of Aquino.

Ang naabutan ko ang arbitral ruling. When China was already there, had taken possession of the China Sea. And was ready saber-rattling. They said ‘if anybody would try to get this territory from ours which is historical and a divine right, gulo tayo.’

Now kung sabihin mo itong mga ulol, sino nagsabi, ‘at bakit ba si Duterte pinag-usapan gulo kaagad?’ T*** i** mo. ‘Di ba sinabi ko na sa inyo ‘yang sagot na ‘yan right after I went to China.

I was with Lorenzana, Año then who was the Chief of Staff and — yeah — Esperon was there. In a bilateral meeting, sinabi ko kay President Xi and he is listening sabi ko, ‘I will go there in the area sa ating oil and itong field natin sa…’ Inubos nila ‘yung pera hanggang ngayon hindi na makita. Malampaya, it runs into billions. Bilyon ‘yon nawala.

Sabi ko, ‘I’m going there to dig oil.’ Ang sagot ni Xi Jinping in whisper, tanungin mo sila, ‘Alam mo, Mayor Duterte, we just restored our friendship. It was not good for a number of years. Pero huwag na muna tayong pag-usapan.’ Sabi niya, ‘Let’s talk about helping each other, trade, commerce, investment, China can help.’ Doon na nag — that started the ano.

No, no, balik ako sabi ko, ‘I want my oil because that is ours there.’ And he said, ‘No, because you know that could mean trouble.’

O kayong mga ugok, palibhasa kayo ang alam ninyo kayo lang ang bright mga ulol. ‘Pag lumabas ‘yang “that is trouble”, anong ibig sabihin niyan from the mouth of President?

Kung sabi ko sa iyo na, ‘Adre huwag kang umakyat diyan. ‘Pag umakyat ka, upak — upakan kita.’

Q: Sir, as President paano niyo po ire-reconcile ‘yung nakasaad sa ating Saligang Batas na ito nga po ‘yung kanilang isina-cite, ‘yung Section 2, Article XII ng ating Constitution na nagsasabi, “The State shall protect the nation’s marine wealth in its archipelagic waters, territorial sea, and exclusive economic zone, and reserve its use and enjoyment exclusively to Filipino citizens.”

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: That is a provision for the thoughtless and the senseless. The protection about economic rights, about the economic zone, resources? I am protecting the country and 110 Filipinos.

Pagka may nag — alam mo ganito ‘yan eh. Ang China, pareho ng Pilipino hindi mo pwede hiyain. Magwawala ‘yan at magpuputak nang — p******* kayong lahat. Ganun ako.

Ganun ‘yan eh. Magpunta ako doon, sabihin ko, ‘Get out because this is the Constitution.’ Sabihin sa’yo, ‘Naubusan ka na ng toilet paper? Gamitin mo ‘yan.’

Ako, kung sabihin — you present to me a Constitution like that and we have this ruckus claiming the same place in our jurisdiction? Sabihin ko, ‘pag wala ka ng pang-ilo, gamitin mo ‘yung Constitution mo.

Because that means war. And that piece of paper, the Constitution, would become meaningless with no spirit except desperation, agony, and suffering.

Kasi pagpunta mo doon, how do you drive them away? Kaya nga gusto lang ako ng mga ulol na ‘to hiyain ako. Pagdating ko doon, sabihan ko ‘yung commander doon na, ‘Umalis kayo.’ Sabihin sa akin, ‘P***** i**. Sino ka mag-utos sa akin?’ Gusto mo upakan?

Remember their missiles there, ‘yung nakalagay na diyan sa islands could reach Manila in seven minutes. Kaya do not… ‘Yung mga pa-ganun-ganun lang, they are talking about a situation na walang crisis. That nobody is contesting your territory.

In the mind of China, it is theirs. In our mind, pati ni Carpio et al and… Ngayon sabi ko, turuan ninyo ako paano na sinagot na ako ni Xi Jinping noon, “there will be trouble.”

Kaya sagutin mo muna ako Justice, give me the formula at gagawin ko. Eh ang… May pareho tayo may kwitis. Ang Pilipino, may kwitis. Ang China, may kwitis. Pero ang tip ng kwitis na ‘yan is an atomic bomb. May kwitis tayo dito ng atin. Ang ating kwitis, ang warhead, ulo, is just sparklers. Pang-pista lang itong atin, hindi ito pang-giyera.

Q: Sir, sir. Pasundot lang po. ‘Yun pong sinabi ni President Xi na — pero ang context po noon ‘yung Malampaya and oil exploration. Do you think what he said, that warning, extends to fishing…?

