(Note from MindaNews: This is the official transcript of President Rodrigo Duterte’s media interview, released by the Presidential News Desk of the Presidential Communications Office)
Presidential Communications Office
Presidential News Desk
MEDIA INTERVIEW WITH
PRESIDENT RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE
[Malago Clubhouse, Malacañang Park | 21 August 2017]
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: The media, everybody, who are here to break bread with me; and the purpose really is to give you an opportunity to ask me questions that you have been longing to find about.
So I think there’s a moderator? Or if there is none, you just raise your hand and I’d be glad to accommodate everybody. You? Yes, sir?
Q: Magandang gabi, sir. Joseph po sa GMA 7. Sir, siyempre alam niyo ‘yung sa issue nung kay Kian ‘no. How do you wrap your mind around this incident? Because before, ang sinasabi niyo, warning ninyo sa mga drug addicts: “Do not kill the future generations of Filipinos” ‘no?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Yes.
Q: And then ‘yung mga sina-cite kayo na cases ng mga OFW na nagsa-sacrifice and they return to a broken family. Kian is a perfect example of a person ‘yung inaalagaan ng magulang and then allegedly pinatay ng mga rogue policemen. How do you wrap your head around this incident first?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: I am the head of government. And I am the chief of all police and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
You know, there was this incident. Nakita ko sa TV and it was really worth commenting on but I refrain. Why? Because naunahan ako ni Aguirre. And the decision of the Justice department, hindi mo ma-question. The President is not allowed to do that. That would be unethical and illegal.
When the Secretary of Justice ordered the NBI to investigate, the most prudent thing for me to do is to shut up and wait for the result of the investigation.
I saw the tape or tapes doon sa TV and I agree that there should be an investigation. Should the investigation point to liabilities by one, two, or all, there will be a prosecution and they have to go to jail if convicted.
That I can assure you. That there will be no luto-luto diyan sa ano because I really do not interfere.
‘Pag may kasalanan ka… You know, my orders to the police is this: Go out and destroy the apparatus of the drug organizations. And there are a lot of them.
Kasi kung isahin mo lang, ang distributor lang, ang runner, tapos ‘yung pinaka-head or the one that’s cooking, hindi mo makuha, then the activity will go on and on and on.
When you say that you have to destroy the organization, I should be referring to the one cooking, the one selling, and the one distributing.
Otherwise, if I stop only doon sa taas. Eh walang mangyari. I cannot stop the drug problem and it is very serious. Sinasabi ko sa inyo, we are already a narco-politics state.
Ang mga karamihan diyan and all the barangays are infected, 92. Tama si Santiago. During his time, he was — he quoted it in one of the reports.
Ngayon, nagpa-iwan ‘yan. At tsaka hindi… Well, of course, ‘yung anti-Duterte pati ‘yung the bleeding hearts, I cannot convince them so it’s really useless to answer.
Kaya hindi ako nagpapa-interview, eh wala, they would insist on “inosente ‘yan.”
But you know, let us wait for the investigation. And if the investigation points out liabilities, criminal liabilities, I will order the prosecution to the fullest to the extent of the law — to the full extent of the law. ‘Yan ang magarantiya ko sa inyo.
I will wait kasi sabi ng… Si Pia interesado niyan magtanong sa Rappler. Pupunta ka ba doon? Sabi ko, “No, I will not visit the wake.” Kasi pumunta raw si Vice President. Good. Sana isinali na lang niya ‘yung pangalan ko kasi nasa gobyerno naman kaming dalawa.
Ganito ‘yan eh. It is pregnant with so many suppositions. One is that, “Look, Duterte went there maybe to apologize kasi totoo ‘yung talagang nangyari.”
Then, I would be putting so much pressure on the police. Mataranta na sila niyan kasi ganun. “Kaya o — siguro nanghingi ng tawad si Duterte.”
I cannot do that. I cannot do that because the organization sa PNP is under me. I would be the last person to condemn them without a valid investigation.
Pero kung talagang rubout kung ganun, maasahan ninyo. They have to answer for it. They have to go to jail. So I am sorry. Sasabihin ko sa kanila.
But ‘yung sabi ko, “Go out and hunt.” Hindi ko na kailangan sabihin na, “Huwag ninyong sugatan, huwag ninyong… Dapat sa paa lang to disable.”
