Cong. Duterte to politicians: Spare me from dirty politics

Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Z. Duterte asked his fellow politicians from dragging his name into the heated race for House speakership.

The statement stemmed from a report by website Politiko stating that he was angered by the actuation of the wife of Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.

(https://politics.com.ph/major-turn-off-pulong-catches-velascos-wife-glaring-at-rody-over-speakership-race/)

Here is the full text of Cong. Duterte’s statement:

“Pakiusap lang po. Kung sino man ang gusto na idamay ako sa usapin ng speakership sa House of Representatives — huwag po ninyo akong gamitin. Huwag po ang pangalan ko.

Ilabas po ninyo ako sa inyong marumi, mapanghamak, bastos, at nakakawala ng respeto na uri ng pulitika.

Magkaibigan tayo, pero ang pagkakaibigan na ito ay may limitasyon.

Ang pagkakaibigan natin ay hindi lisensya para gamitin ninyo ako upang sirain ang inyong kalaban, bastusin ang kanyang asawa o ang kanyang pamilya.

Sa mga kapwa ko mambabatas, ako po ay baguhan lamang, pero sa tingin ko, ang nangyayari ngayon ay dapat na magsilbing paalaala sa atin sa ating pagpili ng ating lider sa Kongreso.

Piliin po natin ang lider na may respeto sa kawpa, lalo na sa babae — kahit na asawa pa man ito ng kanyang kalaban.

Piliin po natin ang lider na ang interes ay hindi pansarili, tiyak na maninindigan at tunay na aalalay kay Pangulong Duterte at sa kanyang administasyon para isulong ang tunay at positibong pagbabago sa ating bansa.”

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Palace vows annihilation of ASG in light of Sulu bombing

Malacañang Palace vows the annihilation of the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf that is being eyed as responsible for the latest bombing in Sulu that killed several people Friday.

In a released statement Saturday, Salvador S. Panelo, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and Spokesperson, condemned in the strongest possible terms the explosion that occurred in a military base in Sulu.

“Authorities are eyeing the bandit Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) behind this dastardly attack. We will pursue them and all other terrorist groups that sow and instill fear among our people. We will run after them until they can run no more,” Panelo vowed.

The Palace spokesman said that the government “will harness all its might to destroy the enemies of the state as well as their supporters to secure lasting peace in the region”.

“If these bandits have not learned from the terrorists who were annihilated in Marawi, then this time they will,” said Panelo

PRRD to Bong Go: “You deserve it, this is your destiny.”

Administered by no other than President Rodrigo Duterte, Senator-elect Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go took his oath in Malacañang Thursday.

In a short message by the President to Go after his oath taking, Duterte said that Go deserves the spot in the Senate and it is his destiny to serve the people. 

“You deserve it, this is your destiny,” the President said. 

Towards the end of the oath, the President also gave a simple reminder to his long time aide, “And may I remind you of your sacred duty, ‘Ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo sa Diyos.’ Congratulations and more power!”

The newly elected Senator was accompanied by his family, friends and some of the cabinet secretaries.

Go was proclaimed number three in the final tally of the 2019 senatorial race, garnering 20,657,702 votes, the highest among the newly-elected neophyte senators.

He said that health, housing, and sports are his top priorities in the Senate.

Go eyes for the improvement of health services through the institutionalization of the Malasakit Centers, with at least one such center per province and big chartered cities around the country.

Based on Go’s idea, the Malasakit Center is a continuing program of the administration seeking to make it easier and faster for indigent patients to avail of medical and financial assistance from the government by bringing together in one room all concerned agencies such as the DOH, DSWD, PCSO, and PhilHealth. 

Senator Go will also push for measures to address problems of informal settlers and to provide affordable houses for all, especially the poor and homeless. 

“Isa sa bawat limang katao sa Kamaynilaan ay informal settler. Isa sa gusto kong isulong ang magkaroon ng long-term housing roadmap o plano upang matugunan ang 6.5-milyong kakulangan sa pabahay. Wala na dapat squatter sa sariling bayan,” he said.

Meanwhile, in an ambush yesterday, Go shared to the media that Senator Manny Pacquiao is considering to give him the sports committee.

“Binibigay ni Sen. Pacquiao ang committee on sports. Kung sakali naman, handa akong tanggapin ito,” he said.

Part of the agenda of Go is to establish sports and youth development centers in every LGU nationwide to help fight criminality, corruption and illegal drugs. He also aims to strengthen grassroots sports development program; to conduct annual national sports caravan to improve national athletes’ pool; and to increase the incentives for sports competition not presently covered by law.

Other priorities under his legislative agenda include programs for OFWs, agriculture, education, fire protection and prevention, localized peace talks, anti-illegal drugs and criminality, anti-corruption drive, barangay welfare, and improved benefits for senior citizens. 

Go also agreed that there is a need to change the Constitution now that the President conceded that changing the country’s form of government to federalism may not be realized within his term.

