(Note from MindaNews: This is the official transcript of President Rodrigo Duterte’s speech, released by the Presidential News Desk of the Presidential Communications Office)
Presidential Communications Office
Presidential News Desk
SPEECH OF
PRESIDENT RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE
DURING THE 23RD ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (TESDA)
[Delivered at TESDA Complex, Taguig City | 30 August 2017]
Kindly sit down. Thank you for your courtesy.
I have a very short speech. But it tells all. I was listening to the speech of our Secretary. Alam mo, si Secretary Mamondiong, hindi niya alam, ngayon ko lang sinasa — alam ni Jun Evasco — talagang prinogram [program] ko ‘yan siya for TESDA.
Kasi ang TESDA is para sa tao. You know, Finance — walang crowd diyan, walang nakikinig diyan sa kanila so with the other departments. But TESDA is one, DSWD is another na may — may interface sa tao at makapagsalita na mga lider kung ano ang gagawin nila.
And sabi ko nga kanina, I asked Gene, “How much would I spend — all of these things sa…?” “Half a billion”.
Well, hintay-hintayin mo lang ‘yung mga tax evader na magbayad na, I’ll get the money from there. Totoo ‘yan. [applause]
Mighty King, I think, has paid — I don’t know, but — there’s a lot of money in that case and it was handled well by government. We are recovering the back taxes.
I would go after itong mga elite. And I will not name the person, but ‘yung mga company nila noon — Benpres and about six other companies — may utang sila sa DBP. At ang utang nila, umabot ng — to finance this… Pera ng tao, gagamitin nila to finance their business pero kanila ‘yung kita.
And yet, they were not able to pay and it was condoned by government. Kaya noong binabasa ko ‘yung — sabi ko, “I will go after the elite in this country because they are the ones really who’s benefiting from all of these things.”
Malakas ‘yan silang mag-atake, they have the media outlets and all. But sila talaga ‘yung nakikinabang sa corruption ng gobyerno.
Ayaw magbayad ng taxes na tama. Ayaw magbayad ng utang. Na ‘yung Mile Long, were it not for… Kung hindi ako na-Presidente hindi talaga masauli ‘yang propedad na ‘yan.
I’ve been telling everybody, if you are squatting on government property, please return it on time sa akin. [applause]
Kasi there is a law — it’s called Economic Sabotage — and, if your acts or your act fits into that law, you can be very sure that I will file a case against you.
Walang bail ‘yan eh. At you will rot there for the time that I am President or even thereafter.
‘Yan ang diperensiya dito. Kaya sabi ko, ‘yung crowd ng TESDA, was really meant to be Mamondiong. Kasi alam ko dito ang rapport sa baba, ang tao, hindi doon sa itaas.
Hindi… I’d… I would say that he would not have the patience nor the stomach to argue with this… Magwawala lang ‘yang Secretary na ‘yan.
Eh dito, sabi ko, “Makatulong ka talaga.” And I have plans for him but it would not be the right time to tell you about it. But…[applause]
Bakit alam ninyo? Mamili kayo diyan. Tingnan mo ang mga klaseng… Susmaryosep. [laughter]
Ayaw ko na lang sagutin because alam mo ‘pag ‘yung taong stupido, sagutin mo, you also become stupid. So you… I would rather just keep quiet and let the public judge what I have done so far.
And to me, were it not for that fiasco in Marawi, okay na sana tayo. Itong mga left, they blow hot and cold. Hayaan mo na muna ‘yan sila.
But we could have saved a lot of money kung wala itong mga away-away na ito. Sayang eh. I could use the money for many, many — lalo na land reform.
