MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday (July 22) advised Filipinos to “be assertive,” and “make a scene” when they encounter corrupt officials.
In his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasan Pambansa, Duterte called on Filipinos to help fight corruption in the government by being assertive and making a scene in the government office when they are asked for more than the required payment.
“Kayo rin kasi sinasabi ko na sa’yo, be assertive. At ‘pag kayo hiningan more than the required payment by the government, again I’m telling you, mag-iskandalo kayo sa opisina,” the president said.
(I am telling you, be assertive. And when you are asked for more than the required payment by government, again I’m telling you, make a scene in the office.)
“Make a scene, sampalin mo ‘yang mga ya** na ‘yan kasi aabot rin sa akin ‘yan,” he added.
(Make a scene, slap that person because that report will reach me.)
The president even gave a line that Filipinos may use when dealing with a corrupt official: “[Ang sabi] ni Duterte that if you extort money from me, I will slap you. At sampalin talaga ninyo. Di na bale magka-away. I will defend you.”
The chief executive said he has punished corrupt officials at the Malacañang Palace.
“Ako magprangka sa inyo. Ako lang ang presidente na hanggang ngayon nambubugbog ng tao. Pinapakain ko ng pera ‘yang mga ya** na ‘yan,” he said.
(I will be frank with you. I am the only president who until now beats people. I make them eat bills.)
He also encouraged Filipinos to report corrupt government officials through hotline 8888.
“Be sure that it is true. Though you are not liable for libel, pero ‘wag naman ‘yang makasakit ka ng tao na wala namang kasalanan (but don’t make a report that would only hurt innocent people),” he said.
Duterte, in his speech, also expressed frustration and lamented that corruption in the government remains “pervasive,” despite his crackdown against erring public officials.
“I have fired or caused the resignation of more than a hundred officials and appointees of government without regard to relationship and friendship and alliance,” he said.
Last week, Duterte met with personnel and officials of the Bureau of Customs tagged in corruption allegations to tell them they will be facing administrative raps before the Office of the Ombudsman.
“There is no sacred cow, as the saying goes, in my administration,” he said.
In his last three years in office, Duterte has pledged to run after government officials tagged in corrupt practices.
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