“With the present constitution marami po talagang dapat baguhin para puksain itong korapsyon. Ako naman, bigyan natin ng autonomy itong mga local government natin para hindi na sila umasa sa national government. Alam po nila kung ano po ‘yung problema sa lugar nila, at mga programa na dapat sa kanilang lugar nila,” Go stated.

Go was appointed by President Duterte as Special Assistant to the President, with the rank of Secretary, from June 30, 2016 to October 15, 2018. He resigned as Duterte’s top aide to run for the 2019 senatorial election.

According to Duterte, his trust in Go remained unshaken for over 20 years because his former top aide is “extraordinarily honest.”

Now that he is already a Senator, Go stated that his relationship with the President will never change, and that he will still continue to help the President in his own capacity, saying, “My personal relationship with him will never change. We both know na hindi naman sa lahat ng pagkakataon ay magkakasama kami palagi. I am an incoming Senator now and I have my duties to our people. So as long as walang conflict sa mandate and duties ko bilang Senador, I will continue to personally help the President as my commitment sa kanya. Pero priority ko ang pagiging Senador.”

“Pinangako ko po kay Pangulong Duterte na habang buhay ko siyang sasamahan. Kung Gobyerno naman po ang pag-uusapan, iisa lang ang aming ipinaglalaban. Ipagpapatuloy po namin ‘yung pagbabago na inupisahan ni Pangulong Duterte,” he added. 

BONG GO GETS READY FOR SENATE, VOWS TO MAKE HIS OFFICE OPEN TO ALL FILIPINOS IN NEED

In a media interview after the briefing orientation for the newly elected senators and their staff organized by the Senate Secretariat today, Senator-elect Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go said he is looking forward to officially start his work in the Senate as a legislator.

“Excited po ako manungkulan bilang isang legislator. Sanay naman po ako sa trabaho for the past 21 years. Almusal, pananghalian, hapunan ko puro trabaho na. Minsan pati panaginip, trabaho pa rin. Kakaibang challenge naman sa buhay ko. But I will not limit myself to being a legislator only,” he uttered.

Go stressed that he will continue going around the country and visiting communities that are hard to reach, for him to listen to the ordinary Filipinos’ concerns even when he starts his work in the Senate.

“Hindi ko po matiis na nakaupo lang sa opisina. Gusto ko aksyon na ora mismo at mabigyan agad ng solusyon ang inyong hinaing. Bababa po ako sa inyo. Kahit saang sulok ng Pilipinas ay papasukin ko po para marinig at mabigyan kayo ng tulong. Bukas ang aking opisina para sa lahat ng nangangailangan,” he said.

Moreover, Go shared that he is also planning to put a Malasakit Help Desk in his extension office to cater to all kinds of people who may be in need of assistance. 

“Plano ko po maglagay ng help desk po para sa lahat ng may mga concerns at nangangailangan ng tulong. Pati rin po yung gusto magbigay ng recommendations at mga gusto tumulong,” he uttered stressing that he will make sure his office will always be open to the people he serve. 

“Huwag niyo ko tratuhin na iba po sa inyo. Pantay pantay lang po tayo. Nandito po ako para pagsilbihan kayo,” he added. 

Go also said that he will continue to work with the President in his own personal capacity even when he starts his work in the Senate.

“Pareho po kami ng mga ipinaglalaban at wala kaming ibang hangarin kundi ang kabutihan ng bawat Pilipino. Hindi ko man siya makasama palagi bilang Senador na ako, sisikapin ko namang mas mapaganda ang ugnayan ng ehekutibo at lehislatibo para maging mas mabilis, maayos at maaasahan ang serbisyong naibibigay ng gobyerno sa tao,” he said. 

However, Go vowed to prioritize his work as a Senator without having any conflict of interest with his commitment to serve the President, saying, “I will continue as his adviser. Pangako ko naman sa kanya, in my own personal capacity. Libre ‘yun. Ibig ko sabihin, magbibigay ako advice sa kanya, mag-assist ako sa kanya in my own personal capacity. I’ll make sure na wala pong magiging conflict of interest sa aking trabaho bilang isang senador at bilang adviser ni Pangulong Duterte. Pero syempre trabaho ko po ay senador for the next 6 years, priority ko po ito.”

The Senator-elect also said that he will bring to the Senate the main concerns of people by crafting bills that will truly benefit them. Examples of which, he said, is the creation of the Department of OFWs that would address the concerns of the Overseas Filipino Workers, and the institutionalization of Malasakit Centers to cater to the needs of the poor who need medical attention, to name a few. 

Go will also push for measures to address the problems of informal settlers and to provide affordable houses for all, especially the poor and homeless.

Go believes that every family deserves a decent home stating, “Isa sa gusto kong isulong ang magkaroon ng long-term housing roadmap o plano upang matugunan ang 6.5-milyong kakulangan sa pabahay. Wala na dapat squatter sa sariling bayan.”

He also pledged to push for a newer version of the Salary Standardization Law that will further increase salaries of ordinary government personnel such as public school teachers and nurses. 

“No one should be left behind. Dapat holistic approach, kasama rin ang iba pang ordinaryong manggagawa sa gobyerno. Alagaan natin ang mga kawani ng bayan,” Go stated.

