By Manny Piñol
Leading Presidential candidate Rodrigo R. Duterte last night asked government men to end corruption, the Communist insurgents to end their armed struggle and drug dealers and crime bosses to stop or face a certain death.
“If by the grace of God I become President, I will deliver what the Filipino people would like to happen – to live in a country safe from crime and drugs and without corruption in government,” Duterte told members of the media who gathered last night in Davao City for the annual Christmas party hosted by the mayor.
“Everywhere I go, I hear the same pleading from the Filipino people: Do whatever you could but please make this country safe for our loved ones and our children,” Duterte said.
Vowing that he will resign if change is not felt in the first three of years of his Presidency, Duterte warned drug lords and criminals to stop destroying the Filipino youth.
He also asked members of Congress to let go of the controversial and graft-ridden pork barrel and the business tycoon’s in the country to stop the oppressive job contractualization.
Addressing the Communist New People’s Army (NPA) which has waged a 40-year armed struggle against government, Duterte said the insurgency has to stop.
“We have to stop corruption, oppression, drugs and crime,” Duterte said in a 1-hour speech which ended at about 12:30 in the morning today.
“If people cannot feel that change in the first three years of my Presidency, I will resign,” he said.
He, however, asked interest groups not to stand in the way of his reform program for the country.
“If this country’s billionaires do not like me to end job contractualization, then you better prepare your money and start buying votes because I will really end this oppressive practice,” he said.
“I am warning the drug lords and crime bosses in the country to mend your ways and end your evil activities or else you will end up in the Pasig River or in Manila Bay,” Duterte said.
“To the NPA, stop it. We have to end the armed struggle. Join me in nation-building. I am willing to give you a role,” he said addressing the Communist insurgents.
Duterte also vowed to end the Mindanao conflict by dealing with the Bangsamoro issue.
“I am the only presidential candidate with a Moro blood. I have a son who has embraced Islam and I have grandchildren who are Muslims,” Duterte said.
“How can we possibly allow the continued killings between Filipinos?” he added.
“You ask me to be your President? Then, you will have to trust me and follow me,” he said.
“There will be no smoking in public places, there will be a liquor ban at 1 a.m., there will be a curfew for minors at 10 p.m., there will be no noisy motorcycles, there will be a speed limit in the city streets and there will be no more dangerous firecrackers during Christmas and New Year,” he said.
Holding the Philippine flag behind him, Duterte asked the Filipino people to join him in building a nation without corruption, oppression, crime and drugs.
“We are a country of so many tribes and different religion. What holds us together are this flag and the piece of paper (Constitution) that ensures equality for all,” Duterte said.
(Presidential candidate Rody Duterte during his Christmas message to members of the media Friday night. Rene Lumawag)
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