‘Yung kay Doris. Doris, kung may baril ‘yan, targetin mo ‘yan diyan sa paa o sa bayag, t***… He’ll be able to pull the trigger and kill the policeman, baliktad na tuloy.
I lose two, three policemen a day. Nung isang araw, they were about to serve a warrant, o pinatay, naunahan. Papunta pa lang sila, tinamaan na sa dibdib.
I have lost about a hundred plus soldiers. Policemen, mga about 67. Why? Bakit mas marami ang military? Because in Mindanao, alam mo na.
In Marawi and in Ozamiz, they were producing shabu more than its normal consumption sa mga tao.
So they had to sell outside of Mindanao. Ang problema doon, ang pulis mismo at ang mga tanod, ‘yun ang ginawa ng mayor doon.
Every barangay captain, binigyan niyang baril tapos sabi niya mag-organize ng tanod pero tao niya. Nakita mo… Nakita ninyo ‘yung footage na naka-linya ‘yung baril? Talo pa ang NPA na isang battalion.
Kasi lahat ng tanod, binigyan niya ng baril, employed sa city hall, eh ‘di may private army siya. Kasa — ang judge doon — walang conviction.
Kaya sabi ko, “Anong klase itong — ?” Ibig sabihin wala talang nagbabaha? And ang ayaw ko kay Parojinog, kasi pati ‘yung mga pulis na ayaw sumunod sa kanya, pinatay.
Meron ‘yan pa silang pinatay na apat. ‘Yung isa doon inilibing, ‘yun yung pulis na — I think it was the team leader, eh nakuha ‘yung buto. So we are waiting for the DNA. ‘Yung… They were digging in a place there somewhere.
Nakuha nila ‘yung mga buto. Ang isa doon pulis. ‘Yun ‘yung nawala. ‘Yun ‘yung ayaw sumunod kasi nga illegal.
Ang problema, narco-politics talaga. Walang election doon, takot ang mga tao, sunod lahat, at ‘yung nakinabang, maligayang-maligaya.
Kaya sabi, “Where’s the big fish? Duterte ano lang…” O bigyan ko kaya ng — O si Albuera Mayor, eh kaya lang nahuli. Big fish naman sana ‘yun. Inilagay na lang sa aquarium. Pinatay eh.
So outside of ‘yung patayan, he was a big fish. He was the producer of shabu on the western side ng ano — Cebu, western side.
Ang eastern side, si Odicta couple. ‘Yung pinagbabaril doon sa isang port somewhere diyan sa pag-landing nila.
And ang mga mayors diyan pati barangay captain. ‘Di ba sinabi ko sa’yo, Iloilo was the hotbed. Ngayon medyo wala na. Wala na.
So ang Marawi ngayon, full blast sila. Tapos dito naman ‘yung mga vessels, foreign vessels plying the international routes are producing shabu on board then placed them in plastic cans and just jettison it outside with the GPS.
So ‘yung mga dito… I’m sorry to say this, but mga Chinese, nilagyan na ‘yang mga GPS tapos ‘yung mga tao nila, kukunin ‘yung — eh may GPS eh. So kita ang pasok ng shabu.
Now, I said noong mayor ako, ang template ko kasi Davao. And I was expecting that this government was really working. Ang pag-tingin ko sa Customs, except for ‘yung mga palusot na ‘yung tara-tara tawag nila.
I did not expect that the — itong Bureau of Customs na ahensya ko was also importing drugs. Kaya paano ko matapos ‘yang six months to one year? Even if you give me my — the whole term.
Hindi ko matapos ‘yan. Pati ‘yung Customs ko na inaasahan ko, nagpapalusot ng droga. O saan pupunta ang Pilipino?
Tapos, the only problem is sabihin nila barbaric daw. Hindi naman tinitingnan ‘yung anong trabaho. Magtanong muna kayo. Ano ‘yung trabaho ng pinatay? At sino ang pumatay?
Or either way, Sino ang pumatay? Bakit niya pinatay? That should be the… Hindi ‘yung, “Sino ‘yung biktima?” “Ah, mahirap ito, anak lang ito ng…”
You know, ang buhay the world is turning, planet Earth. It will not wait for you na sabihin mo, “Kasi anak lang ako ng hold-upper, anak lang ako ng p***. Ganun ang buhay namin.” Mahirap ‘yan.