But kung sino ‘yung mayaman o ahente ng mayaman ngayon, Mile Long is up for sale. Ang presyo, well, let the government experts determine it. But I’m selling it and I’m using the money to fund the housing projects of the National Housing Authority for additional…
‘Yung mga Kadamay na nandito, dinamay na lang rin ninyo ‘yung sa mga sundalo, sabi ko sa sundalo, “Just, you know — you are the soldiers of the Republic. You are supposed to protect the citizens. Eh alangan barilin mo ‘yan kasi inagaw ‘yung mga apartment ninyo? Ibigay na lang ninyo.” Sabi ko, “Gawaan ko kayo ng bago diyan sa Forbes Park. Kung may bakante diyan.” [laughter]
I just told them not to quarrel with your fellow human beings, sabi ko. I will — but I have… Pati itong mga NPA, wala ako — I do not mean anything there. Pero kung ‘yung mga NPA, mag-surrender sila, meron kaming housing projects. Inday has about 1,000 units. Ako may 1,000 units rin. Pagka… If they are really — they want to stop fighting, ‘yung gusto, all you have to do is drop your weapon, give it to your leader and come down.
‘Di ko man kailangan ‘yan. Maraming baril ang bayan. At I’ll give you a job. Automatic, may — may trabaho sila. And I’ll give you a space, instead of giving to the soldiers muna. Sabihin ko lang sa sundalo na, “Maghintay-hintay lang kayo. Tutal, may pera naman every year. I’ll make you another one.”
Kasi ‘yung dito sa Bulacan, hinijack [hijack] naman ng Kadamay, eh alang-alang… Kaya sabi ko sa mga sundalo, “Pagpasensyahan mo na tutal Pilipino lang naman ang nakinabang.”
And one more thing about ‘yung kay Taguiwalo — Taguiwalo. You know, I did not raise that issue because para sa akin, it’s too fundamental. Sabi ko sa mga military, “Kung pera lang pati pagkain, pumunta sa NPA na gutom at ‘yung ayaw mag-NPA na hindi myembro nila gutom, para sa akin, pareho lang ‘yan.”
If it’s just a matter of food and money for medicines, I — I don’t make any distinctions there. Ang problema ko lang is ‘yung armed struggle. Because they want you to kill so that you are identified — can be identified with them.
Ako ‘yun ang sabi ko, that’s the basic thing that we will quarrel over because I will not… More so that I am the President that I have to protect the people and defend the Republic of the Philippines.
Sabi ko, “Hindi talaga tayo magkaintindihan diyan.” But it’s not a question of — na she — she was rejected. Hindi… I did not [inaudible] her.
I even told — that’s what I told the military. Wala ako diyan sa ano. I really do not care who eats the — the tulong ng gobyerno. Wala akong problema diyan. Basta Pilipino lang ang kumain, okay ako.
Pwera na ‘yung ipagbili mo ng bala, ibigay mo doon sa kabi — kabila, ah medyo magulo ‘yan. Just a matter of… Even with the — ‘yung sa… I’ll tell you… Ayan o…
I will admit to you now, bakit matagal ‘yung sa siege sa…? Matagal na ’yan sa on deck na talagang gusto bobombahin ang mosque to capture or kill the leaders there and in the process, sacrifice ‘yung mga hostage who are all Filipinos, maybe Maranaos and a mingling of Christians, Tagalog, nandiyan.
Kung gusto na nilang lusubin noon, sabi ko, “Ayaw ko.” And they would start maybe to bomb the mosque. Hindi lang ni — ngayon ko lang ito nasabi. Kaya natagalan ‘yan, sabi ko, “Huwag, mahirap ‘yan.”
Sabi ko, “No. It will just create more animosity and outright hostility sa gobyerno. Hindi tayo patatawarin ng Maranao niyan.” Ang sabi ko, “Dahan-dahan lang.”
But up to this time, there is a stalemate and ‘yung iba naman, nagsabi ‘yung mga senador, “You know, Mayor, there has to be a time when you have to stop.” Stopping the Armed Forces.
‘Yung the last time I was there, that would be around five days ago, six days ago, I finally said na ano, “The option is already yours because we cannot have a stalemate for over one year.”
Pero kung sabi ko lang na ano, kung sana makiusap na lang tayo na lumabas na lang and free the hostages, do not harm them, do not cut their heads because mag-init lalo.
