[Commander, could you give the tikas pahinga?]

Iyong mga kasama ko dito si Secretary Delfin Lorenzana; si Presidential Adviser for Military Affairs, si General Tabaquero; si Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao, yes, sir. Let’s give him a loud applause. [applause]Panahon-panahon lang ‘yan, Senator, weather-weather lang ang buhay.

General Eduardo Año; Colonel Roberto Ancan; Governor Steve Chiongbian, sir; officers and the enlisted personnel of the 1002 Infantry Bagwis Brigade; mga kasama ko sa gobyerno; mga kababayan.

Iyong… The last time I was here, it was — my former Task Force Pagkakaisa — I think he was really the first one, (Bodjie?) Pangilinan. But he is now, I think, in America, maybe working for the CIA. Hindi koman nakita eh. Hindi biro lang, kaibigan ko ‘yun. He was a good friend of mine, that’s why I was here.

Meron akong speech pero hindi ko na lang basahin kasi hindi — sometimes hindi lumalabas ‘yung nasa dibdib ko eh.

First of all, I’d like to give my salute to the men of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the PNP na nandoon sa Marawi at namamatay.

You know, if there is anybody in this crowd — dito sa Pilipinas ngayon, kung may tao man na nasaktan, talagang nasaktan… Hindi naman bobolahin ko kayo, nagdudugo-dugo ‘yung puso ko. And not that way.

But I feel very, very sad every day I read the briefer. Alam mo bakit? Ako kasi ‘yung nag-declare ng martial law and I was the one who ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the PNP to fight there.

But you must understand that I have this Constitutional duty. And just like your oath of office, pareho lang tayo. In so many words, but the long and short of our oath of office is to protect and defend the Filipino nation.

Wala akong magawa eh. I had to declare it because it was already on the critical stage. Nandoon na nga kami sa kom — sa Moscow, at sinabi nila “critical”.

In fairness to the military guys who were with me, pati ‘yung mga civilians na — walang nagsabi, walang taong maka-diretsong magsabi… Maski ako siguro nung… I was not… Of course, I worked for Gloria Arroyo. But walang taong makapagsabi diretsahan na, “Mayor, mag-declare ka ng martial law.” Not in that way.

But not in so many words, sabi nila, “critical”. ‘Yung critical kasi sa akin, depende ‘yun sa assessment ko. For one, I have to dig deep sa experience ko sa buhay. Martial law years, I was a student, then I became mayor, and I was the regional chairman for Peace and Order Council for Region 11 most of my 23 years.

Kaya ginamit ko na lahat ‘yung ano ko, kung ano ‘yung critical. Kasi ang critical, magkaiba eh. Sa ibang tao, lalo na sa oposisyon at ayaw gusto maniwala, maski nandyan sa harap na nila, just for being with the opposite side. Wala naman tayong magawa kung ganon. This is a democracy.

But ‘yung critical ko, I could sense that it was really critical as they were shooting people already and trying to remove part a territory of the Philippines from the effective control of government.

So I had to do it. So, I am very sorry for those guys who died along the way. They have my eternal prayers and my honorable salute.

Pati sasabihin ko lang lalo sa mga pamilya nila, they did not die in vain. Kasi it’s winding up in Marami — Marawi. But I tell you, I would never, never, never allow my country to go to the dogs.

Magka-ano lang tayo ‘yan. ‘Pag may nakita ako na isang grupo na walang-hiya talaga, as in walang-hiya, itong mga ISIS. ISIS talaga ‘yan. Maute was just the vehicle. But it was already ISIS, because we knew, then and now, that they were traveling back and forth sa Middle East to get instructions and for the training.

Alam namin ‘yun. But, you know, demokrasya kasi, hindi ka naman basta-basta lang. Since no overt acts there at that time, wala namang bakbakan, but alam ko na hindi na natin makontrol sa karami ng armas.

But we never expected that enormity of weaponry nasa kamay rin nila. Hindi ko rin talaga akalain. Walang kaubusan. And so timely, maybe God’s intervention, that we did it on time.

I would like to also express my support to the civilian government — Senator Pacquiao — they supported me, mga local government units mostly because alam nila ang danger. ‘Yung mga senador pati ‘yan, doon lang ‘yan sila sa Maynila.

Maybe some, ‘yung military-minded, for example, Lacson, sila Honasan, alam nila. Alam nila ang sitwasyon. Pero ‘yung iba, just for the sake of just being also there, magkaiba tayo. But I said we have this duty to defend the Republic of the Philippines.

Sa inyo lang talaga ako umaasa at sa inyo rin ako magpapasalamat personally. And I would not forget this episode in my life that I had to work with you closely, talk to you, encourage you, but most of all, to protect you and to assure you — and to assure you — lahat naman tayo mamamatay, pati ako.

Lahat dito matatapos ito. But I assure you that we will not forget your families kung sakali wala na tayo dito. Not because you die in battle. 

