(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
DEPARTURE STATEMENT
OF
PRESIDENT RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE
FOR HIS OFFICIAL VISIT TO THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA
[Delivered at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2, Pasay City | 02 June 2018]
Kindly sit down, sir. Magandang gabi, sir.
The Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and other members of the Cabinet who are here with us today — tonight; former Senate President and my Speaker Manny Villar; other members of the House of Representatives; the Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Carlito Galvez Jr. and the other members of the service commanders; fellow workers in government; ladies and gentlemen.
I leave tonight for my first Official Visit to the Republic of Korea. I am deeply honored by the invitation of His Excellency, President Moon Jae-in.
The ties between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea are long and deep. Nearly 70 years ago, we stood side by side in defense of freedom and democracy.
Today, we stand shoulder to shoulder in advancing our shared aspirations and in facing threats to our nations, our peoples and in our region.
There is much to learn from South Korea’s experience and expertise. Despite seemingly insurmountable challenges, the Republic of Korea successfully transformed itself into one of the most advanced and progressive economies [in] the world.
As a long-standing partner, the Republic of Korea has already joined the Philippines in our efforts to achieve inclusive and sustainable economic development growth.
Yet, there is much room for even healthier growth across the areas of mutual interests. The Philippines stands ready to write a new chapter of closer ties, deeper amity and more comprehensive collaboration with South Korea.
In my talks with President Moon, I will explore ways to bring cooperation to a whole new level. This will be based on respect for sovereign equality and for the democratic ideals that we both fought hard to secure.
I will emphasize the importance of strengthening our partnership in defense and security, trade and investments, and political cooperation.
I will likewise stress the need to work together to help achieve greater security by addressing conventional and emerging threats to stability in our [region].
I will meet with Korean business leaders and encourage them to be our responsible partners in our pursuit of economic growth. This way, they can actively contribute to our objective of providing a comfortable life for our people.
As always, I will meet with the Filipino Community and thank them for their sacrifice for the sake of their families and for their contributions to our nation’s socio-economic development.
I will renew this pledge to them and to you tonight: Our present and future efforts to seek a reinvigorated partnership with South Korea—and indeed with all other countries—shall always be grounded on national interest, common goals, and adherence to time-honored principles of international law.
I leave tonight on this commercial flight to Incheon Airport, humbled by your support and emboldened by your desire for meaningful change for our nation and people.
I hope to return with greater gains for our country as we forge a stronger friendship with South Korea. All these, I shall duly report to you upon my return.
Daghang salamat! [applause]
And maybe I will but not… I’m taking a commercial flight. We would not want to inconvenience the other passengers. But I can have a short dialogue with you.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
Q: Hi, sir, good evening. Sir, there are recent protest and clamor against the TRAIN Law and the increasing prices of goods. Is a… There is a petition to suspend the TRAIN Law. Is this something, sir, that you would like to consider amid this clamor and at the same time, is it something that you would — if not, how do you plan or how does the government plan to address this — that the wage hasn’t been raised yet?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Well, the law was enacted by Congress, I’ll leave it to Congress to decide whether or not to amend or suspend or modify the law.
I’ll leave it to Congress. There’s no value in giving much — of what I want. Because kung sabihin ko naman na because we need it for the Build, Build, Build at kung sabihin — wala naman akong magawa.
At kung sabihin naman nila well, we’ll just have to bite the bullet and go on, eh wala rin akong magawa kung ‘yan ang decision nila.
Q: Sir, I understand that the Labor department is already moving — asking for the wage board to increase the minimum wage. But, sir, on your part, sir, do you have any call or message to business owners, employers about this to address lang, sir, the clamor for a higher wage amid the rising prices of goods.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Well, for one thing we cannot legislate. Actually cost of money is a matter of a cycle of economy.
But let me just give you — although it is not totally the excuse. Alam mo kasi ah — there seems to be a self-flagellation amongst a large number of Filipinos.
Predicate lang ‘to. Right after the Second World War, everybody was into rehabilitation of their countries. And the United States did it for Japan — maybe of the sense of guilt what happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki of the atomic bomb.
