• PRRD: I will govern the country parallel with economic development
• Palace clarifies: PRRD agreed to accede to court processes
• PRRD says PH will not cut ties with allied countries, also wants peace among Filipinos
• PRRD cites success in reducing street crimes
• Duterte’s war on drugs to run parallel with economic Dev’t

President Duterte stressed that he will not stop the relentless campaign against illegal drugs in order not to compromise the next generation.

Duterte’s message came during the 2016 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos awards ceremony on Mondaynight at the Rizal Hall in Malacanang.

The President conferred the Gold Medallions to Outstanding Teachers (SOT), Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS) and Outstanding Police Officers. Police Superintendent Jemuel F. Siason led the awardees numbering to 30.

The Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos are honored for their commitment to excellence, dedication to service and selfless desire to serve communities.

Duterte reiterated anew that he will take full responsibility of the anti-drug campaign as he said he is willing to go to prison if only to eliminate the (drug) menace.

Earlier on Monday, Duterte who precided the oathtaking ceremony of his new appointees in the cabinet also rallied anew his platform of government – no graft, less crime, suppress the drug problem for which he claimed “I’ve been able to minimize at least the crime on the streets to barest minimum.”

“I declared war sa droga, kasi hindi ito madala ng pulis-pulisan lang. So, I raise that to the level of a national security threat, which is really is, and called upon the army and the military to assist,” he said. He said that he will do everything within his power to make the country better and to make the streets safe for everyone.“I do not promise you perfect peace because this is not heaven. But I commit myself to do everything, not to compromise the next generation,” the President said.

“I do not claim any greatness,” Duterte said adding “kayong sa gobyerno I appointed you, then you must understand how it is to me.”
Among the programs he took a step forward to is on the Mindanao issue in relation to public order and safety.

The peace effort, President Duterte stressed is not confined to Mindanao but has started the ball rolling on talking peace with the communists. “I sought early to have peace with the communists. We are talking, maybe in the fullness of God’s time we will succeed..”

He said that “what President Duterte was saying, he was saying he would accede, he would accept whatever final decisions in regard to the judicial process that they would take. He was not giving a green light on execution.”

Spokesperson Abella pointed out that “what PRRD and President Widodo talked about, number one, he respects the judicial processes of Indonesia; that he will accept whatever final decisions they will have.”

He further said the Philippine government will make a plea of clemency at the proper time, and “worthwhile matters are achieved by going through the process.” The execution of Mary Jane Veloso was deferred indefinitely and clemency will be pursued if the courts will decide to proceed with the execution.

The Palace spokesman relayed “the context is that there is already a process that has to be set in motion, that there will be a trial and all that. Assuming that, then President Duterte said, yes, we will follow through with your decisions.”

He said the information he provided was based on the context of the talks between PRRD and Widodo, which was “a conversation between neighbors and brothers.”

During the anniversary of the Presidential Airlift Wing at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Tuesday, the President recounted some of the topics they discussed, among them illegal drugs: “I had a talk with Widodo, he has four million and that is why, napag-usapan lang naman, ang sabi namin na we will implement the laws.”

He also said “Sinabi ko lang, we will respect the judgments of your courts. Period. It would have been a bad taste in the mouth to be talking about having a strong posture against drugs and here you are begging for something.”

“We are not going to cut our umbilical cord with the countries that we are allied now, the President said in his speech during the 48thAnniversary of the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing (PAW) at Villamor Airbase in Pasay City on Tuesday.

“In the coming decades, there would no longer be a worry about a world war. Kasi po, if you dwell on another third world war, that is effectively ending the planet earth or it would no longer be a very habitable place to live, should you unleash all your nuclear bombs,” he said.

“So, it could only be a result of a grave and serious miscalculation. That’s the problem always. It’s miscalculation. But I see in the horizon the dark clouds of terrorism,” he added.

However, the President said he would not allow the country to get involved in any hostile act of war nor even in patrolling some other territory. “I do not to want my country to be involved in hostile act,” he said.

For now, he said, “hangang diyan lang tayo. We do not go into a patrol or join any other army sana because I do not want trouble,” he said.

Aside from avoiding war with another country, he again reiterated his stand for peace inside the country. “I am a President and my job is to seek the peace of the land.”

His stance on sitting down and talking about peace with communist rebels and the Moro rebels is aimed at achieving peace among the Filipinos. “We cannot be forever fighting Filipinos. We cannot be forever killing our own citizens,” President Duterte said.

The President made the statement at Malacañan Palace during the oath-taking of his latest appointees to several government agencies.

“I do not promise you perfect peace because this is not heaven. But I commit myself to do everything, not to compromise the next generation,” he said.

“Walang makakaya nito kung ang susunod na presidente, ‘yun lang rin nakikita ninyo,” he added.

“I’m the President without reelection. I might as well just do it my way, bahala na sila. But kayong (na)sa gobyerno I appointed you, then you must understand how it is to me,” he added.

That’s why early on he sought to have peace with the communists, saying: “We are talking, maybe in the fullness of God’s time we will succeed.”

“We have connected with the MI(Moro Islamic Liberation Front), they are talking. As a matter of fact, they are helping us in the war against drugs,” he said.

“I declared war sa droga, kasi hindi ito madala ng pulis-pulisan lang. So I raise that to the level of a national security threat, which it really is, and called upon the military to assist. The MI is assisting us, we should be thankful for that,“ he said.

He stressed that he will not stop the government’s relentless campaign against illegal drugs in order not to compromise the next generation.

The President’s message came during the 2016 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos ceremony held on Monday night at the Rizal Hall in Malacanan Palace.

PRRD conferred gold medallions to outstanding teachers, soldiers, and police officers, led by Police Superintendent Jemuel F. Siason.

These outstanding Filipinos were honored for their commitment to excellence, dedication to service, and selfless desire to serve communities.

Duterte reiterated anew that he will take full responsibility for the anti-drug campaign. He said he is willing to go to prison if only to eliminate the drug menace.