PRESIDENT RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE: Good evening to all. Mag-segue ako sa mga salita ko ngayon during the previous Talk to the People. Alam mo this country continues to be plagued with corruption.

I have make or I have made a pledge to the people of the Philippines na ‘yung oath of office ko, part of it really is to protect government interest. It does not say there, it’s not included, but in its totality that is what it means actually: protecting government interest.

Alam mo hanggang ngayon corruption pa rin ang problema. I have made a pledge if I remember two sessions, three sessions ago, that I will concentrate the last remaining years of my term fighting corruption kasi hanggang ngayon hindi humihina, lumalakas pa lalo. Para na tuloy naging inutil ang mga opisyal ng bayan na wala talagang magawa with the onslaught of corruption.

Hindi po ako naniniwala na wala akong magawa. May magawa ako. Hindi naman siguro to eradicate corruption in its totality. But I think kami, Cabinet members, nandito man sila nakikinig, in our own — not small — but in our dedication, we would come up a very strong stand against corruption.

Eradication maybe a part but not all. Pero talagang hihirit ako. Ang una kong sinabi sabi ko yayariin ko kayo ‘yung sa PhilHealth at tinotoo ko talaga. Marami na ngayon sa kanila na tinanggal, ‘yung iba nag-resign.

But let me remind everybody in this government na your resignation will not save your neck. Alam mo bakit? You are not allowed to resign if there is a pending case against you. Mag-resign ka man hindi ka mag-report but then you would be summoned or subpoenaed not because you are already out of government but because for all intents and purposes you are still a part of government. You are not allowed to resign to escape liability.

Kasi nakita ko sa PhilHealth puro resignation dito, resignation doon. Sinasabi ko well maganda man ‘yan para makatulog ka siguro. Hindi ka na mag-report ng opisina. But if you think that it would save you from criminal prosecution or administrative because you are still considered an employee, that resignation will not help you at all. Let us be clear on that.

And this is my second call for a total campaign against corruption. Iyong Task Force na nabuo ko — puro man abugado ‘yon, puro engineer, puro doktor — this time we will look into every department. But upon my request, behest, to focus sa corruption sa DPWH. Let me state here and now that I have nothing against Secretary Villar. He is one of the hardworking at maraming accomplishments si Secretary Villar. But you know accomplishments alone to me should not suffice para na sa akin, hindi na kay Secretary Villar, because it’s not his job to be running after crooks.

But it behooves upon me to see to it na itong corruption mahinto kung hindi ma — at least maputol na nang kaunti. So we are expanding the investigation sa corruption sa agriculture with special focus sa DPWH.

And as the same, I will order your suspension. I need not go to court. Sabi ko nga itong presidency hindi naman inutil kasi kung inutil ako, aalis na ako dito, ibigay ko na sa iba.

So huwag ninyo akong lokohin. Kung naging inutil man ako noon maybe we were too busy looking for money. Ngayon na may kaunting may maipakita kami sa inyo. A small dent in the infrastructure setup of Manila and it will improve tremendously the traffic congestion. Okay na sa akin ‘yan. And I will allow the secretaries to continue with their — of the projects — you still have my full support. But ang focus ko ngayon, the Office of the President itself, will be against corruption.

So in the coming days expect itong suspension not — kasi kung i-suspend kita may duda ako. Hindi ako mag-suspend ng tao na walang kasalanan.

It would be expanded with the relentless energy. If need be, kukuha ako ng marami pang abugado. Tutal iilang buwan na lang ‘yan, buwanan na lang ‘yan. But to the very last day, may i-suspend pa ako siguro na mga empleyado.

Now, that is very clear. I do not think that you receive the message equivocal. It has only one impact.

I have here so many things to read, ganito ‘yan eh, ‘yung mata ko hindi na masyado maganda. And I read the 168, ang 1.6, may point pala ‘yon. So sabi ko 168, 1.6. Ang 16 akala ko diretso na ‘yon kaya nagkamali ako sa tao na contaminated.

You know minsan pagka maliit na — ito mga ganito [points to a piece of paper] hindi ko na mabasa ‘yan sa ganoong distansya. Ganoon [pulls paper closer] pero kung ganoon [pushes paper away]. Pa-glance-glance lang ako kunwari para sabihin marunong eh nagkakamali. But you know every dog is entitled to one bite.

Next is the proposed of — I’d like to hurry up Congress in this. One of my proposals during the campaign period was the creation of Overseas Filipino. Iba ‘yung Department of Labor. It takes care of the internal mga trabahante dito, ‘yung nasa labas. So I proposed in the coming months and I hope to come up with a Department of Overseas Workers. I don’t know if…

I will also create another agency and that is the maritime, the seafarers, kasi sinabi ko sa kanila iba-iba ‘yung treatment ko doon because of the so many international laws involved dito.