Q: Sir, picking up on your point, sir. Do you have any information about what the police has already officially told you about the case as far as Kian’s case is concerned? Ano po ‘yung info na nakarating sa inyo?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Yes. Nung nakita ko ‘yung tape, tinawagan ko si Bato. Sabi ko, “Hulihin mo na at kulungin mo.”
Hindi ninyo alam ‘yan kasi hindi ako nagpapa-interview. Seasonal ang gana ko. Pati si Rappler minsan, nagbabaliktad ng ano —
So I had to explain kanina the role of the police and the gangster.
Ganito ‘yan eh, police, ito gangster. If there is a confrontation, the duty of the criminal or ang dapat gawin niya, is to surrender.
Ang pulis naman is to arrest, take the criminal into custody and if there is resistance to overcome the resistance, that is the law. You have to overcome.
Otherwise, you cannot bring him to the police station to start the investigation.
So in other words, kung lumaban, you have to neutralize him. I never ordered also to the police to commit suicide. Mahirap ‘yan.
Kaya ‘yan ang nangyari. Hindi naintindihan. The police is supposed to arrest and take custody of the criminal.
Ikaw ‘yung criminal, you have a duty to surrender and… Kaya because ang duty nito, hindi lang ganun. You have to overcome. Dalin mo sa istasyon.
Q: Sir, does that mean that the police action on the incident, on Kian is justified? Why is it justified?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: No, because the story is yet unfolding. And Aguirre, any moment, sabi niya, “investigate”.
‘Yan ‘yung — may departamento eh. Ang Presidente hindi pwedeng makialam diyan. Kung sabihin ko kay Vit na “Ganun, ganun, ganun lang, huwag ‘yan.” That would be an obstruction of justice and you can get impeached. Impeachable offense ‘yan kaya hindi ko talaga ma —
Sabihin ko doon sa SW na, “Huwag mong ibigay ‘yang pera diyan sa ano, dito mo ibigay.” I cannot do that. Dito ako sa taas.
Ngayon, kung pagkatapos, you need the approval if it’s money, then I approve it. Pero hindi ako pwedeng makialam diyan sa… Hindi pwede talaga. That’s bawal.
Are you satisfied? O sige, o. We’re good until 2 o’clock in the morning.
Q: Sir, short lang naman. Short lang. Sir, okay, would you agree, sir, that there may be in the number of operations that the police had, that there were some abuses by the police? And if so, sir, why do you think that — it can happen?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Cannot — And hindi lahat. Some are… A lot of them are already facing charges in court. Hindi mo mapigilan ‘yan. Because kung hindi dito sa fiscal, diskumpiyado ka, you can always go to the Ombudsman.
The Ombudsman is a constitutional body and nobody but nobody can… Hindi ka pwedeng pumasok diyan. Ombudsman is kagaya ng COA, Ombudsman, Human Rights. Ang Presidente walang ano diyan. They can always say no to you and maybe say that do not do it because you can go to prison.
Pero gusto ko lang malaman ng tao itong interplay. Kaya sinabi ko, if you are a criminal, surrender if you’re asked to surrender, drop your weapon. Because ‘pag ka nagkabarilan na, ‘pag pumutok ‘yung pulis at maraming tinamaan sa bala niya, he is not criminally liable.
I’m telling you know in public and you can ask any lawyer. The liability becomes a government obligation to pay civil damages.
Depende sa tao kung sinong nakapatay. ‘Pag ka pulis, eh hawak-hawak niya M16 eh, brrrrttt.
So spews out a lot of ammunition. ‘Pag tinamaan ‘yung anim doon patay, tinamaan niya ‘yung kriminal in the performance of duty, wala tayong magawa.
Pero ‘pag ang kriminal, mag-baril ng pulis tapos tinamaan niya ‘yung mga tao, he is liable for the death of the police and the — ‘yung collateral damage ng mga tao.
What is the difference? The difference is that you are in the performance of duty. So excusable ‘yung collateral damage mo.
Pero ang criminal, because you are a criminal, pinatay mo ‘yung pulis at ‘pag napatay mo, iyo ‘yan, karga sa iyo ‘yan. That is the rule.