You may or you may also suffer old age, sickness. But I assure you, by the time I get out of the Presidency, I would have left something, a big amount, na para talaga sa inyo.

And it will be a trust fund to be administered by the Central Bank para wala talagang kakawkaw ‘yung kamay. And it will be for the  — solely — education ng mga anak ninyo. Lahat talaga, kung gusto lang mag-aral, makakatapos. ‘Yan ang pangako ko sa inyo, before I leave the Presidency. [applause]

And also, nandito naman… Ayaw ko naman na palakihin ‘yung ulo ko. Pero since I assumed the Presidency, lahat ng mga klaseng equipment na para makakatulong to arrest, for example, gangrene, ‘yung infection sa wound, lahat… Bong… [Sandali ha? May I… Umiinit na naman kasi ‘yung ulo ko eh. Unsay sulti nila? Katong sa AFP?] [Tapos na na-bidding, na-award na.]

I hope they can do it this month. I directed si Ubial to finish it in the month of July.

Kasi ganito talaga ang gobyerno. Minsan hindi ako nagtataka kung bakit talaga nangingitngit na rin ta, tayong lahat. Kasi marami kayong walang gamit. Binili ko lahat ‘yan. In one — isang upuan, I gave about 500 million just to buy the equipment.

Meron kayo sa Jolo, may generator na kayo na malaki sa Cagayan. All life-saving equipment. And long ago, noong bago lang akong Presidente, sinabi ko kay Delfin na ang Presidential plane, ‘yung dalawa, gagamitin para sa — ferry for the wounded soldiers. At ‘yan ang ginagamit ngayon.

Sabi ko, ‘yan ang gamitin. Okay lang ako. Okay lang commercial flight. Your life is as important as mine. It is not because I am President and you are just a soldier. Tabla tayong lahat. And so, your services are also needed as badly as mine.

Maaasahan ninyo ‘yan lahat. Medisina at tsaka walang corruption. Walang corruption, kaya nga ako galit dito sa ano… I intend to reconfigure the procurement lalo na sa inyo.

Wala nang secondhand ngayon na mga helicopter. Kung may pera ako, bili ako ng bago. And all the equipment, lahat, pati rifle, hindi ako tatanggap even from America. I would never accept a hand-me-down.

Kung gusto ninyo magbili tayo nang bago. Ayaw ko ‘yang magbili tayo nang secondhand kasi hindi maganda.

So these are the reforms, little ones but just to show to you my support and, of course, I know that itong Republika, especially I… Hindi tatagal ‘tong mga institutions dito pagka nagbagsakan ito.

And so we have to do all the things that we have to do in this world.

I… At tsaka isa pa, meron tayong… I expect the insurrection nitong sa ISIS to slow down a little bit.

But ang hindi ko talaga maintindihan, kung meron ditong nakikinig na NPA, talagang sumasabog ‘yung ulo ninyo.

First, you directed your soldiers to fight, to engage us, government. Maya-maya, nagsabi kayo, tutulong kayo to fight alongside with government.

Maya-maya, nandito na naman, fight na naman kayo. Despite of just really doing what you want to say or say what you want to do. Ito, ineengkwentro na naman ninyo ako.

Kayo ako, hindi ako kumu-kumpiyansa. Sinasabi ko lang kay ito, hindi ito maging sikreto eh. Lahat kayo, binilhan ko ng — ‘yung ipinamigay ko na prize. It’s a .45. [Bigyan mo ako. May isa ka pa, Bong? Do you have another—]

Ano ito? This is a Rockwell, ay Rockwell — Rock Island .45. It’s made in the US. Ito ‘yung initial offerings ng Armscor. Bibilhan ko kayo lahat kagaya ng pulis. Isa-isa kayo.

Kasi huwag kayong magalit sa akin ha. [applause] Kasi kayong mga sundalo, alam ninyo, paglabas ninyo sa kampo, nahalata ko ‘yan. Matagal akong mayor eh. Paturatoy kayo, lakad-lakad diyan.

Alam mo ang NPA, hindi maghintay ‘yan kung may armas ka o hindi. Makapatay ka ng isa, one less enemy para sa kanila. Kawawa kasi kayo, wala kayo gaya ng pulis ‘yung may armas.

But this thing, itong baril na ito, mainit ito. Alam ninyo ‘yan.

So… But at the same time, kung marunong lang kayong magdiskarte, mabubuhay talaga kayo at makadepensa kayo ng sarili ninyo.

For example, sa bahay, mag-uwi kayo, maggala kayo diyan. May isa doon mag-tindig, may isa dito, isa doon. Tingnan mo muna ‘yan diyan. Paglabas mo, nag-change position ‘yan, eh change position ka rin. Anak ng… Huwag kang… Unahan mo na.

