Duterte Verbatim: Closing statement in Cebu presidential debate

Duterte, Poe, Roxas on stage before 2nd presidential debate, jokes about the delay because of rules

Editor’s Note: The Inquirer catalogues in its “Duterte Says” series all the prepared statements, speeches and pronouncements of President Rodrigo Duterte made during and after the 2016 national and local elections in the Philippines. 

SECOND PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE
University of the Philippines Cebu, Cebu City | March 20, 2016

CLOSING STATEMENT

Thank you. In this country, there is trouble everywhere–there’s corruption, there’s criminality and the flooding of drugs, which is really instilling fear in us in the government.

But, you know, if you cannot stop corruption, you cannot stop criminality, and you cannot stop drugs. Why? Because some in the government–not all–are into crime smuggling of rice, smuggling of everything, smuggling of airplanes and on, and we just cannot– I hold it as an article of faith. I said that no progress can ever happen to this country with these things around.

I will try to suppress crime. I could not promise you heaven. I will try to stop drugs and if [I am elected] president, I said that in three to six months, I will stop corruption in government. I have to provide security for the present generation and the coming generation would take us into not nowhere but they would be now in command of society.

We protect the children, we have to end crime. And I said drugs must be suppress and I will.

All of my opponents said they have presented a program. I made [only] short remarks, bullet remarks, because all of these are platforms.

I can tell you now that I will provide leadership, not only the platforms. Leadership, and maybe [I will] copy the best of their (presidential candidates’) programs at ayusin ko (and I will fix them) if they’re good with their programs; Grace (Poe) and Mar (Roxas), I will adopt them if they’re good and I will do it.

READ: Full transcript of second presidential debate in Cebu City