Duterte warns to place unruly agencies under his office

“For those offices na hindi talaga ma-control (can’t be controlled) I will place you under the Office of the President,” Duterte said in his speech at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 upon his arrival from his three-day state visit to South Korea. (ACE MORANDANTE/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

MANILA — President Rodrigo R. Duterte warned Tuesday that he would consider placing officials in unruly government agencies under the Office of the President (OP) to better monitor their functions.

“For those offices na hindi talaga ma-control (can’t be controlled) I will place you under the Office of the President,” Duterte said in his speech at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 upon his arrival from his three-day state visit to South Korea.

“Ako na mismo ang kaharap mo araw-araw (I will be the one you’ll have to face every day),” he added.

Duterte is known for firing government officials involved in even “a whiff of corruption” and has promised to lead an administration that is “corruption-free.”

He made this remark stressing that he would make “radical changes” in terms of public order and security in the following days.

“Ni-warning ko lang kayong mga kriminal, lahat na. Nasa gobyerno, sa labas (I have warned you criminals, everyone — in the government, and outside). I will make radical changes in the days to come,” Duterte said.

“I thank God that binigyan ako ng panahon mag-silbi sa bayan ko (I thank God he gave me time to serve my country) so that there will be changes in the coming days including public order and security. There are simply too many crimes and too many — claiming to be this and that,” he added.

The President made special mention of “Human Rights”, although it was not clear if he was referring to the agency or groups, and asked them to behave.

“So I’ve been warning all. Lahat (All). I’m warning all including the Human Rights, it’s either we behave or we will have a serious problem again,” Duterte said.

He did not explain how he would carry out the radical changes but mentioned how he saw no difference between martial law and a declaration of national emergency.

“Well, somehow, even with this meager emergency power, I will use it to the hilt (and) put things in order,” Duterte said.