Two days after naming police top brass allegedly protecting illegal drug trade in the country, President Rodrigo Duterte came out with another list — this time, naming the drug lords themselves.
Duterte, complete with a chart illustration of the drug trade network, identified on Thursday three of the country's topmost drug lords."
The President named Chinese nationals Wu Tuan (also known as Peter Co) and Peter Lim (a.k.a. Jaguar).
Authorities believe both of them are part of the Chinese triad; with Co operating in Metro Manila and Luzon, while Jaguar in the Visayas.
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre III said the two were "Level 5" drug lords — the highest tier in the drug lord hierarchy. They are believed to have at least 100 kilograms of illegal drugs in every transaction.
According to the chart presented to Duterte by intelligence officers, retired police official Marcelo Garbo was an associate and "coddler" of Co and Jaguar.
The third drug lord is Herbert Colangco, he's not part of the Triad but is also a Level 5 drug lord.
Colangco is the inmate who produced a music video from inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
Duterte said Colangco worked with hotelier Richard King, who was killed in June 2014.
Solicitor General Jose "Joe" Calida said these top-level drug lords were believed to be the ones who had offered a hefty bounty for the heads of the President and PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa.
Operating behind bars
Co and Colangco are currently detained at the NBP — but have allegedly been using their cell phones to transact their deals.
Aguirre said 75 percent of the country's drug trade were being transacted from inside the national penitentiary.
He said the government was thinking of transferring these high-profile inmates to Tanay, Rizal or to an AFP facility — or even moving them to a remote island where there would be no cellular signals.
Meanwhile, Jaguar is out of the country, according to Solicitor General Jose "Joe" Calida.
President Duterte had warned Jaguar that he would be killed if he would step foot again in the Philippines.
Source: CNN Philippines' Ina Andolong contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — President Rodrigo Duterte has given Cabinet Secretary Leoncio "Jun" Evasco Jr. supervision over several agencies that deal largely with the welfare of the country’s poor and marginalized sectors in urban areas and the countryside.
In Executive Order No. 1, entitled "Reengineering the Office of the President Towards Greater Responsiveness to the Attainment of Development Goals," Evasco will be overseeing the following agencies that were previously under the Office of the President:
a) Cooperative Development Authority
b) Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council
c) National Anti-Poverty Commission
d) National Commission on Indigenous Peoples
e) National Commission on Muslim Filipinos
f) National Food Authority
g) National Youth Commission
h) Office of the President- Presidential Action Center
i) Philippine Commission on Women
j) Philippine Coconut Authority
k) Presidential Commission on the Urban Poor
l) Technical Education, Skills and Development Authority
Evasco, a former rebel priest who served as mayor of Bohol’s Maribojoc municipality, was Duterte’s election campaign manager and long-time chief of staff.
Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said the EO is also meant to streamline offices in the executive branch.
The EO says the said agencies shall "primarily evaluate existing poverty reduction programs and if deemed necessary, formulate a more responsive set of programs complementing existing ones."
It also tasks them to consult with local governments for proper allocation of resources.
EO 1 also effectively places the Presidential Management Staff and Office of the Appointments Secretary under the Office of the Special Assistant to the President (OSAP) headed by Christopher “Bong” Go.
It also creates the "Office of the President-Events Management Cluster" (OP-EMC) to "ensure effective collaboration among the offices and/or units involved in the preparations for and the management of Presidential engagements."
The OP-EMC head has yet to be appointed.
Typographical error?
Duterte’s first executive order appears to have erroneously referred to a different provision of the constitution to justify the reorganization.
It said “Section 7 of the 1987 Constitution provides that the President shall have control of the executive departments, and offices.”
It is actually Article 7, Section 17 of the 1987 Constitution that contains that provision.
A reporter pointed out the error to Abella.
“Noted, we will act on that,” Abella said in response.
It remains unclear if a new issuance will be made to correct the mistake, which may have been typographical. “We will take note of the pointers and we will act accordingly,” Abella said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — President Rodrigo Duterte is not entertaining any honeymoon with scalawags in the Philippine National Police (PNP).
In his speech during the 69th anniversary of the Philippine Air Force Tuesday, the President sprung a surprise on national television when he named five police generals, including three still in active duty, he said were involved in illegal drugs.
The officers he named who are still in active duty are former Region 6 Director Bernardo Diaz, former NCRPO Director Joel Pagdilao and former QCPD Director Edgardo Tinio. The two who have retired are Vicente Loot, who is now mayor of Daan Bantayan, and former Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo.