I mean, kung makita niyo ‘yung sundalo, it’s gonna be a bloodbath. But still up to this time, I have sent somebody na we could save the day for all of us.
But I have my limits even if I am President, hanggang diyan lang ako. I cannot go beyond that. So ang istorya ganun kung bakit natagalan nang kaunti.
Ayaw ko talagang pumayag na lusubin and in the process, bombahan mo ‘yung… I cannot… It will generate more hatred instead of healing. Pero matagal na kasi, it’s out of my hands already.
Nagtaas na ako ng kamay because a lot of people in government were already complaining — the police, the military and the civilians. Pati ‘yung mga civilian leaders nandiyan sa grounds sa Marawi.
So if you ask why it took us so long to finish that siege? It’s because ako ang nag — ako ‘yung nag-talaw, ako ‘yung… Hindi ko kaya eh. I cannot just accept that kind of na… For what? For what?
So in fairness to the one who prepared the speech
[laughter] basahin ko na lang rin ito mga…
It says all so I might just say that I have to read it to do justice to the man who spent his time. Kaninang hapon siguro ito ginawa.[laughter] Dalawang pages lang eh.
So may I greet Secretary to the Cabinet Leoncio Evasco Jr.; Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General, Secretary Guiling Mamondiong. You are doing a great job. [applause] Wala akong masabi, wala akong masabi.
Don’t forget also to — huwag masyadong magtrabaho baka… Take time to enjoy life. [laughter] If you want, you can marry again. [laughter] Pwede man sila. Basta pumayag ng… [laughter]
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Deputy Director General Rosanna Urdaneta; [applause] officials, employees and trainees of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority; mga kasama ko sa gobyerno; mga kababayan.
Alam ko ‘yung TESDA is really hanap-buhay. And Gene Mamondiong has perfected the formula for that.
It’s an encompassing one this time, more encompassing than what was done in the previous years.
Ito talaga, kaya ko siya pinili kasi trabaho eh. Ang rapport niya with the people is there and he has the heart. Kasi pupwede ko naman sabi ko, ilagay kita sa Secretary of Finance tapos si Dominguez ang ilagay ko dito. [laughter] Sino ang makinig kay Dominguez? I mean, they might listen but the… You know, the heart is not fully generated.
So Tugade. Walang makinig kay Tugade. Bright si Tugade pero[mimics Tugade] [laughter] Pero bright ‘yan siya, classmate ko eh. Siya ‘yung valedictorian. Ilocano ‘yan from Tuguegarao. Walang dating. Lalo na si Aguirre. [laughter]
Hinaan mo ‘yang hangin niyan kasi alam mo na. [laughter] ‘Pag lumipad ‘yung ano niya… Huwag kayo masyadong maingay. Huwag niyo sabihin ha. [laughter] [whistles] Putulin ninyo ‘yung ano… Oo, ‘yung ‘yun. Putulin ‘yun kasi baka mapahiya, mag-resign ‘yan bukas. [laughter] Again, I would… Saan ba akong? [laughter]
I always believe that teaching our people to fish instead of instantly giving them food to eat is the best way to uplift the condition of every Filipino.
This is a much-quoted cliché, not a proverb. “Give them something to fish but not the fish itself.”
Kaya… Pero kung gutom na ang Pilipino, pakainin mo.
[laughter] Baka ‘yung sinker pati ‘yung — ang kitkiton, ah naloko na. [laughter]
Our duty as government leaders is to give them a more comfortable and prosperous life.
Ako, when I was campaigning for the presidency, I’ve always said that ang gusto ko lang sa Pilipino, hindi naman ‘yung mayaman. I just want them a comfortable life.
That’s why it has go hand-in-hand ‘yung mga problema na masasakit. For example, sabi ko, droga lang ako parati. Eh droga ang pinaguusapan araw-araw. Eh ngayon nag-file ng protest ‘yung France kasi sinabi ko daw… Mahirap sa inyo is kami dito we presume the person to be innocent until proven otherwise.
Binaliktad ko. Sabi ko, “You, you presumed me to be guilty and I have to prove my innocence.” It’s because — ganito ‘yan eh. Iwanan ko muna ‘to ha.