Philippines was also compensated. But we went to war because we would not wanted it. It was imposed on us because we were a colony of another country. But we suffered. The destruction of our country was massive. Manila was flattened and many died.
Post war, lahat nagre-repair na. And although it is not I said an excuse for anybody. Sabi nila ang Philippines was second to Japan only in the rate of how it was evolving. Ngayon, nahuli na tayo. We are second to Bangladesh which is the last in the list.
Alam mo remember that ‘yung mga kapit-bahay natin had the commodity na ibinigay ng Diyos sa kanila na wala sa atin. And what was that? It’s oil.
Meron sila oil. Lahat ito makita mo, it’s a product of oil. Everything that you see. Lahat ‘yan ‘yung mga… It’s run or made by machine — made or powered by oil. Indonesia had it. Malaysia have it. Brunei meron.
Tayo, we were at the mercy of the oil-producing nations. And sometimes in 1972, there was this reduction of supply and there was in the country — we had to go to a coupon to buy the oil. Until now, ang oil pa rin. ‘Pag tumaas ang oil, talagang maghahabol tayo.
And we need to run our lights tonight, my talk here. Lahat. Lahat makita mo it’s oil na wala sa atin. Pagka bumaba ‘yan, bababa lahat. Kaya ganun.
I mean it could cushion the impact of a worldwide maybe recession in some other countries. America just dis — ah maybe recovered, I don’t know.
But tayo hirap because we have to import oil. Wala tayong supply niyan.
Ngayon ‘yung sa Alegria, I was humbled before God na for the first time we extract oil and there was gas spewing up the fire from the ground because the oil is there and the gas is going on top.
So it’s — ‘yang sabihin mo na whether it is a legislated salary which is not really the practice — or hirap tayong lahat dito, it’s oil. It’s not because we are doing bad in business.
We are doing fine. The exports… The problem is I said, we have to buy oil to run everything including to reach where you want to work.
If you have to ride, it’s eating oil. That machine is a product of oil in the factories. Powered by oil.
Iyan ang… Walang magandang lalaki diyan. If it would go up, we would be pretty hard up. But if it goes down, then we are better off.
Iyan ang sikreto ko. Huwag kang masyadong mag-ano — you dwell on some other matters about this, about that. Everything is doing well in our country.
Maybe some problems here, there, but we are in a hurry in our infrastructures. But always the rate of speed with which we will produce or finish them is really dependent on a one vital commodity na wala sa atin, it’s oil.
The Alegria oil there, I suppose is — would barely support the needs of the Visayas area. But let us pray that God, I’d… Hindi ko talaga alam paano niya…
All our neighbors may oil. ‘Yung ibang far, beyond our shores, ‘yung iba meron. Bakit tayo binigyan — hindi binigyan at kakaunti, ngayon lang, and which has stymied the quality of time. We had so many opportunities tapos wala diyan because of… It’s all oil. ‘Yan ho ang sagot ko. Yes? Malayo pa.
We are scheduled to depart 12:20. I can address your quest… About 30 questions more. [laughter]
Q: All right. Thank you po. Good evening po, sir. To what extent po can we expect South Korea to be — to help in the rehabilitation of Marawi City po? And if any po, do we have the specific plans or programs already for this? Funds, if any?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Sandali ha. Kasi nakatulog ako. Everytime siya na i-ganun mo ‘yan, dumikit ang… Ayaw lumabas ang g*** na hangin dito. Ano, sir? Ikaw na ang mag…
SEC. ANDANAR: Papaano daw po makakatulong ang South Korea sa rehabilitation ng Marawi?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Makatulong para sa atin? Well, a lot. Maybe you can have a cheaper price, investments, which are coming in. A lot of Korean enterprises are there in Mindanao for the agricultural endeavors, enterprises.
But the only thing there is that our country remains to be a little bit topsy-turvy. There are areas which we cannot go into agricultural manufacturing.
Ideally, it should be near the place where you plant or grow pero ang problema nito, I think even Davao is not ready for — it’s not accessible, that’s the word.
Hindi muna maka-access doon ngayon kasi magulo. So we are trying to find out if we can succeed in the talks with the Communist Party.
