Malacañang Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

The following is the transcript of the speech of the President during the Malacañang Christmas Tree lighting ceremony held on 5 December 2016.

SPEECH OF PRESIDENT RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE

DURING THE CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY

Malacañan Palace Grounds

December 5, 2016

Kindly sit down. ‘Pag nandito na ako, sit down na kayo.(laughter)

Secretary Medialdea and the members of the Cabinet; Davao City councilors whoare here, who are sojourn; officials and employees of the whole Malacañan; my beloved countrymen.

Expect to pass to this world but once,therefore any good that I can do to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again. (applause)

That’s the words in our dormitory. And, almost all of, maybe all of us memorize this. It’s written anonymous but of recently I found out, then, I forgot the name but somebody really wrote it.

I plead for the unity of the country, that we shall be freed of the communal wars. I plead for the next generation that there will be Filipinos able, competent, healthy, and good.

I plead for peace so that our citizens can move around anytime of the day or night. And I ask everybody in government that together, we will stop corruption, the very reason why until now, we are still in the runway and we have been running at full length towards the stretch, and until now, the Philippines has not really progressed for so many years.

We are having talks in Oslo now and they will be leaving for Norway tomorrow. At nandito si Secretary Bello, and of course, si Angging, who really very funny, but they are all from the Left, but they are representing the country of the Philippines in Oslo, vis-à-vis across the table with the communists.

And I have no doubt that these two lawyers, all Filipinos, will not really abandon the things that we crave for our country.

I know that ‘yung mga left, may hangarin para sa ating bayan. Eh ako noon, I used to cross the ideological border because I was a student once and I saw the inequity, the sense of you lessness of the Filipino.Nakita ko rin ‘yung the other side, how should it be in government.

Alam mo, we have to continue and even now they’re asking for the release of 130 political prisoners.Sabi ko, “cannot. I cannot give you that.” I’m sorry but I have already conceded so much on the side of the government. But you’re going back tomorrow and if you can show me a document signed by the Republic of the Philippines representatives at ‘yung mga komunista, then I will release the 120, 30 plus more becauseby asking that how many are there still beyond 70 years old and those suffering from an incurable diseases at this time, may cancer or kidney or anything, and if they are ready to be released and will be accepted by the families, i-release ko na before Christmas time. (applause)

There’s really no point in detaining a person na matanda na, tapos may sakit. I find it something not—it’s a very awkward feeling, uncomfortable ako. So ‘yung lahat ng matatanda, may sakit, umalis na kayo.

And we are also talking to the MILF, talking to the MN. And the MILF has shown its sincerity to talk to us about peace.

Nur Misuari chooses to be different. But he has said that he will work with us in government to find peace. So maligaya ako, except for the extremists, actually.

That would really be a danger to our country in the days to come. And they showed an example of what they intend to do and was there inButig, occupying every government building, and raising the flag of ISIS.

Ako, sabi ko, I really do not want to fight, more than I do not want to kill. It’s not a good thing to be killing people. We cannot build a country over the bones of our fellow countrymen.

And what is really very disheartening is you would see Filipinos killing each other. I don’t really relish it, it’s not something that I would want my country, especially that I am the President of this Republic.

Sana lang naman, makinig sila and we will somehow prospect things that would improve their side. We can only guess. Ano nang—naghahanap kami ng paraan para ma-accommodate kayo.

And if just hang on to that promise that we are looking below and above ground for a compromise and all of these things.

Now, dito sa—I promised you corruption na it should, it shall stop and it will. Maniwala kayo. I will go hard against corruption. (applause) Talagang I got a five billion check from PAGCOR and, well, half of it all ibinigay ko kay—Well, of course they can, it’s Ms. Secretary Taguiwalo or the—yung sa DSWD or whatever, ‘yung sa Health, si Ms. Ubial. Ibigay ko sa inyo. And I want every Filipino holding a reseta of a doctor that could not find the money to buy the medicines, sabi ko, ‘ibigay ninyo ‘yang two billion na ‘yan this Christmas’. (applause)

Sabi ko na, “Ma’am, inyo na ‘to. Just see to it that it is not, the money is not lost along the way, that no corruption will take place.”

I’m willing to, sabi ko, ‘itong, two billion, iyo na ‘yan at ibigay ko sa inyo.’ Lahat ng Pilipino, nakikinig ngayon. Its just that I think I got the check somewhere, sometime, four days ago. And by this time, it should be ready for assistance.

So kayong Pilipinas, nakikinig sa akin ngayon. May mga reseta kayo, go to the DSSD or hanapin mo ang inyong city health or the hospital itself and we will buy the medicines for you.(applause)

So, dito sa nation-building. We are talking about peace but let me repeat my promise: There will be no corruption, I promise that. So it shall have to happen. (applause)

Then I said, drug or the drug industry must be extinguished and I am working on it, plus the criminality that has resulted into this kind of illegal activity that has produced four million addicts.

You must remember that I entered Malacañan on a midterm halos, and you must remember that the program, or the previous administration was really to spend several—bottoms up. So I am left only with the operating money to run this entity. Wala akong pera kaya noong pumuto, and nobody really realized na ganun kalala.

Of course, in Davao City, it was less of a problem because I was very strict. And my motto then, I call it a motto was that: Do not destroy my country because I will kill you. And do not tinker with our youth, do not deprive us of the next generation, ‘yung susunod sa atin, huwag mong lokohin ang mga bata. At, you know, you are not strangers of what I am saying. So, nangyari.

Now, it happens now of this incident, gusto kong magprangka sa inyo. Iyong mayor na who was served a warrant and then there was a shootout.

