Senators find Duterte’s speech presidential yet easy to understand

President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his inaugural speech. (Photo: PCOO)

MANILA—Some senators have commended newly-sworn in President Rodrigo Duterte for his presidential yet very simple and easy to understand speech during his inauguration at the Malacanang Palace on Thursday.

”His speech was presidential, purposeful and persuasive. We expect more of it in the days to come as he delivers his marching orders to his army of change,” Senator Ralph Recto said.

”Like a great woman’s dress, it was long enough to cover the subject, but short enough to be interesting. It proved that brevity need not be junked to accommodate a host of bold statements,” he added.

In his opinion, Recto said Duterte bookmarked the breadth of the things he initially wanted to do, balancing audacity with the guarantees that his administration won’t go overboard in pursuing them.

”He will go hard after criminals but not at the expense of killing the rule of law. He will comfort the afflicted but not by impoverishing the already comfortable. He will help laborers but will not harm capital in the process,” Recto said.

”Because his initial pronouncements struck the right mix of being bold but responsible, they were courageous and comforting at the same time,” he added.

Recto said the contents of Duterte’s speech were “the things the nation needs today.”

”Like ending the war with the Reds in the countryside and ending red tape in government offices. Like restoring public’s trust in the government by changing the way it serves the people, while urging the people to also begin the change in themselves,” Recto said.

For his part, Senator Juan Edgardo ‘Sonny’ Angara praised Duterte’s speech as simple, short and easy to understand by every Filipino.

Angara also praised the speech of Vice President Leni Robredo whose inauguration was held at the Quezon City Executive House.

”Kapwa makabuluhan ang kanilang mensahe na nananawagan ng pagkakaisa laban sa katiwalian at kahirapan. Magandang panimula ito sa termino ng dalawang pinakamataas na opisyal ng bansa at nararapat lamang na tulungan natin sila dahil ‘di biro ang mga problemang kinahaharap ng Pilipinas,” Angara said.

”If President Duterte is successful in cutting red tape, restoring law and order, curbing corruption, and continues to grow the economy, he will have a very successful presidency. We all know it won’t be easy and we should unite as a nation behind these lofty goals,” he added.

Despite their political differences, Senator Paolo Benigno ‘Bam’ Aquino IV is convinced that Duterte and Robredo will eventually work together for the sake of the Filipino people.

“Everyone has a hangover from the campaign. Very soon, the burden of governance will sober everyone up,” Aquino said after attending Robredo’s oath-taking ceremony.

Aquino, cousin of former President Benigno Aquino III, is hoping that when the burden of governance sets in, the issue of political partisanship will be put on the back burner and focus will shift on moving the country forward.

“The important thing is how to move the country forward and not on where we came from and who we supported in the last elections,” Senator Aquino said