Duterte renews call for Filipinos to support Marcos admin

Departure honors for Rodrigo Duterte (Screengrab from RTVM)

MANILA – Former President Rodrigo R. Duterte renewed his call for Filipinos to support the administration of newly-sworn in President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

“Let us give all our support to the new administration. Tulungan natin sila. Tulungan natin sila (Let us help them),” he said in a video shared by former acting presidential spokesperson and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar.

This is not the first time Duterte enjoined the public to rally behind Marcos.

In a public address on June 6, Duterte asked Filipinos to “come to terms” with the results of the May 9 polls, the next administration would need their cooperation to ensure the country’s success.

“President-elect Marcos would need the cooperation and help of everybody. We must give it to him,” Duterte said in his fourth-to-the last Talk to the People.

He said the public must respect the decision of the majority, adding that it is the essence of democracy.

“Pag nagsalita na yung taongbayan kung sino yung mga leader na gusto nila, sunod tayo. Iwasan ninyo ang politika (Once the people have decided on who they want as leader, we have to follow. Avoid politicking),” he added.

In the same video, Andanar asked Duterte to share a message for his Cabinet members.

“Well, I think, sa, I am a student of government. Alam mo matagal ako sa gobyerno (You know I have been in government for a long time). I think I assembled one of the best Cabinet… Totoo. Piling pili ko (That’s the truth. I chose them meticulously),” he said.

Duterte, in several speeches, has praised his Cabinet secretaries especially former National Task Force Against Covid-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr., former Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade.

Duterte ended his six-year term welcoming Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in Malacañan Palace ahead of the latter’s inauguration as the country’s 17th president at the National Museum of the Philippines.

By tradition, the president-elect arrives at the Palace before the inauguration to pay a courtesy call on the outgoing president.

The 76-year-old president received final military honors before eventually departing from Palace.

Duterte is set to fly to his hometown in Davao City via commercial flight to spend more time with family as a private citizen.