Sinabi ko ito sa command conference. You guys sa diplomatic corps at tsaka ‘yung mga human rights, makinig kayong mabuti ha.
Ang Presidente na ang nag-lecture sa inyo. Ang ating Revised Penal Code, alam ‘yan ng mga abogado dito. It is actually the Spaniard, ‘yung Codigo Penal. So ang ating Revised Penal Code is retribution. Kung ano ‘yung — an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. That’s the basic law of a jungle.
Kung nagkasala ka at pumatay ka bayaran mo ng buhay. Hanggang ngayon, kaming mga abogado would tell you na tayo — kasi ‘yung mga — reclusion temporal to reclusion perpetua. Have you not noticed that? It is basically retribution.
Ang America pati itong mga middle — Canada — ang kanila is the positivist theory na itong kriminal na ito, pwede pa itong ma-rehabilitate. You can make a useful human being out of him when he goes out of prison which has really been debunked as negative.
Lahat nang ipinalabas mo na ano… Ito, I will tell you the psychology of it — of a presuhan ha. Sa Amerika, ganun rin ‘yan. ‘Pag nasanay na sila na anim, pito, sampung taon, 15, 20 years, they are in prison. Maski anong klaseng hanap-buhay ituro mo diyan sa TESDA, once they are out, maghanap lang ‘yan ng konting [inaudible] ‘yung sa Bisaya, trouble. Pagkatapos babalik ‘yan sa Muntinlupa maligaya na sila.
They do not want out of prison kasi they have lost the existence, the essence or existence of a person productive. Mag-hold-up lang ‘yan ng uli ng one time, mag-enjoy, mag-inom, mag-sabong, tapos payag na ‘yan silang makulong uli.
And most of them, prangkahan ko kayo, they have lost entirely ‘yung gender ano nila — identity.
Sa katagalan sila-sila lang ‘yan. Pati babae doon sa correctional, sila-sila lang ‘yan. To a point that they would have acquired latent homosexuality.
Hindi na ‘yan pwede palabasin mo tapos i-rehabilitate mo sa TESDA. Wala na ‘yan sa kanila. And they are incapable of establishing a relationship with a woman. Ang gusto niyan… There is the patent ‘yung klaro at the beginning and latent is they develop aberration of the mind. ‘Yan ang tandaan ninyo.
Matagal kasi akong prosecutor, almost nine years. I was doing trial work. Lahat mga ano ko, ganun. Ayaw na ‘yan gustong lumabas kasi libre na ang pagkain at ‘yung lover niya, na-in love na siya, gusto na siyang bumalik doon.
Naka-acquire na nga ng ano… They are already monster in the sense that they are incapable of… Kung meron man, papasok na ‘yang masochism. Saktan ‘yung babae, ganun-ganun, blah blah blah.
Kaya karamihan balik sa presuhan. Maghanap ka ng kapitbahay mo ex-convict sige daw kung makakita ka ng isa. Sino man? Wala.
Eh itong… Itong mga EU, itong France, ‘yan ang hindi ninyo naintindihan na itong aming criminal code actually is Codigo Penal of the Spaniards. Ang principles Spaniards. ‘Di kailan pa ‘yan? Antiquated, yes. That is why we cannot agree with them altogether on all points, on all [force?] of our criminal justice system.
Ako kasi Pilipino naging fiscal talagang hardliner ako sa krimen noon pa. Ngayon sila, magsabi na may namatay naman kasi ‘yung si Kian. [garbled] Warningan (warning) ah, “Pang-last na ‘yan ha. ‘Pag nangyari pa ‘yan, bantay kayo.”
Nag-react ako. Sabi ko, “Ha? Sino ka?” Isinuka na kita noon, isusuka kita ngayon. T*** i** mo. L**** ka.” [laughter] Bakit mo ako… Bakit mo kami warningan (warning)? Hindi kami sitio ng France. Nandito kami sa Asia. Do not talk as if you are imposing the rules which you think is applicable for all. It is not like that because our system [inaudible].