Some say extrajudicial killing, talagang pinatay daw. Look, may mga criticisms sa akin, I accept it, that’s part of a territory of being a President. But do not force me, to criticize me, to force me to believe, ‘yung mga theory at mga assumption even with the witnesses na pinatay ‘yung mayor sa loob ng presuhan. Rather as the head of government and the Chief Executive, the police is under me. So the PNP Chief is under my supervision and control.

I do not have to explain to you, the whole Republic of the Philippines and the critics, why I made the order for him just to sit down and do not remove him. Well, actually, Marcos was eventually removed. But I was there, iyong talagang inalis na. Sabi ko, “No, ilagay mo ‘yan siya diyan, may purpose.” Sabi ko, “Huwag ka nang magtanong.” Protocol? Wala naman, we’re all government employees. What do you mean protocol? I ordered the transfer or the retention and you asked me about protocol. There is no such thing as protocol.

When there is absolute control and supervision, I can modify, amend, revoke any order in this Executive Department. Congress and Supreme Court, wala tayong pakialam. But as President, I do not have to give you the rationale or the reason why I ordered your reinstatement right away. It was not reinstatement that was before. Actually it was hold, ‘i-hold mo ‘yung order mo.’ Kasi I have a purpose there. Huwag ka nang magtanong kung ano.

And ngayon lumalabas, well, of course, ako ang number one tuloy. So, they are questioning my motive. Na ganun raw, I knew before, now they are assuming that maybe, I knew about the operation. Then now, ang bago nila is ako ang nag-utos sa loob. Whatever the reason be, that’s my discretion. I promise the police and the military: Do your duty, go out and find for these criminals, arrest them if possible. But if they offer a violent resistance, and you think that your life is in danger, patayin mo. And that is my order until now.

Now, sabi ng pulis, pag-serve nila ng warrant, lumaban at binaril nila. Tama. And I believe you, because the police is under the Executive branch of the government. Akin. So, sabi ko sa kanila: “Do not worry. Magtrabaho lang kayo. Just obey ‘yung order ko na look for them and hunt for them. Sundin lang ninyo at ako ang lahat mananagot. I will answer for it personally.” Walang washing of the hands, walang—Akin iyon. So, if you want to do something about it, fine.

You want to demonstrate? I give you the streets, 365 days a year, 30 days in a month, seven days including Sundays, you can demonstrate, just do not do violent things. Wala akong problema. Sabihin nila, gusto ninyo akong patayin, tanggalin? You know, I believe in destiny. I didn’t have the money, I didn’t have the machinery. Bilisan ko na lang. But I really do not know why, dumating ako dito. Really. Ngayon, dumating ako dito. Pag hanggang dalawang buwan lang ako dito, dalawang taon, isang taon, that is part of my destiny. Ngayong destiny is God, iyon ang ibinigay sa akin ng Diyos, mag-Presidente ka hanggang isang taon ka lang, mawala ka, eh that’s good.

But let me remind everybody, nag-uulan na eh, let’s go. May Cabinet meeting pa kami, pinutol namin. We have a lot of things to discuss.

I told you before, I will repeat: I will protect the citizens of this country who are law abiding. I will end up the drugs. My orders are: Destroy the apparatus that has really damaged the Republic of the Philippines. Dumating na ‘to, walang tao mabuti’t na lang at may good souls who contributed money for that facility in Fort Magsaysay; good for 10,000. Nagpapasalamat ako sa Diyos wala talaga akong maibigay na ganun. Sabi ko, hanggang ano lang ako, operating. I cannot get the money from the DND and give it to the Health and say, ‘magtayo kayo,’ because that could be robbing Peter to pay Paul. Pag isang purpose dito, tanggalin mo, ibigay mo sa iba. That ain’t the way.

So ganito, it will remain to the last day of my term and for as long as there are drug pushers and drug lords, when they shall have been exterminated, then I would say to you: Craft the federal type of government, the centerpiece of my candidacy. You will never find peace in this country believe me. As President I’m telling you. We cannot be at peace with ourselves or with our brother, all Moro, all Lumads, whatever. Mag-aaway talaga tayo.

And so, we have to somehow adjust to this fact. And I’m telling you, let us greet each other Merry Christmas. Will—wala akong—it’s not a question of love for my country and love of my people. I’ll be—I’ll be not doing this things were if not for.

So kayong mga ano, I don’t really care if you—Magdasal kayo na mawala ako. If I go out next month, that is part of being the believer of God. I give you this destiny. You’ll be President of your country, but unfortunately, hanggang anim na buwan ka lang. Then, so be it.

For the Filipino people, yung mga, lalo na ‘yung mga brother natin na mga Moro ngayon, As-salam alaykum. Join us in this celebration. kasi doon sa Mindanao, sinasabi ko talaga, mixed. When I say mixed, you mix. That is why, kung magsunog doon, I will try to rebuild the houses, dito Maranao, dito Bisaya, dito Tagalog, dito—Ang cluster nila is mixed.

In Davao, wala kami. I do not allow anybody to preach about ‘yung mga, kung ano-ano sa Katoliko, pati rin sa Islam. Do not debate in public. Just go to your church and pray however you want it.

So, with that, I will say to you all. So we are nearing the 2017. Tutal, ‘yung mga nasa opposition, maghintay lang kayo. Hindi naman, tutal naghintay man rin sila. So hintayan tayo and you’ve had your days. Ngayon, kung sabihin mo na, you continue with just, you know, forget it. Ako talaga, straightforward ako, diretso until wala nang Pilipino maging gago at walanghiyain tayo. You want to worry me about the 3,000? You want me to worry about the son of a bitch? Tapos with four million Filipino addicted? Anak ka ng—

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. ●