Allies in Congress laud Duterte on first day of administration
Rodrigo Duterte, the 16th President of the Republic of the Philippines, delivers his inaugural speech on June 30. MALACAÑANG POOL PHOTO
Allies in the House of Representatives on Thursday commended President Rodrigo Duterte as the country’s new Chief Executive delivered his inaugural speech at Malacañang, paving the way for a new administration.
In a statement, Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles said the message of the President, a former Davao City mayor, was “direct to the point” and summarized his vow to curb corruption, criminality and poverty, among his promises when he ran for the post.
“Direct to the point! President Duterte’s speech is a glimpse of what we should expect from his administration: straightforward, unembellished but unpretentious. It summarizes his policy against crime and corruption, on foreign policy and on the peace process,” Nograles said.
Nograles said Duterte’s message was “short but powerful in inspiring our people to unite and bring their faith back to the government.”
“It is a reminder that change is coming and change starts today,” Nograles said.
Iloilo Rep. Jerry Treñas, who jumped ship to Duterte’s Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) from the outgoing administration’s Liberal Party, lauded Duterte for his commitment to honor the country’s existing international treatises and follow its laws.
Duterte has vowed to remain within the bounds of the law and Constitution, promising a relentless crackdown on drug lords and criminals.
“President Duterte’s reassurance that his administration is committed to honor ongoing government contracts and international treaties is a positive indication that his government is indeed a government of the people and by the people,” Treñas said.
He said Duterte’s commitment was an assurance to the business community of sustained growth in the economy despite controversies surrounding the President’s tough-talking ways.
“It erases all uncertainties on how business will be conducted under his administration. It is an assurance that our gains will be sustained and nurtured and not destroyed due to partisanship,” Treñas said. “We are ready to answer his call for unity and brotherhood.”
For his part, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate expressed hope that Duterte’s administration would listen to the “people’s agenda” prepared by the militant Makabayan bloc in addressing the root cause of poverty.
“We sincerely wish Pangulong Digong and his administration all the best. The people’s quest for true change under his watch as President now begins. He may continue to take the progressive path together with the people in finding solutions to the myriad but age-old problems that chained our country and people to so much poverty and underdevelopment,” Zarate said.
“As Pangulong Digong knows very well: Real change only comes from the masses, for the masses,” he said.
“In concrete terms, we hope he will study and consider the 15-point people’s agenda for change that was crafted by various peoples organizations, [nongovernment organizations], political parties, the academe, etc.”
Zarate said he looked forward to Duterte’s promise to resume the peace talks between government and the communist-led National Democratic Front of the Philippines, as well as the Moro revolutionary groups.
“We also look forward for him to vigorously pursue the peace process with the NDFP and Moro revolutionary groups to its logical political settlement,” Zarate said. “These will surely usher utmost gains and victories for our people.”
He also said he expected Duterte to support calls to convict former President Benigno Aquino III over the controversies surrounding his term, such as the Disbursement Acceleration Program and the botched Oplan Exodus operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
“We will be behind him as he battles with those who are against change like the reactionary forces in our society who only wanted to preserve the status quo,” Zarate said. RC/rga
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