Due process pareho lang ‘yan. May due process man kami dito. And ang problema ninyo kasi ‘pag may namatay — well, of course, except for ‘yung kay Kian — right the day na nangyari ‘yun, I ordered Bato to arrest them already and detain them kasi nakita ko na ‘yung…
Pero ‘yung all others na ano, ‘pag lumaban, doon sa Bulacan, eh talaga namang lumaban. Kaya sabi ko, “Next time ‘pag ka ganung operation, dalhin mo ang media.” You invite the media para ma-document.
But in order the documentation to be complete and clear, ang media ang paunahin mo. [laughter] Cover lang kayo sa kanila. [laughter]
But media, be sure to make an accurate and true portrayal of the incident. Ang pinakasiguro niyan, kayo ang mauna.
Sabihin lang ninyo sa mga durugista, mga hold-upper, [whistles]“‘Yung ano ha…” ‘Pag may pula ‘yung hinahawakan, ayon camera o. ‘Yung kanya, sira ‘yon kasi walang pula. [laughter] Pa-kunwari-kunwari ka pa diyan pero pagdating doon, “Sir, walang maireport.”[laughter]
Wala mang pula ‘yan. Meaning to say it’s not operating. Ganon ‘yan. Ganon talaga ang… Bakit mabibigat ‘yung sa…?
Marami sila kasing innovation all throughout the years. ‘Yung positivist theory, na ang criminal… Tignan mo ngayon, tignan mo ‘yan sila, identified, known to the police, maya-maya, sagasaan sila lahat ‘to. Tapos, sabihin, “His name appeared in the computer.” Tingnan mo.
Ako… Ako maghintay pa ng ganon, sagasaan ako? Ah… Iyan ang… That is why we will have this eternal conflict. If I were you guys, you just respect the sovereignty of the country.
Nag-file sila ng protest kanina. Sabi ko daw, ‘yun ang sinabi ko. Eh ‘yun naman talaga ang gusto ninyo eh. That is how you operate and that is how I would characterize your actions.
Fulfilling its mandate as the lead agency to promote and advance the technical and vocational education of the Filipino workforce, TESDA has been responsible for producing the necessary manpower with the right competences.
The success of your programs and services is best reflected in the lives of thousands of Filipinos that you have helped transform.
May you continue to empower our people, particularly the unemployed, out-of-school youths, persons with disabilities, returning OFWs, the poor, and the marginalized in their quest for career achievement.
Ako sa totoo lang, kung isauli lang nila ‘yang — at magbayad lang sila nang husto, itong may utang gobyerno at hahabulin ko ‘yung kinondone (condone) ang utang…
But I would like to serve notice that I’m selling all those recovered properties of government. It’s a prime land there, ‘yung Mile Long. I’m selling them to fund the — pati ‘yung land reform ng gobyerno.
Si Mariano, wala siyang masabi sa akin. Tanungin mo ‘yung mga Cabinet members. Sabi niya, “Mayor, may TRO ng korte kasi hindi kami mapasok para ma-transfer.” “Maniwala ka diyan korte-korte ‘yan. Eh pasok, ilagay mo, ibigay mo sa tao.” O pagkatapos? O anong TRO? Maghintay ta… I-contempt mo ako? Ikaw judge ha, bantay ka sa akin.
I mean, you just do [inaudible]. What is the law is the law. And diyan ako galit sa ano — ‘yung TRO rin. Maraming anomalya itong gobyerno na ito.
Alam mo, isang project, perfected. O isang project sa gobyerno, nandiyan. Alam nila ‘yan. ‘Yung mga developers, ‘yung mga contractor, magpunta doon sa siyudad. Magsali. Worth 100 million. So ang bid niya is worth 110. Ganon.
‘Yung iba naman, negosyo ‘yan. Lapitan niyan siya, ibagsak nila ang presyo. “70 million ang amin.” Eh ‘di ‘yung gustong manalo, talagang ‘yung gustong magtrabaho, makipag-areglo. “Bigyan mo kami.” Bigyan niya. Award siya, siya na lang mag-isa. Ganon ‘yan.
