Also calls on public to report any “insinuation” of graft by any govm’t employee, official
(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte surmised on Tuesday that the war in Marawi would be over in “10 to 15 days,” noting that there were certain things that he had missed out on, like the enemies’ arsenal that appeared to not run out.
“Di naman sa nahirapan tayo .Ang di ko talaga ano, namiss namin is, karami ng armas. Di maubusan. This is the 45th, 46th day, di maubos ubos, lalo na grenades,” Duterte said in a speech before the Philippine Stock Exchange office in Makati.
“(Pero)…palagay ko 10 to 15 days ok na,” he added.
In his speech, he emphasized he wanted to visit his troops “while there was fighting” in the war-torn city, just to see how they were doing.
According to Duterte, “the other day” he attempted to go to the city, but “Marawi has always been a rainy place.”
“I was encircling Marawi (but) could not land, go down nearer, baka matsambahan kami ng Barrett na cal 50. pag tinamaan gas namin. But i really wanted to ..maski magpakita lang doon. Maski tamaan ka dito lang, sa likod…, wag lang sa harap,” he said, eliciting laughter from the audience.
He said he wanted to make the visit because it was he who gave the order for the military and the police to go to Marawi to “go there and fight and die.
“Not for braggadocio. Gusto kong pumunta dun, makita ko sundalo, really..Be there while they are still fighting,” he said, noting that he would try to go there again within the week.
Corruption
In his speech, the President also underscored his hatred for corruption in government, which he said was “what really pulled us down throughout the years.”
Without naming names, he recalled how he fired then-Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno, for “being dishonest and lying through his teeth in front of me.”
He also recounted how he dismissed then-National Irrigation Administration head Peter Lavina, who had been with him in his campaign since the 1980s.
He said the public should speak up “at the slightest (insinuation)” of graft by a government employee or official.
“All you have to do is, pag maghingi, sabihin mo, Ito bastusan. ‘Pu**** i** mo, bakit ako magbayad sa inyo, ngayong binabayad ko (naman) lahat..You assess me correctly and I’ll pay government, not you,” Duterte said.
He said if any government personnel had put one over any member of the public, or “if you are not satisfied, call 8888 and you can call anybody here and ask for an appointment.”
“I’d be glad to face you and give you 15 minutes of coffeetime, just tell me the truth. And I will fire (people). Di ako mahilig magsuspend. Magpaparinig lang (sila, tell me),” he added.