I have invited Sison. I do not have the clear answer. But I said, “if you come home, I will guarantee your safety and your security. If the talks fail, I’d be glad to escort you here and see you leave the Philippine territory pero sana huwag ka nang bumalik.”
I… It was not a joke. Actually, it was — it’s my sentiment na we have suffered a lot, resources, lives and all. At sana it — sana matagumpay.
Pero kung hindi naman, sabihin ko na lang sa iyo na huwag ka nang bumalik. Let’s end this by just shaking our hands and we will resume the violent war. It leaves us no other alternative.
But as I said, I’m willing to talk. Ako ang ga-guarantee sa billeting nila, pagkain, lahat. But my condition is that no demand for coalition. That is not acceptable to me at all and any other group for that matter asking autonomy. I will not and I will never agree of any splintered armed group na sabihin mo…
Well, for example, itong sa BBL. I might as well be frank. I will accommodate — I will move the extra mile but never would I agree that there will be a fissure somewhere.
The PNP will remain one line to the last barangay tanod. The Armed Forces of the Philippines will only have one command from the Chief of Staff down to the PNP chief, down to the tanod whether armed or not.
We will cross the bridge when we are there, whether or not there would be a need to arm some sectors of government who are not either in the military or in the police.
But as of now, we have the CAFGUs and… But I said, a decision arrived at by all players sa gobyerno will be made. I was — nung paakyat ako dito, nakita ko ‘yung… Ano bang tawag diyang maliit na tabloid?
That Ping Lacson says that there’s more activity of corrupt government, policemen and a combination of all. Not only the police but maybe he was referring to the uniformed personnel. At totoo ‘yan. We will not renege — We will not deny that, it’s true, and we will not renege on our duty to put it down. Konting ano lang…
It used to be a… You know, you go full blast and you have the human rights. Madugo ‘to kasi kung sabihin mo police o mga armed gangsters, just like in America, in South and both North, it’s really a bloody war. And you see also corrupt policemen and soldiers there into crime, drugs. In the Philippines it’s no exception.
But we will deal with the problem. Maybe a more — more industry, that’s the word. More vigor.
So I have this, a national emergency, the one that I declared earlier. It’s really a… It’s a measure that intends to… But all geared towards our sacred oath and promise, lahat pati ‘yung pulis pati military.
We have that sworn duty, a sacred one, to protect the people and preserve the nation and we will… I will do it. We will do it and it will be during our time. Sigurado ‘yan.
So long as everybody understands the problem at hindi mag yakyak diyan sa… You begin to count the lives of innocent people lost. Do not begin to count the criminals and maybe including the corrupt police and military men, or ‘yang nasa gobyerno and also the corruption drive — anti-corruption drive will continue.
It will be an effort that will be there. It’s a constant thing. Corruption is hard to stamp out but I have a — maybe a little more than what is… We will clean up government. I assure you.
Q: With the recent reshuffling po in the PNP, with the officials in the PNP, do we have new or additional marching orders to the PNP?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Mabuti pa dito ka sa tabi ko, ma’am. Talagang ayaw lumabas ‘to because I had an acci… Hindi, hindi ako mag-excuse.
Q: Yes po. With the recent reshuffling po of officials in the PNP, do we have additional or new marching orders to the PNP?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Well, I leave it to the PNP command. At your back is the guy who will do it.
Earlier when I talked to him; and to the others, just do what is right and legal, period. If we can clean the place legally and in a right mode, it will be good.
But I said, there is a war of drugs going on. No less than a senator of the Republic of the Philippines has complained, it’s there. Diyan sa hagdanan nakita ko ‘yung sort of a bulletin. I will declare to president, rather Senator Lacson that we will do it.
At I’m warning again the police and the military na kayo talaga ang mauna. Kayo ang mauna bago ang lahat kasi kayo ‘yung — well, the most dangerous actually.
You have the guns and you can fight. And we will give you what is due you.
So ‘yung mga human rights, take note of the problem and maybe you can commission some of your members to be with the police and the military when they go out in the field to enforce the law.
