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“And, itong, my stand, ang katayuan ko sa droga, pati corruption. I’ll just say sadly really na hindi ako aatras dito,” the President said in his speech before prosecutors in Angeles City, Pampanga on Wednesday, April 5.

“I will be a bit harsh and I will never compromise dito sa bagay na ‘to,” he said at the 29th annual convention of the Prosecutors League of the Philippines held at Royce Hotel & Casino.

The President also affirmed that as head of the government he will address the country’s problems.

“My oath sa Constitution and my swear to God, andyan lahat yan. What is it? I’ll give you an honest answer. It’s just a simple sentence. I am the President at this time and I get to solve the problems that were known only by now,” he said.

The Chief Executive noted that the beginning and the end of being President is to preserve the Filipino nation.

In the same speech, Duterte assured the prosecutors that their promotions will be based on merits.

“So I leave you with the message that we can work together and it’s gonna be a merit system. I will never, never allow politics to set in,” the President said.

“Kaya kung kayo for promotion or anything, huwag na kayong maghingi ng rekomendasyon sa politiko, talagang gaganunin ko ‘yan. Stand on your merit,” he said.

Meanwhile, the President said he has talked to Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza and government panel chief negotiator Silvestre Bello III.

“So ‘yung land reforms suportado ko hanggang ngayon and I just had a talk with the, just before pababa dito, Dureza and Bello called me. May ganon ganon nag-usap sila,” he said.

He instructed the two Cabinet officials to tell Jose Maria Sison that he can come home and will be given a freedom of movement.

“Sabi ko you know you tell Sison because he is sick, he’s very sick. He can come home. I’ll give him a free… freedom of movement. I will not arrest him. I’ll even pay for his facilitation kung gusto niya,” he said.

“But there are these three things that I will not. Una is to stop the revolutionary tax. Napapahiya ako eh. So if you continue, engkwentro talaga tayo diyan,” the President noted.

He also cited the release of prisoners and the claiming of territory.

“Second is release all prisoners. Sabi nila within the next two days. Third is do not claim any territory in this, may-ari as an administrator of government ako ang may ari ng lahat ng lupa dito. Do not claim any territory,” he further explained.

“Kasi pagpasok ng mga sundalo at sibilyan sabihin man nila na eh pumasok siya sa teritoryo namin… Then guarantee of a ceasefire that’s not… That’s more or less substantial on the parameters really established,” the President said.###PND

“So nakikiusap na ako sa inyo as your President na ibigay na lang natin sa kanila, sa Kadamay and do not worry because I will build you a better one,” Duterte told the soldiers during his visit at Camp General Artemio Ricarte.

The President was referring to the group Kadamay who occupied vacant housing units in resettlement area in Pandi, Bulacan intended for the military and policemen.

“Huwag kayo magsama ng loob tutal ang naibigay naman natin sa ating kapwa Pilipino eh at saka mahirap rin. But it doesn’t mean to say that government, ako, has forgotten you. I said I commit to you now na may magdating sa inyo na bago at mas maganda,” he added.

The Chief Executive pledged that the resettlement sites will have water and electricity unlike the housing projects of the previous administrations.

Aside from houses, the President also promised to provide firearms to the uniformed service.

He said he does not want soldiers to walk around Mindanao without guns. (These) “hopefully will bolster your sense of security and vigilance,” he said.

Prior to his speech, the President witnessed the planting of a narra tree named “Dutertree” in front of the headquarters of the Western Command.

DUTERTE ON THE WEST PHILIPPINE SEA

The Chief Executive attended a situation briefing led by Western Command Commander Lt. Gen. Raul del Rosario at the News Conference Room: on various security updates on West Philippine Sea; developments in Recto Bank involving other claimant countries; oil explorations; and sustained peace efforts on Internal Security Operations in Palawan.

Meanwhile, the President told reporters that he has instructed the Armed Forces of the Philippines to occupy the islands in the West Philippine Sea during the situation briefing.

“Well, the usual. We tried to be friends with everybody but we have to maintain our jurisdiction now, at least the areas under our control. And I have ordered the Armed Forces to occupy all — these so many islands, I think nine or 10 — lagyan ng structures and the Philippine flag,” he said.

He also threw his full support to the development of the Pag-asa airport.

“Gagastos ako diyan sa fortifications diyan because I want to — including the Benham Rise on the right side of the Philippines in the Pacific,” he said, adding that he will officially claim it as ours and rename it as “Philippine Ridge”.

“Kasi parang ridge…continuous kasi ang continental shelf diyan sa baba eh…it connects one ridge to another,” the President explained.

DUTERTE TO FIRE MORE CORRUPT OFFICIALS

The Chief Executive said he is eyeing to dismiss more erring government workers.

“Mag-dismiss pa ako ng marami. I have dismissed about 92, karamihan sa mga LTFRB, LTO,” he said. ###PND