Presidential Communications Office
Presidential News Desk
DEPARTURE SPEECH OF
PRESIDENT RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE
ON HIS OFFICIAL VISIT TO JAPAN
[Delivered at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport 2 | 25 October 2016]
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea; members of the Cabinet present here; General Ricardo Visaya and the majors and commanders; General Manager Eddie Monreal; Congresswoman Imelda Calixto-Rubiano; Mayor Antonio Calixto; fellow workers in government; my beloved countrymen.
I leave today for a three-day Official Visit to Japan.
This Official Visit will be a valuable opportunity to further deepen and broaden the Philippine’ relationship with Japan, our valued strategic partner and one of our true friends.
It is a visit that is most-awaited.
I look forward to meeting Prime Minister Abe again in Tokyo. His warm invitation — extended at the sidelines of the ASEAN meeting in Laos — paves the way for discussions on key issues of mutual importance to our countries and peoples.
We will discuss, among others, greater politico-social and defense cooperation particularly in maritime domain awareness and maritime security.
With Japan as the Philippines’ top trading partner, I shall seek the sustainment and further enhancement of our important economic ties.
I look forward to meeting business leaders in Japan. I will tell them clearly that the Philippines is open for business.
To support the Philippines’ sustained growth and development, I shall seek to open more avenues of cooperation in key infrastructure development.
In particular, we can tap the experience and expertise of Japan in developing high quality and modern public transportation.
The visit will be an opportunity for me to personally thank Japan for its pre-eminent and peerless role as the Philippines’ development partner. I shall seek the strengthening of this role through more high-impact projects that will benefit our nation.
Mindanao will be a central focus as, together with Japan, we shall seek to put on track this island-region towards a just and lasting peace and development.
I shall also meet the leaders of the Japan-Philippines Parliamentarians Friendship League to seek greater interaction between the collaboration by our legislators to a common agenda.
This is an important time for Philippines-Japan relations as we advance an independent foreign policy in our engagement with the community of nations.
This is a defining moment for the solid and strategic partnership between Japan and the Philippines, carefully nurtured over 600 years of formal diplomatic relations.
During this visit, I am honored to pay a courtesy call on His Majesty the Emperor. This courtesy call is imbued with great and special significance.
It reaffirms at the highest level the positive transformation of ties between our nations and peoples. It renews our shared commitment to a forward-looking partnership that is founded on mutual respect, dignity and solidarity. It will capture in one moment the full-range of our relations with a country that is kept at high-regard and definitely deserves its unique place.
Ours is an abiding partnership with Japan. It is based on common aspirations and shared values of democracy, adherence to the rule of law and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
As I seek to advance our national interests in this Official Visit to Japan, I will remain true to my sworn oath as Your President.
Maraming salamat po. [applause]
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
I can take a few questions from the media so as just to assuage your hunger for…
ROSE NOVENARIO (Hataw): Good morning, Mr. President. Posible po bang pag-uusapan ninyo sa inyong pagbisita sa Japan ang Visiting Forces Agreement with Japan?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Again?
Ms. Novenario: Posible po bang pag-usapan niyo sa pagpunta niyo sa Japan ‘yung pag-balangkas ng Visiting Forces Agreement with Japan?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: No, I don’t think so. I do not… I do not believe that we have a Visiting Forces Agreement with Japan.
To my mind…I may be wrong, but I have yet to come across an agreement or a piece of paper, which says that we are in this arrangement of Japanese troops — military troops if you mean visiting my country.
As a matter of fact, I said in our — in Section 7, I forgot the Article, the Constitution mandates that the government of the Republic of the Philippines shall pursue an independent foreign policy.
And to that extent I would like to say this with all candor, I look forward to the time when I no longer see any military troops or soldier in my country except the Filipino soldier. Hangarin ko po ‘yan na wala na akong makitang sundalo sa ibang bayan kundi ‘yung sundalo ng Pilipinas.
Ms. Novenario: Thank you po. Second question po, sa napipinto po ninyong pagpunta sa APEC Summit sa November 19-20 sa palagay po ba ninyo ay mas maipapaliwanag ninyo ang inyong independent foreign policy at ang drug war na isinusulong po ng inyong administrasyon?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Well, I said I do not have to dovetail what the policies of our countries are and especially in the matter of stationing of the military troops in my country.
