‘Assert your rights vs corrupt, oppressors,’ Duterte urges youth

President Rodrigo Duterte. (File photo by ARMAN BAYLON / Presidential Photographers Division)

MANILA, Philippines – Known for firing corrupt government officials – even those close to him, President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday vowed to “send to hell” those who oppress Filipinos.

Speaking before youth athletes at the Palarong Pambansa opening rites in Davao City, the President renewed his call for the public be assertive against extortionists.

“The only thing that this country needs is for you, the young people, to assert your rights. If you are being asked for money or corrupted, you tell the other guy, do not… Duterte told me to slap you, or else I will kill you, or report you to him,” he said.

Duterte added: “I don’t want that. I do not want oppression. I do not want corruption. If I catch you in the act, you will be first to go to hell. You will go ahead, but I will follow because I know that I will be going to hell.”

The President made the remarks on Sunday afternoon, about two hours after arriving in Davao City from Beijing where he attended the Belt and Road Forum.

Duterte is known for firing government officials over a “whiff of corruption” on them, not sparing even those who have been close to him since he was Davao City mayor.

He claimed that he would not only shame corrupt officials, but even beat them up in his office.

In recent weeks, the President vowed to sack more government officials on corruption allegations, but had not named any official that he would terminate.

On Sunday, he reiterated his advice to the public to go to him directly in Malacañang to report corruption, may it be by a government official or employee.

“We have to do something. If you see someone being oppressed, don’t let it slide. You don’t have to fight, you just assert your right. Help him, report it to me,” the President said.

He maintained that the gates of the Palace are open, day or night, for anyone who wishes to report a corruption incident to him and that he will go out to “try to solve the problem together.”

“If we cannot solve the problem, we will solve him. That’s that. Either you give your victim justice, or I will give it to you,” Duterte said.

He added: “We try to avoid oppression. We try to avoid bragging. I was elected just recently, and I am on my remaining three years. But don’t worry, before three years end, I will end all… I will end it all to relieve you of your problems.” /cbb