MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte admitted failure to solve traffic along Edsa but blamed Congress for not granting him the emergency powers needed to fix the thoroughfare’s problems.
In a speech in Biñan Laguna on Saturday, Duterte said that he fulfilled most of his promises before the nation, except easing the traffic situation in Edsa.
“Wala akong pangako na hindi ko natupad except ‘yang Edsa,” he said.
“Nangako ako na free tuition, nandiyan na ang batas. Nangako ako na free universal health care, pirmado ko na ang batas. Ano pa naman gusto? Iyong Pantawid, sabi ko itutuloy ko. Saan kukunin ‘yan? Nandiyan sa TRAIN lahat ‘yan,” he added.
However, he said that it was the fault of the Congress for not giving him the emergency powers in order to solve the traffic woes in the said major highway.
According to him, unlike former Presidents Cory Aquino and Fidel Ramos, he was not given “extraordinary powers” due to impending corruption issues.
“Ako naman sabi ko, hindi ko sinabing walang bidding. I said I would need money to repair or rehabilitate or do away with the present situation. Sabi ng iba, mga congressmen, ‘Let us give Duterte the power, extraordinary power.’ Hindi ninyo narinig ‘yun sa bunganga ko ni minsan, kasi alam ko. Kasi alam ko,” Duterte said.
“So anong narinig ko sa — sa Congress? Hindi sila. ‘Ah, hindi pwede ‘to baka, you know, ang graft and corruption papasok dito.’ Eh sabi ko nung narinig ko — hindi, it’s off. Take away it from the table. Ayaw ko. Sa umpisa walang nag… Kung nag-iistorya ka ng corruption, ay p***** i**, inyo na ‘yan,” Duterte added.
“Kaya ang Edsa hanggang ngayon, ‘yan, wala akong magawa. Pero never did I ask money na sabihin na walang bidding-bidding,” he added. /je