I really… I really hate it. I don’t want it. We don’t need it. We are not going to war and there’s not going to be any war in the future.
Ms. Novenario: Thank you po.
Makiko Segawa (TV Tokyo): Thank you so much for accommodating. I’m Makiko Segawa. I’m representing TV Tokyo. First question, what emotion, what motivation and feeling now you carry for Japan? Because you are about to leave for Narita Airport, Tokyo and then…
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Even as I take off today, this afternoon, just seeing you in my country asking question is the beginning of a great expectations and joy.
I go to Japan with full trust that we can understand each other and Japan will understand my position vis-à-vis with the foreign policy that I want to implement. It’s just a question of a policy that is really truly Filipino.
Ms. Segawa: Thank you and the second question for you — like in Japan there are many media talking about your diplomacy—attitude of diplomacy if you are more for China or for Japan and can you tell me the truth like if you like more Japan or you like more China? Okay?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Can you translate?
SEC. ANDANAR: Mr. President she is asking if you love Japan more or you love China?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Between China and Japan I think I love the Philippines more. [applause]
Ms. Segawa: Which?…Which do you like [Jollibee] or McDonald’s? [Jollibee] or McDonald’s?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Frankly, I do not eat… Really, truly, seldom, very often. But I stick to “bibingka” and “maruya”, native dish.
Ms. Segawa: Arigatou gozaimasu. Salamat po. Enjoy Japan.
Tuesday Niu (DZBB): Good morning, Mr. President. Tuesday Niu of DZBB. Sir, General dela Rosa stated yesterday that he submitted already to you the list of celebrity or narco-celebrities and he said that mas marami daw po ‘yung nakasulat sa listahan ninyo. Do you plan of announcing it, sir, to the public katulad ‘nung ginawa ninyo doon sa mga narco-generals and narco-politicians?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Okay, I’ll be frank with you everybody. The final list submitted to me by the law enforcement agencies, ganun ho kakapal. [gestures] Hindi ko malaman ngayon kung paano ko mahanapan ng solusyon. This thick.
There are about a thousand policemen involved in drugs, there are about almost a thousand barangay captains already in the business of shabu, there are about — a few mayors and national officials.
What I am trying to say is, I will call maybe for a consensus dito sa itaas, lahat na mga senators, congressmen. Kasi napakabigat ho ng problema na ito at kung ako lang, sasabihin ko sa inyo, hindi ko kaya.
Kasi…Hindi ko kaya. I mean…Ano ang gawin ko dito patayin ko lahat? At may nandiyan naman 3,000. It’s about almost a 10,000 networks spread all throughout the Philippines.
And with the election of De Lima to the Senate using money from drugs, the portals of the national government has been opened to narco-politics.
May problema ho ang Pilipinas. Ito ‘yung problema nakatago noon all these years and until I became President at [pinuga?] ko lahat, lumabas na.
Alam ng military iyan, alam na ng pulis. Kaya sabi ko nga sa kanila minsan, ‘O ito, trabaho man ninyo iyan. What do you propose to do?’ Isa-isahin mo ‘yan i-prosecute? Impossible dream. We cannot…Pasundan mo araw-araw iyan. But they are really validated. Some of them judges. It has affected the entire gamut, all. [gesture]
Hindi ko talaga…Ni ako…Sanay ako niyan. Kung sa Davao maliit na ano…But mismo ako, I must admit hindi ko alam gaano kalawak, how widespread it is or what, until I became the President of this country. Hindi ko sukat akalain na ganun kalalim. By the hundreds of thousands.
And three years ago, General Santiago said that there are three million drug addicts already. I did not consider my list because until now there are people surrendering. At by the end of this year, I would have reached the four million mark.
Eh ang Indonesia sabi ni President Widodo, they have four million. But remember that Indonesia is a big country. It’s about three, two islands, big islands, and it has a population of 240 million. Ang akin mas maliit na island, 7,000 pieces of islands. And I have 130 — no, 110 rather population with a four million headache.
Tulungan ninyo…Iyong…Ewan ko kung ano ang gawin natin diyan. Ang pinakamabilis na mga rehab ang nagawa ang China. One is in Fort Magsaysay it can house 10,000. Another Chinese foundation is building like another 20,000 in Mindanao. But for the million that would be needing treatment, else they go back to where they belong, and that is using and pushing shabu.