Problem is, hindi maintindihan ng tao na may kriminal dito, the obligation or the duty of the police is to confront and overcome the resistance or if need be patayin ka para madala ka sa istasyon.
That is how these things operate in our country. And I am lecturing you about criminal law.
Q: Sir, good evening, sir. Sir, I just want to ask you about your thoughts on the rejection of the Commission on Appointments, sir, sa — kay former Secretary — DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: They voted secretly. I do not know who voted for and who was against Taguiwalo. And that is the job of Congress as part of the checks and balances in this government.
Checks and balance ‘yan eh. So wala tayong magawa kung i-reject. I do not want to attribute or impute something, motive. It’s a discretion and they voted secret.
Whom am I supposed to — what? It’s not my duty to…
Q: Sir, but do you have a replacement na po for former Secretary Taguiwalo?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: What? A replacement?
Q: Yes, sir. Your next DSWD Secretary.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: I just offered it to Doris Bigornia, ayaw niya. Totoo, I’m not joking.
All that I ask of her is just to work and avoid corruption, period. And enjoy the duty of serving your countrymen.
‘Yan lang lahat ang sinabi ko. Whoever it is or would be, I am asking you just to work sincerely, earn your keep for the day, do not corrupt the money and I would be happy. I would even shake your hand a thousand times.
Q: Sir, are you still inclined to nominate someone from the left? Or to appoint someone from the left to replace?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Are you from the left?
Q: Ay, no sir.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Hindi, ano talaga ‘yan. Sana — Taguiwalo was a worker. But I do not… I said, I do not want to inquire because nobody would tell me the truth anyway.
So because there is nobody I can ask. The voting was secret. So — pero sayang. She was really — at tsaka bright.
Q: Sir, sundutin ko na lang po. Sir, you still don’t have a Secretary for the DILG. Meron na po ba tayong nakikita na — ?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Yes.
Q: Sino po, sir?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Yes, it’s Año. But, Año cannot work as a Secretary because there is a prohibition that he cannot be appointed because he’s a military man but one year after.
So I need his services. Año would be under me. I would make him a senior aide of the Office of the President or whatever. Or undersecretary if that is legally feasible. Ilagay ko lang siya undersecretary but he performs as officer-in-charge.
Q: So for now, sir, no DILG Secretary yet?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: It’s Año. But he has a mission. Sabi ko, “Tapusin mo muna ‘yung Marawi then I want you to go to the DILG.”
There will be a new PDEA chief. It’s General Aaron Aquino, the Regional Commander. He was assigned in Davao. He’s not from Davao. But you know, maraming mahusay talaga sa military. The problem is, I don’t know them personally.
Pero karamihan taga-Davao. But they are not Davaoeños. Along their way, sila Cimatu, they were assigned as division commander, sa regiment.
So nakilala ko sila because I was working also as mayor. Ito si Cimatu, he’s bright. Basa man lang ‘yan. What is mining? What are permissible and what are not permissible?
Hindi naman kailangan ano niyan. Then you… If anything you would like to know, just go to the Internet. Everybo — everything is there.
Ako hindi lang ako marunong mag-ano. Totoo. ‘Yan — that’s my regret actually. I do not know how to operate because there are many things that I want to learn at this time but I have to ask something to do it for me. Na “Pumasok ka doon, tapos find out the word and tell me about it.”
Nandiyan lahat eh. Ang problema lang, si Pia walang panahon. Sabi ko, “Turuan mo ako how to operate ng ganon.” Para tingnan ko kung anong sinusulat niyan. P***, baka bina-backbite na ako.
Q: Hi, sir, magandang gabi po.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Yes, sir? Good to see you.
Q: Yes, sir. Thank you, sir. Anyway, sir, na-mention niyo na thrice ng nag-render ng resignation si —
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Correct. On file.
Q: General Faeldon. Yeah, so any changes? Or have you reconsidered na baka this time ay tanggapin? And even may mga bago yata na mga deputy commissioners —
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: From the tone of his resignation, he’s very disappointed. But I really believe he’s an honest man.
You know, I don’t know if I should tell you this. Long, long before, I mean even two years before nag-decide ako, one of the earliest nagpunta, marami sila, Faeldon, mga generals, they went to Davao.
And they sought an audience with me and sa aming usapan, asked me to run. One of them is Faeldon. And I have watched him. And I have asked people there while he was there.