Go has also vowed to intensify the government’s fight against illegal drugs, corruption and criminality. Together with fellow Senator-Elect Ronald Dela Rosa, he expressed his support for the reimposition of the death penalty for heinous crimes. 

“Pag-aaralan namin ang posibleng pag-amyenda ng RA 9346 na kasalukuyang nagbabawal sa pagpapatupad ng death penalty. Titignan namin kung kailangang ibalik ang parusang kamatayan sa mga piling heinous crimes, such as those involving illegal drug trafficking and even corruption,” he said. 

According to Go, this proposal is consistent with this administration’s continuing fight to eradicate illegal drugs and corruption. He added that for the interest of every law-abiding Filipino citizen, the revival of death penalty will be an effective deterrent against heinous crimes.  

Go added that he will speak up and initiate investigations in aid of legislation if he sees any form of corruption being done in government. 

“Magsasalita ako at kung mayroong dapat imbestigahan, interes ng publiko ang kailangan unahin. Madalas niyo po akong maririnig dyan lalong-lalo na po basta itong involving corruption in the government. I will be more active, talagang babanatan namin ang korapsyon sa gobyerno, he said. 

“Ako, kahit na kasamahan ko noon sa executive, kapag pumasok ka sa korapsyon wala po kaming sasantuhin. Ipinagbilin ni Pangulong Duterte ‘yan sa akin. Magsasalita po talaga ako kahit magkaibigan tayo noon, basta pumasok ka sa korapsyon, interes na ng tao ang pinag-uusapan,” he added.

Other priorities under Go’s legislative agenda include programs for health, agriculture, education, long-term sports development, fire protection and prevention, localized peace talks, anti-illegal drugs and criminality, barangay welfare, and improved benefits for senior citizens.

Statement on the Participation of PRESIDENT RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE in the 34th ASEAN Summit Bangkok, Thailand, 22-23 June 2019

MANILA, 23 JUNE 2019 – President Rodrigo Roa Duterte returned to Manila today following productive discussions with fellow Southeast Asian Leaders on ASEAN community-building and key regional and global issues.

President Duterte expressed concern on the impact of the US-China trade war on global growth and economic integration. He urged both sides to resolve their differences and pressed ASEAN to strengthen its commitment to a rules-based multilateral trading system.

To this end, the President reiterated the Philippines’ commitment to work constructively with all parties to conclude negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership this year, adding that trade should ultimately benefit the underprivileged segments of ASEAN countries.

President Duterte also emphasized the need for ASEAN to intensify cooperation to address non-traditional security threats, such as terrorism, violent extremism, transnational crimes, particularly illegal drugs, and climate change.

He underscored that countries most responsible for climate change should be held to account. The President also pushed for enhanced regional efforts to combat marine debris and prevent the export of garbage to ASEAN countries.

The President noted the brewing competition among the big powers that is generating greater instability, fueling already critical flashpoints in various parts of the world – from the Middle East to the Asia-Pacific.

As Country Coordinator of the ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations, the President expressed grave concern over activities in the South China Sea that erode trust and confidence and undermine peace, security, and stability in the region.

He underscored that delays in the negotiations for a substantive and effective Code of Conduct is detrimental to the region. He urged ASEAN and China to act quickly noting that “the faster we finish the process, the more credible ASEAN and China will be as partners for security and stability”.

He called for the effective implementation of international instruments, such as the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea to create a conducive environment for negotiations and maintain peace and stability in the region.

The President conveyed his gratitude to the captain and crew of the Vietnamese fishing vessel who saved Filipino fishermen near Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea last week.

Amidst profound geopolitical shifts, the President called on ASEAN to be the voice of reason and moderation in the region, protecting time-honored principles of international law.

Toward these ends, ASEAN Leaders adopted four (4) important documents: the ASEAN Leaders’ Vision Statement on Partnership for Sustainability, the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on the ASEAN Cultural Year 2019, and the Bangkok Declaration on Combating Marine Debris in ASEAN Region.

At the sidelines of the Summit, President Duterte joined Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, President Joko Widodo, and Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Bin Mohamad at the 13th Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia- Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Summit.

The Leaders agreed to promote greater connectivity to facilitate cross-border trade and narrow the development gap in the sub-region. They likewise agreed to enhance military and police cooperation to effectively address terrorism and piracy in the high seas.

President Duterte held bilateral meetings with Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha to take stock of relations and mark 70 years of close friendship and cooperation between the Philippines and Indonesia as well as Thailand.

Presidents Duterte and Widodo lauded the completion of the two countries’ respective domestic requirements for the entry into force of the Philippines-Indonesia Agreement Concerning the Delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone Boundary. This landmark accord is an outstanding example of a peaceful and rules-based delimitation of maritime borders.

President Duterte congratulated Prime Minister Chan-o-Cha on the successful hosting of the 34th ASEAN Summit.

In a bid to increase trade with and investments from Thailand, the President met with about 20 Thai CEOs inviting them to invest in new industrial centers outside Metro Manila, such as Clark, Cebu, Bohol, and Davao.