Alam mo pagka ‘yung mga trabahante natin nasa labas stranded and everything… Mayroon pa nga sigurong isa. I’ve read that one Filipino has been stranded in — I think he is in Vietnam right now.

I’d like to ask Secretary Bello, if he’s listening, to look into the matter. He has been there for two years. That is unconscionable. I cannot accept that kind of mistake of government. We should bring him home. No Filipino should be left stranded like a person with no nationality. Tingnan itong mabuti itong problema na ‘to at baka ma-solve kaagad. I hope the Department of Labor would take this suggestion seriously.

Itong sa overseas workers, ang ano nito ang rational or rationale, if you may, na wala masyadong focus. Kasi kalaki ng Department of Labor, isa lang ‘yan dito, isang department lang ‘yan. So this time, one department, ah one section sa Department of Labor. Dito gawaing isang departamento. Pati itong sa maritime, sa mga seafarers, I might consider an additional agency under this proposal. Overseas kasi eh.

So iyan ang ano ko sa mga kababayan ko na naghihirap sa labas that there will be a more thorough review sa policies sa — for your protection and that somebody should look after you.

It might not really be perfect, it might not really be as good as one would expect initially, but we would improve later. And so I would have to create this kaagad, ASAP ito.

Ngayon sa itong sa All Saints’, All Souls’ Day, wala naman… Naka-fix na ‘yan. No liquor, no deadly instruments lalo na ang baril, unless you are a military or a police. Sana — I expect a peaceful celebration of the All Saints’ Day and the All Souls’ Day.

Iyong importante pang isa: vaccine. Mayroon akong nabasa sa newspaper that there was this meeting between Sinovac, Sinopharm, I’m not sure. But it was a pharmaceutical of China na hindi natuloy ‘yung pakig-meeting nila because the Chinese counterpart probably did not have any good understanding with his partner and so they decided to back out.

But let me tell everybody that hindi kami maghingi. We will pay. So maganda sana government-to-government ang transaction. Walang corruption, wala lahat kasi government-to-government. I am offering it to China kasi mayroon na sila.

As I have said earlier in the days that followed the COVID contamination, sinabi ko na I expect China to come up first because I believe sa Chinese expertise and knowledge. At hindi ako nagkamali, mayroon na sila.

So to the Chinese government and to the people who are really parlaying the vaccine, we — you need not look for partners. We can make it government-to-government and I will pay you.  Wala ng ano kasi na ano ko — but Secretary Duque is here.

DOH SECRETARY FRANCISCO DUQUE III: Good evening, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Yeah. I’ll give you enough time to explain what this is all about. I just want a clear picture of how we should go about with their… But my sense, Secretary, is that it should be a government-to-government transaction because it will be good.

And tell your men if they are into these negotiations that place first a government-to-government transaction. I hate ‘yang ano — ayaw ko ‘yung private persons, magbili tayo sa private Chinese businessmen. Diyan magkakaloko-lokohan eh. Kagaya ngayon, umatras ‘yan kasi hindi yata nakapag-agree doon sa mga terms nila parang partnership to deal with the Philippine government.

I had a — we had a meeting with Ambassador Huang. He said that the vaccine is there. It will be in a matter of — ano na lang paano i-distribute, and of course what kind of transaction would it be for them and for us. I said for government ang sa Pilipinas kasi it will do away with corruption again and you know mga hingi-hingi diyan sa pera.

Kasali dito ‘yung dito sa ‘yung pagbigay ng pera. This — I don’t know if it’s second or… As I have said before the money for assistance and help na maibigay sa tao should be formulated and implemented by the Task Force.

So I’d like to ask Secretary Galvez. Ito ba rin you take care of the money? Kindly remove your… Kasi hindi rin — hindi…

PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER ON PEACE PROCESS AND NTF COVID 19 CHIEF IMPLEMENTER CARLITO

GALVEZ JR.: Per arrangement with the SOF sir siya po sir ang nag-aano sir sa ano sir sa procurement at saka ‘yung DB — PS-DBM po, sir.

Actually, sir, I have a briefer here on the vaccine procurement that have been given to me by PS-DBM, sir. I’ll submit it to you, sir.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: It has been my desire — kasi busy ka Secretary Duque. I know that your hands are full until now kaya ‘yung implementation sa pera binigay ko doon sa Task Force. It still is, that is still my decision na ibigay sa kanila.