And I have no reason to really to doubt… Government would need Faeldon. But where? I really do not know. But sabi ko, “You just stay there. You just coast along because I would need the services of a good, honest officer.”
Q: Thank you, sir.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Uy. Parang… It’s too early. Para man itong burol.
Q: Sir, good evening po. Sorry, ‘di na ako makatayo. What is to become of ano po, General Lapeña? Kung papalitan na siya sa PDEA po?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: No, he’s going to be the Commissioner of Customs. General Aaron Aquino, the Regional Commander of Region III sa PNP, will become the PDEA chief.
I am now looking — I’m scouting for — maraming ma-bakante diyan eh. So… But initially, you have the DILG and itong DSWD. Now, maraming nagtanong if it’s a concession to the left?
Hindi naman, but I believe kasi ‘yung mga taong ganon, especially those who are with the — always with the people, they mix it up everytime. They have the ears on the ground and alam nila what’s happening.
Kung magkuha ka ng mayaman, nasa taas, bright, pero wala namang grasp sa reality, and they could not understand really the problems of the poor, and they would never know the sentiments of the people who are really in need of help.
So that’s the problem. So you have — you have to get something na, you know, ‘yung ano doon.
Q: Sir, to put on record lang, you will be accepting the resignation na po of Captain Faeldon, tama po?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Wala na. If I appoint — if I appoint Lapeña, automatic na ‘yun. No need. If somebody is appointed in the position, meaning to say, automatic na ‘yun, umalis ka. But Faeldon, in fairness to him, tried to resign thrice.
‘Yung papel niya, we can show to you. Just… Just remind me, nandiyan tayo sa — diyan, diyan sa Palasyo ninyo.
Q: Sir, saan po —
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Inyo ‘yan. Nandoon, naka-file ‘yung papers niya of resignation.
Q: Saan niyo po ilalagay si Captain Faeldon, sir?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: I don’t know. But I need men of his caliber. Faeldon. I… Si… Naisahan lang siya eh. Alam mo, ang rotten talaga diyan is the system, if I may say so. Not necessarily the person.
But the Bureau of Customs has a rotten system. You need somebody to have a system there. A new one and a competent military man can do it just like General Lapeña.
Kaya niya ‘yan. And I have… General Lapeña enjoys my — my confidence and trust, which is very important. Otherwise, we go back to the same old problem.
If he says that there will be a massive reorganization, sa kanya ‘yan. It’s his decision. Ilagay ko siya diyan.
Sabi niya, “We will reorganize, a massive one.” ‘Yung taga-probinsya, dalhin niya doon, tapos ito itapon niya sa Zamboanga. Baka ang next target ng Maute, ang Zamboanga, eh ‘di doon sila.
Q: Sir… Kailan po ang… Sorry, sir. Kailan po ang effectivity ng transfer ni General Lapeña?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: No. Once the… I have not made it yet. I was there in Davao. I just arrived last night — the other night. But I have decided na ganon.
Alam ni Faeldon that tatanggapin ko. So sabi ko, “Just give me time. Do not hurry me up. Because I have to make decisions and select the proper and appropriate human beings to do it.”
Q: Sir, balikan ko lang po ‘yung insidente kay Kian Delos Santos, sir… Ano… Gusto ko lang malaman, sir, ano po ang take niyo dun sa intelligence information ng Caloocan Police na diumano, sir, itong si Kian ay runner and courier, allegedly, ng drugs, sir?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: You know, in fairness to the one who was killed, I cannot comment on that because there is an investigation. It could — equivocal pa ngayon eh.
If it becomes the theory of the case and there’s the result of the investigation, since we are part of the government, whatever recommendation that the NBI would make will be our take on the case.
If the NBI says that we file charges of murder, then I’m sorry to the policemen or concerned. You’ll have to face the — the justice system. And pagka sinabi na kulungin kayo, kulungin.
At sabi ko, when I said that I am ordering you to go out, ‘yung performance of duty, I did not… I need not lecture on them.
Kasi ‘yang lahat ng police dumaan ng two years ‘yan. Binabakbakan na ‘yan sila diyan sa law of arrest, search, and seizure. Alam nila ang dapat gawin. Hindi ko na kailangan. I do not have the time to lecture on them before they make a raid.
