Duterte on endo: We are trying our best to help Filipinos

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte shows a gesture of respect as he arrives at the Heroes Hall of Malacañan Palace for the awarding of the Order of Lapu-Lapu Magalong Medal and Philippine National Police (PNP) Medal of Valor to the 44 fallen troops from the PNP Special Action Force (SAF) on April 17, 2018. ACE MORANDANTE/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

It may have been a short address to the issue, but the President assured that he will help the labor groups in their concerns on contractualization.

“Eh nagpaalam ho ako (I asked ahead) that I’d be late for about 30 minutes ‘yung endo – ang pinagkaguluhan (because of endo that is being talked about now)… contractualization. There was another copy submitted to me mga (about) 10 minutes before three o’clock,” President Rodrigo Roa Duterte started saying on April 17, Tuesday.

“Sabi ko (I said) I would need time to [review]… Eh nagmamadali pati ‘yung (But they are rushing the) unrest ng (of the) labor. So we are trying our best to help the Filipino people,” Duterte added.

The President said these before starting his prepare office during the awarding of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Medal of Valor and Order of Lapu-Lapu to members of the PNP-Special Action Force (SAF) 44.

Earlier, Malacañang through Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr., mentioned that the executive order (EO) which Duterte would sign will benefit the labor groups, echoing the President’s recent statement.

“I would suppose, because it is a promise given by the President to labor groups, it will be an EO that will side with the labor forces,” Roque said in a press conference on April 16, Monday.

“I can only surmise that the final version of the EO has not been agreed upon by both labor, management, and government,” he added.

The spokesperson stressed that this is one of the promises of Duterte during his presidential campaign, and that he is keen into fulfilling it.

“I know that the President is rather restive about this EO. He has mentioned to me personally that this is a campaign promise he wants to deliver to the people very soon,” Roque further said.

He also explained that since Duterte “wants it as soon as possible” the final EO may come on Labor Day which is on May 1.