Q: Thank you po. Thank you very much. Have a safe flight.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Wala pa? Pwede pa…
Q: Good evening, Mr. President…
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Wait, let me explain ma’am ha bakit. Hindi ako matanda na. Eh — dito, I had this bad spill sa motor. Since then, I broke — so it’s impaired. Hindi ko malabas-labas kaagad ‘yung — something is blocking eh.
So I’m kind of a disabled person. That’s my disability. Impaired hearing. Since then pagkatapos ng disgrasya ko, hindi na ako makarinig pero makita kong — lalo na kung kagaya mo.
Q: Mr. President, what are the concerns of the Filipino community in South Korea that will be expected to be tackled during your meeting with them?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Well, ‘yung working papers ko suggest that maybe the environmental concerns. Isa pa ‘yan.
Maraming papasok dito, but always ang problema when you have something going on, there’s always the residual — in everything.
So that’s one and kind of stressing to them that we welcome infrastructures, factories and all, but we must protect the environment.
In some other place, in Davao City, ang gulf, the siltation of the mining soil that’s — those — the residual soil just placed around. Whenever there’s rain, they go down because it’s an open-pit mining.
So they keep on. And if you go around the country, makikita mo that there’s devastation really. I might decide, of course with consultation with Congress, but I want them also to see how the extent of the damage to the country — the interest of the country — have been so that we can understand each other when we talk.
The Philippines could only take so much. We cannot entertain all who want to mine in the… There has to be something of a stoppage somewhere. Ako, I am in favor of not granting anymore and altogether change the method of getting the minerals out.
Open-pit cannot be a solution. And even ‘yung digging it inside, meron kayong inilalabas sa ano and it goes down — whatever, it goes down to the tributaries, rivers and to the sea. And it has damaged not only the environment around but it has damaged the marine life of many.
And you see that when you ride, you fly, and you see so many communities and the brown siltation is — covers an area already impossible to manage.
I’d like just to say that ang bayan po nangangailangan ng pera. But in this part of the investments dito sa mining, I would like to talk about it openly with the people in the coming days.
I am not targeting it next year, I will do it this year. Maybe next year baka wala na ako. You know, who knows. I want — as along as nandito pa ako sa mundong ito — I will do it what — while I am here. Lahat ‘yan.
And Boracay, same. Because — ganito ‘yan. It’s a resort, international, first class. You know, I did not spend money for government just to accommodate ‘yung mga mayayaman. It is not for them.
That is why kung meron ka, the remaining areas there, eh tutal agricultural pati forestal man. I don’t — I have yet to see a document that says that it is also commercial and residential.
So ibigay ko na ‘yan sa mga tao for agricultural purposes, kapag hindi, kukunin lang ng mga may pera ‘yan, gawain lang ‘yan nila ng resort. Resort dito, resort doon, resort dito.
And in land, ang mga mayaman may mga mansion, mga resort, vacation houses, patay. Hindi ako gumastos diyan, hindi ko inutusan ‘yan si General Cimatu diyan maglinis para lang ibigay ko sa mga — no way.
But I will most respectfully ask Congress to reserve a strip. Tutal ang commercial diyan ‘yung lang namang dagat eh. ‘Yung puting sand ano diyan, but beyond, sa likod wala na eh.
But if you have the money, you can have the — you know, it’s in keeping with the style o may bahay ako doon na ganun. Hindi ko lilinisin ‘yan diyan para sa inyo. Ibigay ko ‘yan — from where it ends, it goes to the farmers.
I will not allow residential… Eh you will spoil everything. Kasi rarami ‘yan, then saan pupunta ‘yan? It goes to the sea, again. Now, if you have a huge water treatment there — but can we afford it? Can they afford it?
Same. So mabuti na ‘yung magkaintindihan tayo ngayon. Salamat po.
Q: Thank you.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Wala pa? Kumakain pa ‘yung piloto sabi ni… Hindi, it’s 12:30. Departure time is 12:30.