At tsaka wala ako diyan, diyan lang sa police level ‘yan. I make decisions that affect the ‘yung… Kaya ‘yan ang problema diyan. In fairness to the… Kasi may theory nga, ‘yung sinabi mo. In fairness to the whatever, to the police, at this time I am… No, no, no.
So depende na lang kung ano ang ilabas ng NBI. NBI has been always consistent also. It has filed charges against its own people, and against military and police officers.
To me, I am satisfied with the performance of Gierran, the director.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Oo nga, nakalimutan natin pati si Rappler. Walang maintriga ‘yan kung hindi magtanong. Kailangan magtanong ka talaga. Yes?
Q: Sir, doon sa Kian Delos Santos case, sabi ninyo, you’ve always said, you’ve always maintained that if the police were doing their job, you have their backs.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Yes.
Q: And even if they are convicted, ipa-pardon mo sila.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Yes.
Q: ‘Pag mapatunayan, guilty, pardon? ‘Yun ang — ang sabi mo step eh. Now, ‘yung dun sa Kian case, will you pardon them?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: No, because I said the evidence… I saw the evidence. That’s why I called Bato.
Sabi ko kay Bato, “Arestuhin mo at ilagay mo na sa presuhan.” Nang ‘yung Parojinog…
Ako, galit ako sa lahat ng durugista. And when you control a city for two years — two decades, that’s about 20 years, walang tamang election, you terrorize the person, you kill the policemen, and you control the life of everybody, to me, you are a s***.
And I will wipe you from the face of the Earth. Eh s*** eh.
Q: Sir, ‘yung sinasabi niyong evidence against these policemen na nakita ninyo, ang pinakamalakas na nakita niyo ‘yung CCTV?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Only. That’s why I said investigation should… Okay na, okay na.
Sige, sige, sige, magtanong ka. Wala pa namang inaantok dito. Sige. Ibigay mo ‘yung mic sa kanya. Huwag kang mag-alis diyan, isang oras ha?
Q: Last na lang. Hindi, last na lang, sir. Tama ba, Joseph?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Sige, Ina.
Q: ‘Yung kay Faeldon na lang, technically, tinanggap — tatanggapin ninyo ‘yung resignation niya. So sa sobrang — ongoing po ‘yung mga investigation on the BOC. When do you suppose would you be announcing, officially, the appointment of Lapeña?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: No. Anytime. Kasi Congress is doing it, and I will not interfere in the investigation of Congress. In the same manner that they are investigating now the death of… What’s her name? De Leon?
Q: Kian delos Santos.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Ah, Delos Santos. So wala akong ano diyan. Whatever the result of the investigation, we will abide kung ano ‘yan.
If I… See that tama. ‘Yun kasi ‘yung “go out and do your duty”, you are not supposed to commit something which isn’t your duty.
You have no duty to murder a person. To arrest him, and if there is resistance to overcome his arrest, and in the process killing him, ‘yan ang performance of duty.
Pero ‘yung arestado na, nakaupo na diyan, barilin mo, that’s another thing. That is… That would be murder or homicide, whatever. Sige.
Q: Pinakalast na lang po.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Eh kasi binibitawan mo ‘yung mic. Dito ka.
Q: Hindi, sir. ‘Yung decision niyo na ‘yan on the policemen na sinabi mo na hindi gumawa — gumawa ng illegal in the performance of duty…
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: That applies to all. Not only about the policemen and the Delos Santos case.
Q: All right. Hindi po ba kayo natatakot na… Kasi ‘yun ‘yung una ninyong pinaintindi sa mga police na nai-involve sa mga ganyang operation. Hindi kayo natatakot that you will lose their support at hindi na nila gagawin ‘yung kanilang trabaho kasi hindi na daw pala tayo bina-back up-an ng Pangulo dito eh?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Look, we can only agree on what is right and legal. I do not care if you lose your trust in me.
I can stay as President for one year, I can go after two years. I am not… And kagaya ngayon, ang very…
They’re shouting about… Ano ‘yung sabi nila? May sinasabi sila na ‘yung battle cry nila. Himagsikan? Yes, go ahead. Lahat kayong gustong mag…
Ano ‘yun? ‘Yung himagsikan. Do it. I will be glad if you do it because actually the system here is rotten and government also.