“At this time, I order them relieved from their assignments and report to the director general. I would like to talk to them but certainly I would expect the police commission to do their thing,” Duterte said.
Tinio in an interview told CNN Philippines he has never been involved in any illegal activity.
“I’m willing to subject myself to a lie detector test, and I’m willing to subject my cellphones to forensics,” Tinio said.
There was no immediate reaction from the other officers Duterte named.
The President's instruction to the National Police Commission was clear — “Imbestigahan niyo ito at wag niyo akong bigyan ng sarswela. Hanapin niyo ang totoo,” he said.
[Translation: Investigate this and don’t give me theatrics. Find out the truth.]
Duterte expressed his dismay, saying PNP officials involved in the illegal drug trade in the country have committed treason.
“Masakit na pakinggan kasi ginastusan mo na, pinaaral mo na, binigyan mo ng uniporme, pati medyas,” he said.
[Translation: This pains one to hear this because you spent for them, you gave them education, you gave them uniform, you even gave them socks.]
Also read: Dela Rosa to send cops involved in drugs to Sulu, Basilan to fight Abu Sayyaf
More than being a politician, Duterte said he has a moral obligation to tell the truth to the nation.
“It’s really not my practice to humiliate people,” he said. “Pulitiko ako … pero dumating ako sa posisyon na ito, and I have a sacred responsibility to tell the truth to the Filipino people.”
[Translation: I’m a politician … but I was elected to this position, and I have a sacred responsibility to tell the truth to the Filipino people.]
The President warned officials not to get involved in the drug trade because of the deadly consequence.
“Marami ng namamatay, at marami pang mamamatay. At wag kayo sumali dyan maski opisyal kayo, because you will put yourself in the line of fire,” Duterte said.
[Translation: Many have died and many more will die. And don’t get involved, even if you are officials, because you will put yourself in the line of fire.]
“I’ve been warning everybody. Do not destroy my country because I will kill you. Do not destroy the youth of my country because I will kill you,” he added.
The President tapped the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the fight against illegal drugs and criminality.
He also thanked former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for paving the way for him, when she raised the problem of illegal drugs as a threat to national security during her administration.
“It’s going to be a bloody fight, but I am not going to apologize for it. I assume full legal responsibility for it,” he told the military.
“Wag kayo matakot basta nasa tama kayo,” he said.
[Translation: Don’t be afraid as long as long as you are in the right.]
The President also said he is willing to stake his honor, his life, and even the presidency just to make sure that he will win this battle.
Also read: Duterte promises funds for PNP campaign vs drugs and crime
Duterte admitted, it may be difficult for him to completely stop the illegal drug trade in six months, which he promised during the election campaign, but he said he will come close to it. “Six months and one day after, medyo tapos na (it will more or less be finished),” the President said.
Tinio, who was in his quarters when Duterte mentioned his name as among senior PNP officers allegedly involved in drugs, said he will readily report to PNP Chief Ronald Dela Rosa and will open himself to any investigation.
Tinio said he doesn’t know why Duterte had linked him to the illegal drug trade.
“I’m surprised that my name was dragged into this mess,” he said.
Tinio vowed to clear his name and retire early.
Duterte said he believes the revival of death penalty will instill fear among criminals. The death penalty is not primarily intended to deter criminals but to exact retribution for their crimes, he said.
Turning to the military, Duterte promised to provide the air force with more equipment to enable it to perform difficult operations.
“Ibibigay ang lahat ng kailangan n'yo (We will provide everything you need), I will see to that,” the President said. “We will acquire more helicopters and night vision capability.”
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Rodrigo Duterte was sworn in as the 16th President of the Philippines at noon on Thursday.
Looking uncomfortable in a formal Barong Tagalog, Duterte arrived at the Malacañang palace exactly at 10:25 a.m., earlier than expected. He climbed the main staircase of the palace and was welcomed at the top by outgoing President Benigno Aquino III.
Duterte took his oath before Supreme Court Associate Justice Bienvenido Reyes, his law fraternity brother, inside the Rizal Hall of Malacañang.