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: That could be because they are willing now to share sana, 60-40. I do not think they will agree now.

Q: So sir ‘yun pong sina…

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Why you have totally just abandoned it by taking a pugnacious stand? Ako, hindi. Itong ating gobyerno but since we are one.

Ang problema kasi we are one Filipino, isali mo ako doon sa mga… ‘Yung mga scholarly exposition na — don’t give me that s***. Hanggang diyan lang kayo sa libro ninyo.

I, I have to protect the interest of my country, the very life of the Filipino, 110 million. You know America, bakit ka ba magsabi ng — bakit tawagin mo America? That will all the more bring us to the verge of war.

Q: Sir, wala — wala po bang ibang paraan para ipaglaban ang soberenya ng ating bansa kung ‘di sa pamamagitan lamang ng pakikidigma?

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: As it is now. Like any other crisis, World War II, World War I, there was no remedy inside. But God in his infinite wisdom will find the answer — not to give us the right to allow the slaughter of my countrymen.

‘Pag paalis pa lang niyan, p** — pag-alis pa lang niyan sa pantalan sa Palawan, sasabog na ‘yan. Mga cruise missiles nila, guided by satellite, pinpoint accuracy ‘yan. Wala tayo niyan kaya huwag tayong magyabang. Ang sabi nga, kung ikaw pintik ka lang, ‘yung isa naghahawak ng M14, huwag ka… Do not be stupid. I am not…

Unlike them, I dwell on reality. Sabihin, ‘Bakit ba si Duterte sige…?’ Eh wala ka doon adre eh. Napaka-bugok mo naman. Nawala nga ‘yung Scarborough. Not the arbitral, because with or without the arbitral, ang China already claimed and said it’s theirs and said they would not — it was even pending resolution.

Sabi na ng China, whatever be the outcome, we don’t give a damn about it.

Q: Hi po, Mayor. Ano pong masasabi niyo po doon sa mga nagfo-float na pwede po kayong kasuhan ng impeacha — ng impeachment dahil po sa pag-allow sa China na mag-fish sa EEZ?

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: I-impeach ako? Kulungin ko silang lahat. Subukan ninyo. Try to take it — try to do it and I will do it. Eh p***, sabihin ko sa mga sundalo ko, ‘ipadala ko kayo doon’. Paano itong mga pamilya nito? P***** i**. Tapos maubos.

Q: Sir, paki-enlighten lang sir. ‘Yun pong mutual understand…?

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Hanggang ngayon hindi ka pa na-enlighten?

Q: Hindi, sir. Iba naman, sir.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: After one hour?

Q: Iba naman, sir.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Nagbago na talaga ang buhay.

Q: Hindi sir. ‘Yun pong mutual understanding ninyo with President Xi, what does it cover? Papaano po ‘yung kumbaga gentleman’s…?

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Cover was just we restore friendship. He knew that I was there because of the Americans, because of the 64 o 63,000 thousand rifles na may isang — dalawa o tatlong senador o congressman tumindig and blocked it.

And unlike the Philippines — dito ‘pag naka-decide ako in a matter — basta foreign policy, laro talaga ng Presidente. The Constitution says. ‘Yang foreign policy, how to handle our relationship with the…

Sino ‘yan siya? Hindi ko man siya nakita noon. Sige ra ba atras. Bago ka, ma’am?

Q: Tuesday Niu sir, DZBB.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Ah hindi, nakita na kita noon.

Q: Sir?

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Lumapit ka dito para marinig kita.

Q: Sir ito na lang question.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Huwag ka na, tama ka na diyan ano.

Q: I’m so sorry. Sir, question. Meron pa po ba kayong i-e-endorse na for House speakership since meron na pong pinangalanan ang PDP-Laban?

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Ganito ‘yan ma’am ha. Ano ngang tanong mo? What was the last question? I think my answer was… Ah di ganito ‘yan.

Hindi ako preparado nga sabihin nila maliit na bagay. Ang minamaliit ko na bagay, sabihin — it’s a little incident. Little na pala ‘yan. It’s a little incident.

Tapos — ah wala ‘yan. Ito ngayon ang insidente — kailangan mo. Sige, lapitan mo doon, sabihin mo atin.

I-impeach mo ako? I-deliver ko kayo sa Beijing lahat. You try that. You want me, not only to violate the Constitution. How come I protect the resources when there is nobody to eat it? How can I protect the fish there and the — and the produce of the land kung walang kakain? G*** ba kayo?