Do it. Let us have… Let’s have an upheaval. But since I am in government, magkalaban talaga tayo. But do it. I will be glad if you do it. Upheaval? You go to wa — you want to war against government? Go ahead.
I am encouraging you to take to the streets. Everybody. Sino ‘yung may gusto ng… Ano ‘yun? Himagsikan, sige. Himagsikan is uprising. If you want that, go ahead. You have my blessing. Nobody will stop you in the streets.
But if you take violence as your option, I said go ahead, and let us find out. Kung himagsikan lang kaya… It’s uprising. Kung gusto niyo himagsikan, eh ‘di sige. I am urging all Filipinos who want himagsikan to take part.
Pero ako, since I am just a worker of government, I will just have to protect. If I found… If I found… Or if I find or found out later that I am the only one defending the government, then I would be happy to go down. Walang problema ‘yan. Wala akong illusions diyan about staying for five years.
Go ahead. Himagsikan. It is an uprising. I encourage you to do it. At lahat ng Pilipino na naniwala diyan sa kabila, then you participate in the rally. And I assure you, I will even send trucks there for your transportation.
Mag-ano ako. Kung mag-request sila ng sasakyan. I will… Just tell me when, kasi ipa-parking ko diyan sa Luneta to — para masakyan. Where do you want to go?
Go ahead. I am waiting for that actually. So that there will be a change of President and everything. And perhaps the new generation will come up with something that is — a government that is really working.
Q: [inaudible] bloodshed?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Sinabi ko… Coup d’état? No need for the military to fight the PSG. Puro sundalo ‘yan sila. Magka-classmate ‘yan sila diyan sa Academy eh, PMA.
Bakit kayo magpatayan? Sabihin lang ninyo kung gusto ninyo. At kung junta ang gusto ninyo? Sige, dito. And I will swear them into office.
Do not fight. And it’s not because I’m afraid. They can shoot me after. But do not engage in coup d’état na magbabarilan kayo ng…
Pero ngayon, kung mayroong uprising, the least that I could do is really to say my word. Go ahead. ‘Yun talaga gusto ninyo, huwag na ninyong sayangin ‘yang demonstration mag-shout-shout. Go ahead and up…
Tapusin na natin itong istorya. Ako gusto ko, tapusin na. Uprising, go ahead. Please go ahead. Lahat ng Pilipino hindi naniwala sa pulis nila o ayaw maniwala sa akin, go ahead. You have my blessing.
Coup d’état? Hindi na kailangan. All Año has to do or ‘yung commanding generals ng Armed Forces, all they have to do is to come here or tell me, “You step down.” Ibigay ko.
Yes, Erwin?
Q: Sir. Mr. President, do you agree, because some of our netizens, ‘yung mga tao, they are thinking na masyadong pinalaki na itong issue ni Kian, naging of national interest. Do you agree na sabi ng ilan na ginagamit na lang ito ng mga kalaban mo, ginagamit ng opposition, ginagamit ng mga pulitiko, ginagamit ng mga dilaw, everybody who is ika nga, upset with you at ayaw sa gobyerno mo is using the death of Kian? What can you say about that, sir?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Yes, and all others. I cannot discount the possibility, sabi ko nga, in my reply that there is a possibility that in some of the police incidents, arrests, there could be abuses. I admit that.
Pero ‘yung gusto nila to put me down, I am, I said, very much willing to — to encourage them to do it.
Ngayon, ‘pag sabi ng… Ano ang sabihin ng taga-gobyerno? That we will have to defend the Republic, then that is the time that I said, “I have the sworn duty to protect the people and defend the Republic.”
Alam mo ang droga, pasok sa likod, pasok by air, pasok diyan sa Mindanao, nagluluto diyan sa Visayas. If this country will go to the dogs, then remember me.
Pagka nawala ako tapos ganito ang sitwasyon, then remember me. Remember my warning that I have to do this because I have to protect the people.
Wala ‘yang Constitution. I, Rodrigo Duterte, and so this… I swear to protect the people and defend the Republic of the Philippines.
Q: Sir, one last…
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Kung ‘yung gustong sumunod sa’kin ng military, sumunod kayo. Kung ayaw ninyo, ‘di sabihin ninyo. Maybe you can do better.
