Media Interview with President Rodrigo Roa Duterte following his attendance to the 120th Founding Anniversary of the Philippine Army
HPA, Grandstand, Fort Andres Bonifacio, Taguig City
04 April 2017

Q: Sir, what happened to Sueno? Sino ang papalit sa kanya?

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: I’m still scouting for another talent.

Q: Sir, si Bongbong Marcos? Bongbong?

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: You know, I don’t know… He would have abandoned his appeal. Mabitawan niya. If you’re appointed to a position, mawawalan siya ng, wala na, for intents and purposes, wala na.

Q: Sir, why did you lose your confidence to Secretary Sueno?

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Isa lang naman talaga ang ayaw natin diyan sa… I do not have to belabor the point.

Just remember my promises to the people: no corruption, droga, criminality, and I will improve the economy. Select the best answer na lang kayo diyan.

Q: Sir, totoo nga na ano medyo na hindi niyo nagustuhan ‘yung nakarating sa inyo na — may sinabi daw po si Sec Sueno sa DILG ‘yung loyalty — ?

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: No, no, it’s not that. That’s too shallow. Even if it is true, I will not dismiss a guy for that alone. Pang-ano lang ‘yan, pang-dagdag lang ‘yan sa… Minsan ganon eh. Saan ka ba? Para bang sino bang superior ninyo? Sometimes you overdo things by using another set of language pero hindi ‘yan. So that’s corruption.

Q: Confidential memo daw na sinend daw po sa inyo?

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: No, I was able to read the records of the case. There is a previous purchase of this government by the previous administration, ang truck. There was a grant that you have provided trucks on them.

You know when it is a grant, the moment they say that it is a grant to Republic of the Philippines, that belongs to the people of the Republic.

At that moment, it cannot be used for international commitment. You have to go to bidding and all of these things because it’s already the money of the government.

And when you continue to buy things, the same price even if the first set of [inaudible]still the same, still the same story.

Q: [inaudible] May criminal liability po ba si — ?

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: I don’t know. Bakit siya pumunta doon? Why not signed the papers here? [inaudible] Kasi ibinigay, grant eh, grant is hatag.

Q: Iyong sa pabahay, baka — ‘yung worry ng iba baka [inaudible]?

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Nag-warning na ako sa kanila. A warning is a warning. If you will not receive the same… They will not… Alam mo ang tao mapagbigay pero huwag mo namang sobrahan.

Ako kasi eh sabi ko military pati pulis tapos mag-away-away may mga baril ito eh. Eh kung initan, agawan nila talagang… Sabi ko kung ganon kayo, ibigay mo na sa kanila ‘yan tutal ‘yung gawain ko sa kanila para sa — para ‘yan sa pulis talaga, wala ng makapasok ‘yung mas maganda.

Iyong reklamo ng pulis na ayaw nila doon sa mga bahay na nagawa, i-correct ko ‘yon para wala na ‘yan. Kasi meron mga reklamo eh. So para wala ng gulo at saka mahirap ang mga ‘yan.

Q: Isang beses lang ang pagpaparaya ninyo?

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Well, because I do not want to magka-pukpukan pa, magka-samaan ng loob. Sige, ibigay mo na lang tutal meron pa namang panahon sa buhay. Sabi ko, I will build them a new one. Tinanong ko ‘yung NHA, sabi nila, ‘may pera pa.’

Q: [inaudible] 

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: I do not accept awards actually.

Q: [inaudible] sa tao natin sa gobyerno… 

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Matagal ko na ‘yan, ma’am. Campaign pa ‘yan. I said there will be no corruption in this government. And I will suppress drugs. I will stop criminality in this country. Hindi ko na kailangan i-remind ‘yan. 

Q: [inaudible] 

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Eh gusto ko na nga minsan gumawa sila ng… 

Q: Sige, sir, salamat, sir. Thank you.

—END—