You try to impeach me, do that. And I will tell you. Subukan ninyo. I am challenging you to do it. You really want to force my hand into it? Okay. P***** i** ninyo gawain ninyo ‘yan. Sige. File it. Tingnan mo kung saan ka lang.

Sabi ni — sabi ni Erap sa kangkungan kayo. Do it to me. Ako ang — you f*** with me, ipakita ko sa inyo kung how not to run properly a government.

Q: Sir, last question sa akin po. Sir, dati sabi ninyo there will come a time that you will bring up the arbitral ruling.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Yes, yes.

Q: So ngayon po ba may ganon pa rin kayong plano?

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: When the oil is extracted, that’s what I meant. Since I cannot assert jurisdiction, sabi ko hati na lang noon. Pumayag na sila. Sabi nila, ‘Para sa iyo, Mayor, 60-40 papayag kami.’ Ngayon, nobody’s talking about it.

Because itong mga g***, I said I deal with reality. If you are in the state of a dream — you are in a trance, huwag ninyo ako… Tapos sabihin takot-takotin niya ako ng impeachment. P**** * i** subukan mo.

Sabi ni Erap sa kangkungan kayo pupulitin. O dito sa akin subukan mo. Subukan mo. Kung mga lalaki kayo at matapang, may bayag kayo, do it. T*** i** ninyo.

Q: Sir, ongoing pa ‘to [unclear]

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Sabihin mo sa kanila, lahat sila. Kung hindi, duwag sila. Do it. Baka… P****** i**, ulol kayo, ako na nga ang nagsasakripisyo dito.

Kayong mga p***** i** and even ex-military men officials. Nagkahirap-hirap ang Marawi, nagkahirap-hirap ang Jolo, nagpakita ba kayo doon?

Kayong mga senador, anyone of you. Nagpunta ba kayo, nakipag-ano ba kayo sa mga sundalo na namatay doon? Na maabutan ko doon sa forward center na in the throes of death? And yet still smiling nag — sumasaludo pa. Tapos sabihin magpunta ako ng giyera ipapatay ko lang. Paano ang pamilya nito? Kayo ang magbayad sa pension? T*** i**. Bwisit kayo.

You want to force me to go to war. America will not go to war. Two reasons: there must be an aggression sa atin. We are being attacked violently. That is the first condition in the treaty. And the second condition is that it must pass Congress.

Eh war man kaya ang pag-usapan natin. Hindi man kaya tayo matatakot mag-war. So what do you think if they will exchange blows there? Look at Vietnam. They asserted their coastal lines. O ‘di they attacked the Coast Guard of the China. They got a bloody nose.

‘Yan ang gawain ko? Kabago-bago nitong mga frigates ko tapos itapon ko doon. Kamahal niyan. ‘Yan pa nga niyawyaw ni Trillanes eh. Sa kanila pa lang… Hindi na ba sa panahon ko.

‘Yan ang problema, buhay. Hindi lang nila alam ang… Ay alam nila ‘yan. Ito mga ano ‘to. Hindi ‘to — hindi ako. They are bright, but they are not smart. O may — but a few of guys there.

Ang una ng pinakaanong ginagawa ko, kung ano-anong pinag-isip nandoon sa presohan si De Lima. Kung ano na lang ang sinasabi, attack, ganon. Ikaw, itali kita ng kwitis na malaki, ikaw ang pa — pasiritin ko doon sa Spratlys.

I will order in Bulacan the greatest — the biggest kwitis that we can ever make. Itali kita, sindihan ko. Sige, mauna ka na doon.

Tapos isunod ko si Dayan ng mahinang helicopter — ay kwitis. Basi mag-abot kayo baka wala pa tuloy mangyari sa mission na ‘yan in the air. T*** i** mo. You are an immoral woman exhibiting your sexual hunger tapos ganon ka magsalita.

No, you do not have the moral right. Not even… Kaya kung ayaw mo pag-usapan ‘yan kasi sabi mo may mga anak ka, eh ‘yung… Do not tempt too much na ‘pag marunong ka. You keep quiet. You clear yourself, prove to us that hindi ikaw, si ano ‘yon, kung sino ‘yon kamukha mo lang. O baka ayaw mo lang sabihin may twin sister ka.

Q: Good evening, Mayor. Doon naman tayo sa giyera sa speakership. Do you still inclined to make your choice sa…?