The problem is until now Regions 1, 2 and 3, araw-araw may — swept like a flotsam mga kaldero, mga aluminum na may shabu. Those were manufactured, niluluto in ships in international waters and then kung ready na sila, they just go by the side of the — our territorial limits at inihuhulog nila. Ganun kabigat ang problema ng Pilipino.
Four million will affect certainly this generation. Itong generation na ito, iyong anak ninyo pati ‘yung mga apo ninyo. May tama iyan if you are not careful. And only if you are there to guard them every moment of their lives until they are responsible enough to know what is fundamentally wrong for after all shabu has infected even soldiers and doctors and lawyers. Ganun kabigat ang problema. And…
You know I talked with…And I agreed to just shut up. Kay Bong… I don’t know why but…
I had a talk with Secretary Yasay and here’s a guy [refers to newspaper] his name is Russel, if you can just tone down our rhetorics.
Alam mo hindi ako ang nag-una nitong away na ito eh. Ang nag-una sila. Remember ang puno’t dulo nito ano? Iyong eleksyon, I made a comment in narration of an actual event which happened in Davao and which was covered by all media outlets there, tapos the ambassador said something not very nice. You are not supposed to do that because in an election of another country, you should be careful with your mouth.
I reacted into it at it started to go out of control and then they threatened me with imprisonment kasi human rights violation. And most of all bakit ako nagmura? Just to show na bastos rin ako. Alam mo bakit? They were threatening me because it was an issue — it was a yellow [fever?] issue sa eleksyon. It was not an issue against me in the early days of the campaign.
When I was hitting hard sa rating and then there was this looming — they started the hogwash. A senator whose foot is in his mouth. Good for nothing. Tapos sila ang nag-umpisa na be careful…Lumabas ‘yung human rights, State Department, Obama, EU, ginanun ako. And every time they said, “We will cut our assistance.”
Sabi ko sa kanila, p******* ina ninyo, huwag mo kaming gawing aso. Do not…You know…Sabihin mo na as if you…I am a dog with a leash, tapos magtapon ka ng — pan doon sa malayo, hindi ko maabot.
Sila ‘yung…You review…All that I did was…Alam mo kung bakit? Hindi…Walang nakikinig eh. I was trying to say na ganito, ganito, that hindi ‘yang 3,000 na ‘yan mga ulol kayo, hindi lahat gobyerno iyan. May pinatay ng gobyerno on legitimate encounters. But it doesn’t mean to say that the 3,000 — parang pinalabas nila na wala ng ginawa ang gobyerno except to — ‘yung state-sponsored killing.
Binastos ang bayan ko, hindi ako. Sanay ako pulitiko ako. And so what kung hindi sila bilib sa akin. Hindi naman ako bilib sa kanila. Bat ‘pag nagsabi — every time they make a comment about human rights vio — which is really sinasakyan ng mga gago dito, pinapalaki nila.
Maybe itong elite pati itong mga mayaman sa mundong ito, dito sa Pilipinas, ayaw sa akin. Eh leche kayo ayaw ko rin sa inyo.
Eh kahapon tumawag si Secretary Yasay nandito raw itong siya. [shows the newspaper] Ang sabi ni…Nag-usap daw sila sabi na, ‘if you can just tone down our rhetorics against America.’ Sabi ko huwag ninyo akong ganunin. Every time sabihin they threatened us pati itong EU, akala mo mas bright kaysa sa atin.
Tapos sabihin na, ‘be careful, we will put you in prison.’ P******** ina subukan mo.
Now, what did I do to China? I went there just being nice. O tingnan mo ang lumabas [shows headline of Inquirer newspaper]: Duterte sparks International Distress. T***** ina, kaliit-liit kong tao bat ba ka mag-stress, nerbiyoso kayo. Kasi guilty.
