(Eagle News) – President Rodrigo Duterte admitted that he was “frustrated” when he said he was ready to resign because of the numerous and almost non-stop reports of corruption in government, including those in the military’s medical services.
Duterte said that what frustrated him most was the investigation report that military officials that targeted millions of funds he had allocated for the medical and health expenses of wounded and sick soldiers.
“Alam mo mapatawad kita kung magsabi lang ng overpriced. Pero yang medisina sa sundalo or any patient, Filipino for that matter na mag-asa na mag-inom na mag-inom, naghihintay ng medisina na wala, ay p …. talagang puputok ako diyan!” he said in a speech on Friday, Aug. 17.
“I was so exasperated. Hanggang kailan ba ‘to? Nakakasuka. That’s why during the command conference, I was not addressing to these idiots outside. It was a pure military affair. It was a command conference. Sabi ko, kung ganito lang naman, bakit ako magsakripisyo nang ganito? Matanda na ako tapos araw-araw may ganito. Paano ko habulin itong….kaloko,” he said.
Duterte explained that he had just fired then all board members of the Nayong Pilipino Foundation because its anomalous deal regarding a 75-year contract for the building of a casino and resort in Manila, when he learned that there was another anomaly where military officials had victimized funds meant for wounded soldiers.
“You know, I was frustrated. But remember that I was addressing myself to the military and the police and nobody else. Iyong narinig ninyo was an afterthought,” he said.
-P100 million a month-
“And I was exasperated. I was busy fixing the Nayong Pilipino. And of course, they were all my friends. That‟s why dumating sila eh, doon sa opisina na yun. And here comes the military, binubulungan ako ngayon niyang opisyal na, “Mayor sorry pero may…”
Duterte said that what he gave to the military was P100 million a month which was what the military officials had requested for the medical and health expenses of the sick and wounded soldiers, which was the same amount he had given the Philippine General Hospital to take care of the poor and the needy.
“And the irony of it all, is that itong, itong — the general that I fired. Also asked for the same amount, same privileges, P100 million… kung pumayag daw ako, di P100 million a month, bilyonaryo „yun, isang taon lang,” he said.
“And all others I said — no, no, no. Sabi ko kay Galvez, ‘You fire them tapos have them court-martialed para ang kaharap niya kapwa niya sundalo. He will be facing his peers.’ Doon siya tumingin siya tumingin sa mata sa mga taong niloko nila.”
The President has ordered the “relief and court-martial proceedings against top military brass,” including Brig. Gen.Edwin Leo Torrelavega, commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Health Service Command, and Col. Antonio Punzalan, commander at the V. Luna Medical Center.
The chiefs of the health service command’s management and fiscal office and the logistics office were also ordered relieved over alleged anomalous equipment purchases.
“Ano kaya gusto ninyo mag-resign ako ngayon? I am challenging you, every one of you to — kung sinong interesado, just stand up. What’s the — stand up and sabihin mo.,” Duterte said.
“If ang Air Force, Navy, Marines, Police, lahat kayo major commands magsabi, ‘Bumaba ka.’ Fine. .. mas pagod ako sa inyo. And kayo sabi ko, because I will — you will, after I shall have stepped down, magulo yan. Magulo,” he said explaining what will happen if he resigns.
Duterte then challenged the military and police to do its work, warning them not to be involved in corruption, as he would not let them to get away with it.
“You know, I was elected by the people. Iyong military, may trabaho sila gawin mo. Iyong police, hanggang karami pang kalokohan, you better shape up because I will rise and fall sa issue ng corruption. Ang police maraming atraso….. Sinabi ko na sa inyo, tama na,” he said.
The President first told business leaders in his speech in Malacanang on Tuesday, August 14, of his readiness to resign saying that he was tired and exasperated. He said he had realized he could not eradicate corruption and crimes within his term as he had promised during his presidential campaign.
(Eagle News Service)