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Ganito… Pare, pagod ka masyado nagpapawis. Si — kanino ka nagatra — para magtrabaho? Ha? Anong istasyon ka? Sa atin? Ah wala man. Sige diyan ka lang. [laughter] Lagot talaga. Eh pawis na pawis. Alam ko hirap ka eh. Ma — pero tayo dito we have to sacrifice. I have yet to see…

There are you know — was it Shakes — Shakespeare ba ‘yon? Noong sinabi niya, ‘I saw her but once till I loved her. Ah I saw her but once and yet I loved her. I loved — past tense — her till death.’ Shakespeare ‘yon. Shakespeare. Eh hindi kayo nakinig noon sa eskwela.

Q: Sir, how about the ‘yung speaker Velasco?

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Ay sus, wala muna. Diyan kayo ngayon concentrating.

Q: Thank you. Thank you.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Wala pa nga. Tumahimik ka. Apurado kayong lahat.

Ah ganito ‘yan. Before the campaign, since he was with me, kay… Hindi ako nag — I do not tell lies in… Sabi niya balang araw kung ganon, ganyan after the… Hindi man siya nakatakbo. He became a Cabinet member, Foreign Secretary. Then he said that, ‘Maybe one day tatakbo ako uli.’

Tapos… Ano nga ‘yung gawain niya? Ah magtakbo siya ng congressman. Kung manalo siya, sabi niya, ‘Tulungan mo ako kasi gusto kong tumakbo Speaker na lang.’ ‘O sige.’

Tapos ang nagsabi na — yes, it’s all right to run. Pero hindi ako nag-commit because we politicians do not commit our support.

Hindi mo kasi alam ang what is tomorrow. You know, the ever-changing rules of life. So sabi ko, ‘Sige, subukan natin.’

Maya-maya si Lord Velasco. Kaibigan ko rin ‘yan. Kaibigan ko ang tatay kasi abugado, kaibigan ko man ‘yan sila lahat, justices and all. Sabi ko ‘di subukan ‘if you have the numbers after the elections…’

Tapos after the elections, pumasok si Romualdez. But in fairness to Bebot — si Alvarez, he never mentioned about the speakership. Naririnig ko lang na ganun.

So ngayon, ang commitment ko talaga ayaw kong may magsama ng loob sa akin. Ayaw ko nga magsama ang loob si Xi Jinping sa akin kay hindi na tayo makapasyal doon sa Beijing. Sarap pa ng pagkain.

Malay mo, baka yayain tayo sa birthday niya o sa piyesta nila. Ano kaya ang parokya ng Beijing? Pero ganun.

The semblance of a knowledge prior to the elections, but I never gave any concrete “yes”. Sabi ko, ‘Sige, tignan natin. But we — see to it that you have the number.’

So ngayon magprangka ako. Kay Romualdez — kay Martin, he is a friend, he supported me. I really — masakit sa loob ko sabihin pero hindi talaga ako mangako sa kanya.

Ngayon, ang gusto ko… Ang sabi, may term sharing. Correct ‘yan. Sabi ko, ‘Just to break the impasse, let us have this formula. How about a toss coin? Do you agree?’ Ayaw nila.

Tapos one day, Romualdez, itong si Velasco, pati si Cayetano went to see me. I think it was in Davao? Ah sa Japan. Japan.

Sabi nila… Ayun ang pagkasabi. Magtanong sila, ‘Anong klaseng adviser si Bong?’ O ‘yon. Nagdududa sila pati adviser. You have to have a friend. Merong ngang esprit de corps sa military lalo na dito sa gobyerno magtanungan.

Japan, sabi nila… Ah doon sa kwarto ko. Pumunta sila. Umakyat sila sa kwarto ko, sabi nila, ‘You decide. We will follow.’ I cannot do that because I do not want to offend anybody maski ano sabihin ninyo na ‘Bahala ka, Mayor.’ Ganun.

Meron talagang ano ‘yan. There’s always the — there’s always the fallout. So… Eh kasi ‘yung mga supporters ninyo would not ever believe that kung kaibigan mo as you have said in the past or before the election na ganun.

Si kuwan o, siya. Kaibigan ko man ‘yan siya. Wala pa. Hindi pa ako ta… Guard. [laughter] T*** i**. Pagka may lumalabas na — ‘pag may lumabas na PSG diyan, hulihin ko. Itali ninyo doon sa barge ng…

Kaya ‘yon sabi ko. Ah hindi — panahon ko na kasi ito. It’s really an opportunity for me to let it out so that I would not have to ano — bug with the questions in the days to come. I’m going home to Davao after this.

Ano iyong… So ‘yan ang ano. Ito sabi ko. Maghati kayo ng term. Ang gusto ni Cayetano mauna siya. But he will stay there just for 15 months. That’s what he committed. Si — and Velasco can have the — the other half, which is not really as short as — 21 months.