“Sabi ni Duterte, NPA ka raw.” Eh kung magsabi, “Hindi, nag-sinungaling ‘yun. Farmer lang ako eh.” “Sige.” Kasi, malaman mo… You have to develop the ‘yung sixth sense of self-preservation mo.

‘Pag may nakita ka kakaiba, nag-palakad-lakad diyan ng ilang oras o mag-uwi kayo sa inyo, nandoon sa tindahan, nakaapat na na sigarilyo, hindi pa lumalabas, magpunta ka muna doon sa likod, doon sa ibang kanto. Doon sa likod, doon sa daanan.

“P**** i** mo, gusto kang magka-cancer? Pang-apat mo na ‘yan. P*****i**. Kainin mo na lang kaya lahat ‘yan. Ganon na lang. Bakit mo pa hithitin ‘yan?”

‘Yung mga ganon. ‘Yung naka-istambay diyan na ano. Learn to — the ways of survival. Ganon lang kasi, alert lang kayo kapag naka-ano na eh—

Pero mainit ito ha. Itong mga NPA ngayon nakikinig, naglaway ‘yan. Magbalita man ‘yan doon. “Adre, abangan natin ito.”

Kaya noon, gusto ko maglabas kayo ng kampo… Pero, pangit kasi tingnan sa civilian nagdadala ng Armalite, M-16 na hindi naka-uniporme.

Alam mo, demokrasya ‘to, we cannot… Hindi natin mapigilan ‘yang mga tao mag-satsat.

So ito, the best dito is learn the art of survival at huwag kang magpauna. Doon ako minsan na panahon ni…

I will not mention the Director General. May panahon ‘yung pulis na hindi makadala ng armas ‘pag hindi naka-uniporme. So diyan sa Davao, ‘yung Bukidnon, Bukidnon-Davao Road, ‘yung last detachment doon ‘yung pulis na- assign doon.

Eh ‘yung pobre kasi mga may ano na directive na hindi makadala ng armas hindi naka-uniporme, hindi naka-uniporme. Umupo doon sa likod ng driver. Walang trenta minutos, may sumakay eh. Binaril siya ng paltik, binaril siya ng Beretta niya.

Kaya ako, nagalit ako. Sabi ko, binigyan ko sila ng dalawang linggo. Sabi ko, “P***** i**. Hanapin ninyo ‘yan.” 

Sa awa ng Diyos, namatay naman. Tatlo. Pero sabi ko, hindi ako magpalugi ng ganon. So ‘yan ang bantayan ninyo.

Pagka ang truck puno wala sa likod, likod ng… Bantay ka lang sa likod o sa harap. Tapang-tapang ninyo, ‘yung medalya o. Nakakainggit ‘yung gold cross. Marami akong krus, pero kahoy. Pwera gaba lang sa rosaryohan. Hindi man natin magamit ‘yan pang-yabang.

Anyway, I’d like to congratulate you again, the entire Armed Forces of the Philippines for liberating Marawi and keeping the people safe.

And you can rest assured that for as long as I am President of this country, hindi kayo maging second-class sa [inaudible] Inilagay ko kayo sa number one talaga.

At next year, tingnan ninyo ‘yung sweldo ninyo ngayon after — lumalaki na. Tingnan niyo ulit. By next year, doblado na, doblado. January, tabla na ang sweldo ninyo. [applause]

Pero dapat, every encounter, patay lahat. Ayoko magdala ng buhay, preso. Papakainin ko pa ‘yan. Marawi.

You can only detain a person in the place where he committed the crime and you can only try him also in the place where he committed the crime or the jurisdiction sa korte.

Sabi ko, “Saan ako maglagay ng presuhan sa Marawi ngayon?” Na pag-alis, maglagay ako ng jail diyan. Iilan lang naman talaga ang pulis. Hindi naman natin madagdagan ng isang libo.

Pag-alis ng mga tropa, eh ‘di i-liberate na naman ‘yun. Dito sa… Dito Kidapawan. Ilang beses na na-liberate ‘yung mga presuhan doon?

Kaya magkaintindihan tayo dito, kaya ang media pa naman minsan mag-ano eh — magtapon ng interpretation. Eh ‘di klaruhin na lang natin ito. Walain natin ‘yung preso o walain natin ‘yung jail? Kay hindi pwedeng magsabay.

Anyway, I said, that’s the problem. I’m just trying to say it now because that’s the problem. Where will I put them? Because they have to be in the jurisdiction where they committed the crime. Simple as that. Kaya madagdagan ang problema.

Anyway, I’m happy. My salute. My happy salute, snappy one sa awardees and sa inyo.

Alam ko matitigas kayo. Matitigas ang ulo o matitigas ang t***? Depende diyan kung saan kayo gusto.

Pero everybody will get a medal one of these days. I know, matitigas kayo eh and bilib ako sa sundalo kong Pilipino.

Maraming salamat po.

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