Now, may tanong lang kasi ako, I don’t know if it’s your — baka hindi. Ito bang pagbigay ng pera, ‘yan ang ayaw ko sa lahat ‘yung delay. Kagaya ng assistance, ang p** — iyang assistance kailangan pagkain nandiyan kaagad.

May iba kasi sa probinsya pagawain pa ng proposal. Tapos they will review the proposal and it would take days. I don’t know if it’s a local government who’s doing it or the money passed on to the local government to do the distribution or implementation. But ang hindi ko talaga malaman kung saan. I do not know where the fault lies because it’s really something which is obnoxious.

Iyang kayong lahat taga-gobyerno, to those who are implementing the assistance whether the Department of Health, Department of — DILG, department of… What? Local government? Barangay? Huwag ninyong pagawain pa ng proposal kasi ‘yung proposal they will review it and then decide. P****, ‘yung proposal kailangan maibigay kaagad, hindi na ‘yung proposal kung hindi ‘yung pera.

So what I would like to happen is this: Simplify the giving of the money by asking for a proposal, then that proposal should not be studied by days or by months. You just review it and if it says that it’s for food, g********, you give it because it’s for food, kakainin ‘yan. And all assistance connected with the health of a person o ano, ibigay ninyo.

Do away with delay. Local governments, mga permit na ganoon, hindi ako nagyayabang, if I did it in Davao City for three days, make it two days this time. Kapag hindi at nag-report ang isang tao sa akin, ‘yung report niya diretso na ‘yon sa — “Respectfully forwarded to the Ombudsman for immediate action.”

Hindi na ako mag — sa akin may imbestigasyon pa tapos administrative, criminal. Doon ka sa Ombudsman, because the Ombudsman can suspend you anytime. With strong reasons or with weak reasons, that has to be seen but he has that power.

So ganoon na lang. Pagka kayong may mga complaint, oras na dumating sa akin ‘yan, diretso na ‘yan sa Ombudsman. Bahala na kayo doon sa buhay ninyo. Because the Ombudsman can order you dismissed, order you — you face charges, criminal or wala. You…

Sabihin ko sa inyo nag-iba ang panahon. Nag-iba rin ang utak ko. You might not like the way I present my — my thoughts to you pero ganoon na nga medyo nagsawa na ako kasi ang mga tao nagsawa na rin.

Kayong mga ano diyan, wala kayong — you pretend to be legal, masquerading as fighting corruption and what. Sige, kayo maghanap kayo sa akin. Find me a person or a paper which says that I received one peso and I will resign. I purposely — umiwas ako kay gusto kong bumira. Kasi kung nagloko ako hindi ako — mapigilan ako kasi my but of the matter is that you are also corrupt.

So iniwasan ko ‘yan. Kaya ayaw kong makipag-usap ng negosyante. Wala kayong makuha sa akin. Wala akong papel na pinirmahan na transaction sa gobyerno. Lahat ng kontrata begins with Galvez and ends with Galvez, ‘yung mga ano sa opisina niya. And ‘yung mga health, mga transaction, it begins and ends with Secretary Duque.

But mind you, Secretary Duque was not a part of PhilHealth. As a matter of fact, he was not even reporting. That’s why ‘yung Congress noong sabi nila i-suspend si — or oust si Duque, I said, “For what?” Kasi nauna na — nandito na — nauna kami, sa amin galing ‘yan eh. So binasa ko, ano — what ground would I base my decision? Would I just obey the cry of one million as against my assessment na si Duque walang nanakaw kung pera ang pag-usapan? Maybe some other things. He might be some other things but corruption no, pera wala.

Kaya wala kayong makuha sa akin, lahat ng mga — puro milyonaryo ‘yan. Iyan Secretary na — may-ari ng Marco Polo ‘yan sa Davao. Do not invent a sin against me because I have painstakingly avoided being a corrupt.

Matagal ho akong fiscal. Matagal akong mayor, 23 years sa Davao. Wala akong sindikato ni isa man. Pinag… Because that is what my father said to me. My father was a governor of Davao noon. He told me, “You know what, if you want to go into politics and you want to remain there for a time, stay clean. Stay clean.”

Iyan ang sinasabi ko kay Inday pati kay Pulong. Huwag kayong pumasok, sumobra, especially si Pulong, sa accounts siya ngayon sa committee. Be sure to account for every money up to the last centavo para ang tao walang masabi. Inday, wala ‘yan. Talagang hindi mo ma-ano ‘yan. Babarilin ka pa niyan.