Wala man akong ginawa sa China ah. Nag-usap kami. And so there’s a lot of speculation. Sabi ko, look at Section 7, Article — it states it very clearly, I urge everyone of you: That the Philippines shall follow an independent foreign policy and putting up most of the time the best interest of the nation.” Sinunod ko lang iyon. Ito mga buwang [shows the newspaper again] nerbiyoso. “Duterte Sparking International Distress.” Ano ang pakialam ko sa Africa? Hindi ba international. Iyon ang…
Ayaw ko na sana pero ‘nung nabasa ko ngayong umaga eh…I promised the Secretary I won’t, ‘nung nabasa ko…Sabi ko, itong mga Amerikano buwang talaga.
Style…Tingnan mo maglakad dito akala mo kung sino. Wala pang mga visa itong mga gagong ito. Tayo magpunta doon pahirapan pa. At may sabi pa raw galit ako kasi hindi ako kumuha — hindi ako binigyan ng visa.
I tell you my answer. First time I went to Amerika, ito ang question ng consul: “Why are you going to America?” I said, “To visit a girlfriend.” “Yeah?” “Yes!” Tapos sabi niya, “What if you decide to marry the girlfriend and you do not go back here to the Philippines?” Sabi ko, “Mr. Consul, even if you grant me a multiple lifetime visa and even if you give me $50,000, I will not go there anymore. I will stay here in the Philippines.”
Hindi ako hangol ng bayan — maski gaano kahirap natin eh di magtiis tayo. Do not dangle me about America. Nagkagulu-gulo na nga kayo doon eh. Why should you go there? Magtanong ka ng mga Pilipino doon, mga doctor, tanong ka ng mga sundalo na nag-aral doon, it’s pure bigotry and discrimination doon. Magtanong ka ng nagpunta ng… Kasi bayan nila.
Eh kaya sabi ko, “separate”. Separate, yes, you have the EDCA. Well, forget it. If I stay here long enough, one day that EDCA will…If it is an Executive agreement then I will just…[gesture]
I do not want to see any military man of any other nation except the Filipino soldiers. Iyan lang ang gusto ko. That’s the long and short of it. I want an independent policy that hindi ako pasunod-sunod maski kanino.
Walang…Sabi ko wala na tahimik na ako [reads newspaper] “Russel says Duterte’s comments causing worries in business communities.” Eh di magsilayas kayo. Magtiis kami. We will recover I assure you. We will live and survive. We have gone through the worst of times in this planet.
[reads newspaper] Tapos isang comment niya, “RP-China rapprochement should not come at the expense of the US.”
Napakabilis ng malisya ng mga gago. Wala kaming pinag-usapan sa China kung hindi paano magluto ng siopao na maganda pati chopsuey. Eh kung may ibigay ang China eh di pasalamat, eh ‘di wala, eh ‘di huwag.
Ito naman [reads newspaper], “Goldberg says US remains strongly committed to the defense of the Philippines.” There will be no wars anymore. Sino ba ang magkipag-giyera sa atin? China? What will they get?
Japan? Anong “defense”? Baka…They want to talk about the boogeyman war. Stop that shit. Nobody is interested in wars anymore. And if there is a fight, you fight your wars. Do not include mine.
During the time, when Manila was to be taken back by the allies, they carpet bombed Manila. Hindi ang Hapon sila. They come backing American forces. Two hundred thousand died here. Ang Manila talaga flattened. In just two days of bombing plus the massacre.
You know before we can move forward, Mr. America, there are things—so many things — the massacre of the Filipinos before. These are historical hurts that would never go away.
Depende nalang kung maka-President ang Pilipinas na tuta ninyo. You count me out. I’m not one of them.
I am not also a tuta of any country. Mind you, only…Ang pwede lang magtuta sa akin ang Pilipino. Period. Walang iba.
So that’s my parting statement.
Yes? ‘Pag hindi ako pina-land ng Japan balikan ka dito.
Joseph Morong (GMA-7): Just to complete, sir, ‘yung thought ninyo about EDCA. Are you close to rescinding it because you mentioned that you wanna see nobody except the Filipino soldiers on the soil?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Well, ito pumunta itong [points at the newspaper referring to US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel]… Maybe to talk to me.
Dito mag-usap kami. Iyang dalawa lang kami sa isang kwarto. I don’t want anybody else. Gusto ninyo mag-ganoon kayo [gesture of eavesdropping] sa plywood —pakinggan ninyo kung paano ko…
Mr. Morong: Sige, sir. Thank you.
—END—