Q: President, good evening. President, ‘yung from the United Nations nag-comment nanaman na — special rapporteur about sa mga justices po, na nag-express siya ng pagka-bahala raw dun sa public statements niyo raw po kay dating Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, sir. Any comments about doon?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Again. Hindi, hindi siya na lang, [unsa’y gisulti niya?]Pati pala ito ‘yung hindi sumakay ng eroplano hindi rin makarinig eh.
SEC. ANDANAR: Mr. President, nababahala daw ‘yung mga international justices doon sa… Si Mr. Diego García-Sayán, a Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers since December 2016. Nababahala daw sa naging desisyon kay Chief Justice Sereno. Ano po daw ang inyong reaksyon, Mr. President?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: About the decision?
SEC. ANDANAR: About ‘yung statement daw po.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: What about my statement about her?
Q: President, parang public threats daw that you made publicly daw kay Sereno na na-monitor niya siguro sa mga speeches and all. So this is an official from the UN, sir, na nag-express ng pagkabahala.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Who is this guy?
Q: This is Mr. Diego Sayán from Peru.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: What is he?
Q: He’s a special rapporteur on ––– about the Independence of Judges. From the UN po siya.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: About our judicial system here?
Q: ‘Yung ano daw po, ‘yung mismong statements niyo daw po. The statements you made public po about dating chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. Like enemy niyo siya daw and that she should be removed from office.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Totoo, nagalit ako sa kanya. I said, “gusto mo?” Sinabi ko na sa kanya wala akong pakialam diyan sa impeach — ah sa quo warranto.
Calida is doing it because he’s an Ilocano. He’s hurt because of ‘yung denial sa burial ni Marcos. Akala niya nakikialam ako.
You know, Calida, he was doing it as an Ilocano. Abogado ‘yan. Pati ‘yang siya ang nagdala ng — sabi na ipalibing.
Ako naman, following the law, you’re a solider and a president. So ano ko… And they were criticizing me left and right. Eh sabi ko, but that’s the law. What can I do?
Ito si Sereno kept on harping na “Duterte, Duterte, Duterte.” You can re — if you would go and remember, sinabi ko sa kanya hindi ako nakikialam diyan.
Ngayon, eh sige pagbalik ko galing — [Where was I? Singapore? Yeah.] — eh sinalubong ng media ako sabi na sinabi daw ni Sereno na may…
Kaya ako nagputok. Sabi ko, “sinabi ko na iyo p***** i** ka na wala akong pakialam diyan.”
Magtanong ka ng isang congressman ni isa lang o senador ni isa. Isa lang. Huwag na marami. Your House of Representatives, 200 plus ‘yan. Magtanong ka kung may sinabi ko ba na “i-impeach natin ito, whoever.”
Pagka may isa ka diyan, bababa ako pagka-Presidente. I will resign. Hindi ako nakikialam. Eh siya ‘yung… Kaya ako nagalit. Why? Is it wrong? Who’s… Sino ‘yung rapporteur na ‘yan?
Q: Mr. Diego Sayán. He’s from Peru, sir. Diego García-Sayán, Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: He is not a special person. And I do not recognize his rapporteur title.
Tell him not to interfere with the affairs of my country. He can go to hell. Sabihin mo.
P***. Nakikialam siya. That’s an internal problem of the country. You should not meddle it — with it, rather. ‘Yan ang ano. Alam man ninyo kung bakit ako — I exploded.
Kasi sinabi ko sa kanya, “p***** i** mo, wala — sinabi ko na sa’yo hindi ako nag…” It is not my habit actually.
Ni hindi ko pinapakialaman ‘yang DAP na ‘yan. Sinong nagkapera diyan, sinong nagnakaw. I never issued any single statement against anybody about DAP kung sinong kumawkaw diyan.
And sabi ko wala ako because I leave it to the Ombudsman. Hindi ko naman ano ‘yan eh. There’s the Ombudsman who can investigate. And if he decides to file a case against them, I will not.
Oh. Tinawag na tayo ng piloto?
SEC. ANDANAR: Tawag na. 12:20 daw, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Thank you for listening to my outburst again. [applause]
Wala akong pakialam diyan. Sabihin mo ‘yang p***** i**** rapporteur na ‘yan, [laughter] pumunta siya sa impiyerno.
— END —