Iyon lang man siguro, napalabas ko na ‘yung galit ko. Basta ito ha, basta ito, iyong — ‘yung sa mga tao, dalian ninyo. Huwag mo na akong bigyan niyang — may proseso pa ito, tapos i-proseso mo isang buwan, then isang taon pabalik-balikin mo ‘yung tao.

You will be given only — hindi pa lumabas ang ano eh, I am waiting for somebody to join us together with Secretary Guevarra, maggawa kami ng parang code of — a code. Iyong ilang araw lang ‘yung mga — the days that you are only given to act a certain — on a certain matter.

You know what’s really wrong? It’s because some of you are indolent and lazy, at hindi ninyo tinatrabaho iyang — hindi kayo nag… If you are not asking for money, then obviously you are not doing your duty.

Well, initially I was banking on — that was just shooting the breeze with the people. But actually with such sense of urgency na I mentioned China and Russia, all options are on the table. The one that would give us the best interest for the country will be chosen.

But I leave it to the — since he’s going to pay, I will listen to Sonny kung — siya ‘yung magbayad eh. ‘Pag walang ibayad, siya ‘yung makulong.

I have said enough. Let me just read for everybody. I hope that all government workers, officials are listening. This is my — a memorandum from me, the President, to Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra, Department of Justice. Ang subject is: “[Investigation] of allegations of corruption in the entire government.” Lahat.

Ito — “further to the directive issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ) thru memorandum from the President, dated 07 August 2020, to organize a panel to investigate allegations of corruption in the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.

“The DOJ is hereby directed to investigate allegations of corruption in the entire government.” Lahat na. Kuridas ito. “In pursuit of this directive, the DOJ shall have the authority to decide which allegation to investigate taking into consideration the gravity thereof and their impact on the delivery of government service.

“It may create as many panels as it deems necessary to adequate and may invite or direct other bodies and agencies of the government to assist or be a part of such panel. The DOJ shall prosecute and file the appropriate charges against all those involved in the anomalies investigated, whether against government or private person as may be warranted by the evidence gathered subject to applicable laws and rules.

“The power and authority of the DOJ under existing laws and previous directives to investigate the commission of crimes and prosecute violators shall not, in any way, be diminished by this directive. This directive shall remain in effect until June 30 of 2022,” pag-alis ko, “unless sooner lifted or revoked.”

Why should I revoke or lift this good order? “For immediate compliance.” Huwag kayong… You might have the — the notion na — well the Ombudsman is the ang pinaka number one. Ideally, you go to gover — ‘yung malalaki — ‘yung malaking pera diretso mo na sa Ombudsman if I were to have my say.

Pero ang gobyerno, ang presidency can investigate, can — well, send you to prison kaya nga kung ang prosecution nito is the Ombudsman ultimately. But pagka akyat kasi nito doon, may recommendation na. And if the Ombudsman will say that it’s a well-studied complaint then obviously you are going to jail.

Ang mahirap niyan, ang mga anak mo mapahiya. Pamilya mo mapahiya sa ganitong — kasi ipa-publish ko talaga. Sabi ko yayariin ko kayo. Eh ‘yung PhilHealth wala na, skeletal ang na-remain diha. Talagang hindi ko bubuwagin ‘yan because hindi ko — hindi madali na mag — it’s not easy really to create another one but I think by this time marami na kasing naa — napa — na-suspend.

Again, do not try to resign to escape culpability. That ain’t — that ain’t accepted dito sa gobyerno. You cannot resign when you have a case pending.

Well finally, dito sa — balik na naman tayo dito sa figures. Hindi ko na basahin itong figures. Magkamali na naman ako dito sa… I said for the third time, every dog is entitled to one bite.

Ang proposed quarantine qualification for November 1 to 30: Herewith is the proposed communi — community quarantine classification subject to appeals from the LGUs.

General community quarantine or GCQ from November 1 to 30: NCR, gusto man talaga nila; Batangas; Iloilo City; Bacolod City; Tacloban City; Iligan City; Lanao del Sur.

Ang gusto ng mga mayor karamihan, gusto nila magpa — make it permanent because they have seen the — the goodness of the result na it has considerably lowered the number of people who are infected with the microbe. So gusto nila ito. Palagay ko naman sa inyo man rin itong kapakanan.

Look, we are not here to make your life miserable or sad. We are here to make your life comfortable and to make you happy. Wala kaming ibang ano dito. Bakit kami maglalagay ng itong mga ganitong papel kung…? What — what’s the point of mag-sige kayo daldal diyan? So what’s the point of working on these figures if it does not do anything good?