Sabihin ko mag-ano… Ganun ang proposal. Pumayag na si Cayetano but si Velasco mukhang last minute nag-back out.

So ang suggestion ko is ganito: Kung ‘yan lang naman, puro man tayo magkaibigan dito, huwag na lang tayong mag-away. I will not help anybody. Mag-labo-labo na lang kayo: Romualdez, Alvarez, Cayetano.

And I am telling each and every one of them, ‘I am sorry. I am very sorry I could not be of help. Because hindi rin ako mag-underground. I will not secretly pass on any order or encoded na mag-ano kayo.’

‘Pag sinabi ko ‘yan, iyan na ‘yan.

Q: Meron na po papalit kay Secretary Piñol?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Maghanap pa kami? But I think the role of a Mindanao ano — chieftain sa gobyerno. So that he can really implement the obligations and responsibility of the national government to the Moro people of Mindanao.

I want the Moro happy. We have promised everything and I want as yearly as I can complete it during my term. Kaya bilisan ninyo at use whatever your legislation would want about Liguasan Marsh and the others.

You have Piñol to talk to. And he will craft something there for everybody. So pagka Christians, we have had our feel. Ang mga Moro, they are natives there. Tayong Christians went there.

If you are not a Moro, you are not from Magui — you are not from Mindanao. You are a descendant or a migrant coming from other places. Just…

Q: Sir, sir, sir.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Mmm.

Q: For categorical answer. So you have accepted the resignation of Secretary Piñol? Yes or no?

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Until after I shall have talked to Murad. Eh baka hindi niya tanggapin doon? Tapos ba ‘yung… What are you messing up with the…? [garbled]

Ang akin tulong lang. Kung anong legislation kailangan, I will bring it to Malacañan and we will dwell on it, and refer it to Congress or prepare a law and then you can debate with law.

Q: [off mic]

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Ah hindi kita marinig ma’am. Bungol (deaf) na ako eh.

Q: [off mic]

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Hindi ah. Marami man tayong bigas.

Q: [off mic]

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: No, kasi kailangan ko nga. Wala — wala akong narinig. Maski kayo wala kayong narinig about the ARMM. Tsaka ‘yung pera na kailangan nila, I think hindi pa dumating. Or else we will have another round of revolutions here.

Somebody must kick the ass of whoever it is. Sabi na ibigay na ninyo ‘yan because they cannot move. They have to pay the officials working now. Wala pa eh. I hope… Well, nasaan na ‘yung pera ngayon? Mabuti kung nandooon na.

Q: But sir, you are happy naman sa performance ni Secretary Piñol as Agriculture Secretary.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Yes.

Q: Walang question sa corruption?

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Wala. Corruption, wala. It is not corruption. He is not corrupt. He’s just talkative. [laughter]

Paano ‘yung sa boxing, ‘Give him a right hand and then… Then… Then… The lady is crying. And then he goes forward to embrace and apologize.’ Ganun ‘yon. Iyan ang trabaho niya noon.

Q: [off mic]

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Sabi ko na nga eh, mahusay kang magtanong. [laughter]

Maghintay ka lang, the right time to give the knock out punch. Hindi, hindi, hindi ‘di sandali lang. Apurado. [laughter] Akala mo naman binabayaran ako dito. Wala, libre.

Ilang bakante? Ilan ba ‘yung…? Gusto ko ng medyo — hindi naman major. Mini revamp, mini lang, mini revamp. Ang mga position? Magpili pa ako kung sinong patayin ko sa kanila. Salamat po.

Q: Salamat, sir. Salamat po. Thank you.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Sa Cabinet members lima. Lima ka positions na gusto kong mabakante. Pero bakantehin mo ‘yan, wala mang mag-alis, magpatay ako ng apat. [laughter]

Magpatay pa ako ng ibang…

Q: So sir, si — you want five, five for change or…?

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Oo, walang ano. Ang issue lang naman diyan is corruption. Kung hindi ka corrupt, you can just work. So that’s the definition of your work.

Q: Istorya lang yung mini revamp?

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: I hope you… Wala. Except that if there’s a new — an old and new. [unclear] Cabinet position ang Mindanao Authority.

[unclear] Pero I want him to focus kasi taga-Mindanao, walang ibang makita ko na perfect for the job — it’s Manny.

Now if you are asking about corruption, no, he is not corrupt.

Q: Thank you, Mayor.

— END —

Source: PCOO-PND (Presidential News Desk)

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