Majority floor leader advises Duterte: Less talk, more work

Ilocos Norte Representative Rodolfo Fariñas. SENATE POOL

Less talk, more work.
This was the unsolicited advice of majority floor leader congressman Rudy Fariñas on Monday when asked about his advice to President Rodrigo Duterte amid the backlash on the latter’s controversial remarks in comparing the administration’s war on drugs to the Holocaust.

Now that all eyes of the domestic and international community are trained toward every action of the President, the Ilocos Norte representative advised the President to watch his words and focus instead on work.

“If you’re asking me, I will advise the President na huwag na kayo magsalita. Magtrabaho na lang kayo, para mas maganda po siguro. Like I said, he wants to accommodate you (the media), nandun din policy niya to speak to the people,” Farinas said.

(If you’re asking me, I will advise the President not to talk. Just work, so it’ll be better. Like I said, he wants to accommodate you—the media—so it’s his policy to speak to the people.)

Farinas said Duterte only maintained his style as long-term Davao City mayor of projecting a “tough image” in threatening criminals, and of being accommodating to the media.

The Ilocos Norte representative pleaded to the public to give the President some time to adjust to his new job at being the President.

“Sanay din siya sa media. Nahihirapan siya sa transition that he speaks for the country and everything he says is watched by the whole world (He’s used to the media. He’s having a hard time in his transition where he speaks for the country and everything he says is watched by the whole world),” Farinas said.

“Si Presidente, bago pa lang na presidente. Sana mapagbigyan ng time naman; tulungan natin (The President is new at being President. Let’s give him time; let’s help him),” Farinas added.

READ: Duterte ‘happy to slaughter’ drug suspects; cites Hitler | Heil Digong?

Farinas also asked the public to be more understanding of the 71-year old Chief Executive as he finds a difficult time to change his old habits.

“Ang maganda po dito, siya pinili ng taumbayan, ganun na style niya sa campaign… To change a 71-year-old, you can’t change overnight… Inaamin naman niya (if nagkakamali siya). I’m sure he’s trying also. Pero mahirap naman magbago nang bigla-bigla,” Farinas said.

(What’s good here is that he was the one chosen by the people, and that’s his style in his campaign… To change a 71-year-old, you can’t change overnight… He admits it when he makes a mistake. I’m sure he’s trying also. But it’s difficult to change out of a sudden.)

On Friday, Duterte likened his administration’s war on drugs to Hitler’s genocide against Jews.

Duterte said he would be happy to slaughter three million drug dependents like how Hitler ordered six million Jews killed.

READ: FULL TEXT + VIDEO: ‘I’d be happy to slaughter them all’ | Duterte ‘Hitler’ talk reaps international censure

Duterte received flak from the Jewish and the rest of the international community for his off the cuff statement.

Malacañang said Duterte only made an “oblique deflection” to the way he had been compared to Hitler, the label of which according to the Palace Duterte strongly rejects. Duterte has apologized for his statement. JE/rga

READ: Palace clarifies Duterte Hitler reference: PH recognizes Jews’ tragedy | Duterte says sorry to Jews