By Edith Regalado and
Christina Mendez (The Philippine Star) | Updated October 9, 2016 - 12:00am
“I am opening a new daily
program over PTV 4 that will be aired every morning and it will do nothing but
run the complaints texted to the hotline that will be sent directly to
Malacañang,” the President said during the National Banana Congress held at the
SMX Convention Center at the SM Lanang Premiere here on Friday afternoon. “Just
let me know if there is corruption in a city hall, in the (application of)
business permit…During my time (as mayor of Davao City), these are processed in
three days.” Ace Morandante
DAVAO CITY, Philippines –
To get rid of corruption in government, President Duterte will open an
anti-corruption text hotline and the complaints will be aired every morning
over government-run PTV 4.
“I am opening a new daily
program over PTV 4 that will be aired every morning and it will do nothing but
run the complaints texted to the hotline that will be sent directly to
Malacañang,” the President said during the National Banana Congress held at the
SMX Convention Center at the SM Lanang Premiere here on Friday afternoon.
“Just let me know if
there is corruption in a city hall, in the (application of) business
permit…During my time (as mayor of Davao City), these are processed in three
days.”
Duterte said he needs the
help of every Filipino in the fight against corruption.
“I am pleading to the
people. I promised you no corruption. But if I do not get your help, if you
surrender, then there is nothing I can do. All you have to do is text what
office, whether local or national, who is the official causing the delay, and I
will call him or her to go to Malacañang for them to explain why,” he said.
“If you do not help me, I
cannot erase corruption. I cannot just go to any office and start asking
anybody…You have to tell me.
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“If you do not help me
ferret out the bad guys, don’t complain,” he added.
The President also warned
pranksters, saying they would be dealt with accordingly.
“I don’t like anybody
fooling me. I don’t like you to fool me because I used to fool around,” he said
in jest, recalling how his mother used to punish him by having him kneel on
munggo seeds as he faced the altar.
Duterte said that all he
wants is to have a good name.
“There is no issue
against me with regard to graft and corruption. Women, yes, but money, no,” he
said.
He asked where he would
bring the money when he does not have anything to spend it on. He noted that he
could not even get out of Malacañang or go anywhere without the President
Security Group following him.
Duterte remains baffled
why corruption is prevalent in government transactions despite his stern
warning to government officials and employees that they will face his wrath if
they will not stop their wrongdoings.
“I cannot understand
really and so I’d like to know where the corruption is still prevalent,” he
said.
He lamented anew that the
country would not progress if corruption and criminality are not properly
addressed.
“What could bring us down
is really corruption and criminality,” he said.
The President announced
his anti-corruption campaign after he received international condemnation for
his bloody war against drugs, which was marked by alleged summary killings and
human rights abuses.
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