O ‘pag namatay ako, nag-crash ganon, bantayan lang ninyo because then ‘pag… If this country, I said, will go to the dogs, you will remember me.
Sino bang gustong pumatay? This is… Presidency is about election. Pulitiko kami. But noon pa. Remember… People of the Philippines, remember this: You have heard me in the campaign, what was my promise? Three things. So that in all of my public addresses, ito lang ang sinabi ko.
If I become the President, I will stop the scourge of drugs. I will stop corruption in the government. And I will make this country stable by going after criminals. Gun for hire, ‘yan. Mga… Pati ‘yung mga pulis, ‘yung kidnapping. ‘Yung pulis na mag-aresto tapos sabay kidnap.
Saan ka makakita dito ng pulis na mag-raid tapos may pirma na? Raket nila ‘yan. Alam ko ‘yan eh. P****i**. Huwag mo akong… Meron na ‘yung deed of sale. P****i** niyo, hindi niyo ako kaya. T*****i** kayong pulis kayo, you will find that you are far more worse than — sa drugs. Because you are destroying the credibility of government.
Then when the government is not credible anymore, nobody will obey government and government will collapse. Kaya kayong mga pulis, pati lahat kayo, ‘yang style ninyo, kasi pagdating ng pagka-pulis, gusto ninyo ng mga kotse, Land Cruiser… Alam niyo, prangkahan lang, hindi kayo bagay diyan eh.
Your status in life. Iniinsulto ko na kayo. You’re not supposed to be riding in a Land Cruiser. Masyadong corny ‘yan. Alam ng taong hanggang diyan ka lang. Hindi kita iniinsulto.
Dinoble ko ang sweldo ninyo. Kayo ang inuna ko. By next year, double ang salary nila. Every month, tumataas nang tumataas. By January 1, halos… Kung 25,000 siya, you get 50,000.
Kung ‘yun ang ipakita mo sa’kin, mga p*****i** ninyo, talagang hahabulin ko kayo. I would be placing 2 million per head. Two million. Alalahanin ninyo, may pamilya kayo. Alam namin kung saan kayo nakatira.
Alam ko kung saan ‘yung bahay ng kabit ninyo. Abangan ko lang kayo doon. Get them. Two million. Basta may warrant. Kidnapping, murder for hire, sa pulis, two million, automatic ‘yan.
Who pays? The people of the Republic of the Philippines. Where do I get it? Intelligence fund. Two million? Marami akong two million.
Q: Sir, one last question. Do you have any message doon po sa mga nagda-doubt sa inyong administrasyon? Doon po sa kontra. ‘Yun, alam na ho natin, mga dilawan, mga human rights, and all these politicos on the other side. What is your message, sir?
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Okay. Ganito ‘yan. My message to the people of the Philippines. I am not as brilliant as the American President, Lincoln. But that guy was responsible for the abolition of slavery. It was a very noble task and he succeeded.
Meron siyang phrase na gustung-gusto ko. The equivalent of that in my religion is the Ecclesiastes 3. There is a time for everything. There is always a time to be President and a time for you to fall. If that is what God wants.
Ito namang kay Lincoln, he said, “If I were to try to read much less answer all attacks on me, the shop — the Office of the President — might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very best I know how, the very best I can, and I mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what is said against me won’t amount to anything. But if the end brings me out wrong, ten angels of God swearing I am right would make no difference.”
So I cannot answer everybody. Basta gawin ko lang ang ginawa ko. I made… I didn’t even mention econ — last ‘yung economy.
Because I know that if I win, I can always get the support of my — mga childhood friends. ‘Yan si Dominguez, kababata ko ‘yan. Same subdivision. Kindergarten pa kami, hanggang nag-high school kami, hanggang pumunta ng Amerika ‘yan, nag-aral. He was a consistent scholar. Valedictorian.
Ako? Nandiyan ako sa one of the 10. Pero magbilang ka dito sa last — 45 man kami sa klase, 45, 44, 43, nandiyan ako.
Last 10, lowest. Hindi highest. Pero at least one of the 10 ako sa last. And that is good. Hindi first 10, last 10 ako.
Pero okay na ‘yan. Kasi nakaabot man ng college. At sa awa ng Diyos. Bigornia.
Hoy, Rappler, sa awa ng Diyos, Presidente naman. So okay lang. O ‘di okay.
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