Ganun ang gobyerno. Kaya nag-warning ako sa mga korte, ‘yang TRO-TRO na ‘yan, sabi ko sa kanila, “Be careful.” There’s such a truth in there but… Huwag ninyong anuhin kasi talagang ‘yang lowest bid — lowest bid ‘yan, walang kwenta ‘yan. 100 million, ibagsak ‘yan ng — “‘Yan, ‘yang project na ‘yan, gagawin ko ‘yang 60 million.” Eh ‘di ma-award sa kanya. Tapos papel, pag-award sa kanya, maghanap siya contractor na ‘yan. I-subcontract niya. Sabihin lang niya, kapartner niya. Pag-subcontract niya, magpabayad siya. ‘Yan namang contractor, magbayad pa sa mayor, magbayad doon sa Office of the President, kay Duterte. Wala. Pagdating dun sa… Wala na. Ubos na. So ‘yung quality of produkto niya would only be worth mga 35 million.
During the campaign, I was going all over. Punta ako doon. Akalain mo may — pag-landing ko — sabi, “may magandang landing diyan.” Semento, akala ko ‘yung tennis court. “Kalaki ng tennis court niyo dito, sinong naglalaro?” Puro fisherman man. “May nagte-tennis dito.” “Hindi sir, ‘yan ang airport namin.” [laughter]
Susmaryosep ang Pilipino uy. Kaya ako, sabi ko, dito sa akin, isang pagkamali lang — isang pagkamali lang. ‘Yung Chief nila, sinungaling pa.
You know, just for the consumption of everyone. ‘Pag ang Pilipinas, binigyan ng pera, grant. When it is accepted by the Republic of the Philippines, it becomes public money.
Ang Austria, nagbigay siya ng grant pero at the same time, nagpabili siya ng truck na bumbero. Ayaw pa aminin ang presyo, it’s really 18 million.
So kita mo? Ipagbili mo, pero ang grant mo, kailangan parang bilihin mo rin ‘yung kanilang produkto. Eh pa-ek ek ‘yan. Sabi niya, “‘Yung grant ng Austria, bilib kami, nagbigay ng how many millions”. Pero ang bilihin, ‘yung produkto nila.
You know, ‘pag tinanggap na ‘yan ng consular or whatever… ‘Pag tinanggap mo ‘yang grant, it becomes public money. And if you buy something out of that money, there has to be a public bidding.
Hindi na sabihin mo, “Eh nakakahiya naman eh. Ang bilhin natin ‘yung kanya na lang produkto.” Eh ‘di naloko na.
Sa spare parts pa lang, talo ka na over a period of what? Five years? Bili ka nang bili ng spare parts doon sa mga… Kaya parang lokohan na ano. Huwag mo akong ganunin kasi…
We are all here today because we love and care about our people. Our fellowmen. Tama ‘yan. Let us hold on on this promise and never falter in our resolve to give every Filipino a happy and comfortable life that he or she deserves.
Ako kung kumportable lang kayong lahat, okay na ako. Congratulations at mabuhay ang TESDA! [applause]
‘Yun na ang speech ko. Tapos na. [laughter] Kasi mag-uwi na ako. I’m going home. I’m going home. Kaya ako buhay ‘pag pauwi na. Kasi mag-uwi na ako. Wala ng trabaho.
Sinong gustong magsama sa inyo? [laughter] Isa-isa lang. Maraming labanan na ano… But I’m going home. Limitado ang — limitado ang pasahero. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. May security pa.
‘Di padalhan na lang kita ng ticket, habol ka na lang doon. [laughter]Hindi, mga ano ko ‘to. Mga… Ito ngang… May bisita ako, sila ang pinapa-ano ko. You entertain the visitors. Mga entertainer ‘to ng ano. Entertainer lang naman.
So I hope TESDA would… Maghanap din ako ng pera.
Salamat. [applause]
—END—
