Duterte: Problematic gov’t agencies will be put under my office

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte arrives at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, South Korea, Sunday, June 3, 2018. Rodrigo Duterte, on the three-day visit, will meet South Korean President Moon Jae-in. (Kim In-chul/Yonhap via AP)

President Rodrigo Duterte warned on Tuesday that he would place problematic agencies under the supervision of the Office of the President.

Duterte made this remark as he revealed that he would make “radical changes” in government in the coming days.

“I will make radical changes in the days to come,” Duterte said in a press briefing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 2 shortly after his arrival from a three-day official trip in South Korea. “For those offices na hindi talaga macontrol, I will place you under the Office of the President. Ako na mismo ang kaharap mo araw-araw.”

The President has been on a firing spree of government officials whom he said were involved in either in corruption or lavish trips abroad.

The chief executive also revealed that there would be changes in public order and security in the Philippines, a year after the Islamic State-inspired Maute Group attacked Marawi City.

“There will be changes in the coming days, including public order and security. There are simply too many crimes and too many claiming to be this and that. Well, remember that there is no difference actually between martial law and a declaration of national emergency,” he said.

He even warned human rights groups, who had earned his ire for their criticisms on his war on drugs and criminality to “behave,” warning that the country might face a serious problem again.

“I’m warning all, including the human rights: Either we behave or we will have a serious problem again. Mahirap yan,” he said.

The President said he would exhaust all means the he had to stop criminality and violence in the as investors worry about their safety in the country.

“Most of the complaints here, di papasok dito kasi takot kidnapin, patayin. Well, somehow even with this meager emergency power I will use it to the hilt,” he said.

“At put things in order. Niwarning ko lang kayong mga criminal, lahat na. Nasa gobyerno, sa labas. I will make radical changes in the days to come,” he added. /atm