Pero kung maniwala kayo, para sa inyo ‘yan. COVID is still rising, marami pang patay. So tumataas pa. Sabi nga, ang microbe, kagaya ng mga noon nabakunahan na kasi lahat. Diphtheria, ‘yung mga ganun, mga bata. Lahat na paglabas sa ospital mayroon na ‘yang bakuna. So hindi pa nabakunahan, pabakunahan ninyo because the germs are still there.

It’s just flying in there, it’s everywhere. At because karamihan sa atin — ako second grade, mayroon pa akong mark sa bakuna. Medyo — mga measles, ganun. We are freed of the maladies of the world. Para sa inyo ‘yan.

Now, I’d like the secretaries to say if they have something to say. Make it brief and because we have been there or we have been here, there sa baba hanggang ngayon.

Alas-dose na pala. Anybody who would want to make a report? Kasi kung wala, mag-uwi na tayo. Alas-dose na. Wala? Ah sige.

Actually, ladies and gentlemen, the Cabinet meeting that we have now sa lahat — para lahat ‘to. But hindi sila makapunta dito dahil takot sa bagyo kasi ‘pag mag-take off ‘yung eroplano nila, wala na. Maraming bakanteng Cabinet. [laughs] So I can understand. I will not also allow them to fly if it’s dangerous so I can understand.

Ang nandito lang sa atin ngayon in front of me is Secretary Galvez and Senator Bong Go. Senator Bong Go is interested in everything that concerns the welfare of the Filipino people and that goes for everybody in the Cabinet.

Iyan lang ho. Ang sabihin ko sa iyo, I had a hard time convincing these people to join the Cabinet. Either it’s Año o ikaw Charlie Galvez, Sonny Dominguez, ayaw. Ayaw nila kasi ayaw nila — magulo ang gobyerno. Mademanda ka na wala ka naman kasalanan.

Pero you know, I said, now is my time so it’s your time to serve the country. Kung wala na kayong… Kayong mga military, ang babata pa ninyo. Lugi ang gobyerno sa inyo. You retire at 56 years old and I am still paying you good money kasi may retirement pay.

Magtrabaho kayo. You work. Fifty-six years old is too young to retire. And I am also scouting for others. Mayroon ako ‘yung mga sensitive ano. It involves still money. I am still… I am the Chinaman bringing a lamp in the daylight — daytime. Tapos tinanong siya ng kaibigan niya, “Why are you bringing a lighted lamp when it is daytime?” And he said, “I have to see clearly because I am looking for an honest man.”

Iyan ang mahirap. Hindi ako pinaka-honest. Ilang beses niloko ko rin ang mama ko, papa ko sa allowance, sabihin nawala, na-snatch, na-pickpocket ako. Pero I played my game within the — ‘yung maloko ko lang lalo na nanay ko noon.

Sabi ko, “Dito ako. Mag-aral ako sa Maynila.” Eh natalo sa jai alai. Natuto ako maaga nag-jai alai, p***** i**. So naubos. Sabi ko, “Ma, padalhan mo ako ng tuition kasi na-pickpocket ako.” “Ha?” Sabi niya, “Mag-ingat ka.” Ganun-ganun. “Oo, Ma, sa sunod.”

Tapos sunod naubos na. Alam mo naman magpa-jai alai, ihatid mo lang ‘yung pera diyan para… Tapos, “Ma, nawala ang pera ko. Nakalimutan ko na hindi ko na — nasama sa labada.” May labada man ako taga-Cavite, tig-laba. Kunin diyan every weekend.

“Hindi na man nabalik ‘yung pera. Wala man daw pera ‘yung pants ko.” Sabi ng nanay ko, “Ikaw, hindi mo ako niloloko?” Sabi ko, “Hindi, Ma.” Eh ‘di nagpadala siya ng pera. For the third time, sabi ko, “Ma, ang pera ko nawala sa dormitoryo may nagnakaw.” Sabi ng nanay ko, “L**** ka, Rodrigo, umuwi ka na dito para matapos na ang perdition mo.”

So ganun, we cannot, I’m not… Hindi ko binabandera ang sarili ko na honest man ako. May mga ano ako pero limitado doon sa ‘yung kaya mong lokohin.

Ang gobyerno kaya mong lokohin? Eh paano? Nandiyan na ‘yung Ombudsman, nandiyan ‘yung auditing office. So I have said enough. I don’t know if it is really — I go overboard.

But I would just say may you have a safe celebration of the All Saints’ Day and just follow rules. It’s for your own good.

Maraming salamat po.

— END —

 

SOURCE: PCOO-PND (Presidential News Desk)