HIS INAUGURAL SPEECH
Inaugural Address of President Rodrigo Duterte
Oath-taking of the President of the Philippines
Malacañang Palace | June 30, 2016
"President Fidel Ramos, sir, salamat po sa tulong mo (thank you for your help) making me President; President Joseph Ejercito Estrada; Senate President Franklin Drilon and the members of the Senate; Speaker Feliciano Belmonte and the members of the House of Representatives; Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court; His Excellency Guiseppe Pinto and the members of the Diplomatic Corps; incoming members of the Cabinet; fellow workers in government; my fellow countrymen.
No leader, however strong, can succeed at anything of national importance or significance unless he has the support and cooperation of the people he is tasked to lead and sworn to serve.
It is the people from whom democratic governments draw strength and this administration is no exception. That is why we have to listen to the murmurings of the people, feel their pulse, supply their needs and fortify their faith and trust in us whom they elected to public office.
There are many amongst us who advance the assessment that the problems that bedevil our country today which need to be addressed with urgency, are corruption, both in the high and low echelons of government, criminality in the streets, and the rampant sale of illegal drugs in all strata of Philippine society and the breakdown of law and order. True, but not absolutely so. For I see these ills as mere symptoms of a virulent social disease that creeps and cuts into the moral fiber of Philippine society. I sense a problem deeper and more serious than any of those mentioned or all of them put together. But of course, it is not to say that we will ignore them because they have to be stopped by all means that the law allows.
No leader, however strong, can succeed at anything of national importance or significance unless he has the support and cooperation of the people he is tasked to lead and sworn to serve.
Erosion of faith and trust in government – that is the real problem that confronts us. Resulting therefrom, I see the erosion of the people’s trust in our country’s leaders; the erosion of faith in our judicial system; the erosion of confidence in the capacity of our public servants to make the people’s lives better, safer and healthier.
Indeed, ours is a problem that dampens the human spirit. But all is not lost.
I know that there are those who do not approve of my methods of fighting criminality, the sale and use of illegal drugs and corruption. They say that my methods are unorthodox and verge on the illegal. In response let me say this:
I have seen how corruption bled the government of funds, which were allocated for the use in uplifting the poor from the mire that they are in.
I have seen how illegal drugs destroyed individuals and ruined family relationships.
I have seen how criminality, by means all foul, snatched from the innocent and the unsuspecting, the years and years of accumulated savings.
Years of toil and then, suddenly, they are back to where they started.
Look at this from that perspective and tell me that I am wrong.
In this fight, I ask Congress and the Commission on Human Rights and all others who are similarly situated to allow us a level of governance that is consistent to our mandate. The fight will be relentless and it will be sustained.
As a lawyer and a former prosecutor, I know the limits of the power and authority of the president. I know what is legal and what is not.
I know that there are those who do not approve of my methods of fighting criminality. They say that my methods are unorthodox and verge on the illegal.
My adherence to due process and the rule of law is uncompromising.
You mind your work and I will mind mine.
“Malasakit. Tunay na Pagbabago. Tinud-anay nga Kausaban (Compassion. Real change.)” – these are words which catapulted me to the presidency. These slogans were conceptualized not for the sole purpose of securing the votes of the electorate. “Tinud-anay nga kabag-uhan. Mao kana ang tumong sa atong pang-gobyerno (Real change. This is the direction of our government).”
Far from that. These were battle cries articulated by me in behalf of the people hungry for genuine and meaningful change. But the change, if it is to be permanent and significant, must start with us and in us. [applause]
To borrow the language of F. Sionil Jose, we have become our own worst enemies. And we must have the courage and the will to change ourselves.
As a lawyer and a former prosecutor, I know the limits of the power and authority of the president. I know what is legal and what is not.
Love of country, subordination of personal interests to the common good, concern and care for the helpless and the impoverished – these are among the lost and faded values that we seek to recover and revitalize as we commence our journey towards a better Philippines. The ride will be rough. But come and join me just the same. Together, shoulder to shoulder, let us take the first wobbly steps in this quest.
There are two quotations from revered figures that shall serve as the foundation upon which this administration shall be built.
“The test of government is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide for those who have little.”
– Franklin Delano Roosevelt
And from (Abraham) Lincoln I draw this expression: “You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong; You cannot help the poor by discouraging the rich; You cannot help the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer; You cannot further the brotherhood by inciting class hatred among men.”
My economic and financial, political policies are contained in those quotations, though couched in general terms. Read between the lines. I need not go into specifics now. They shall be supplied to you in due time.
However, there are certain policies and specifics of which cannot wait for tomorrow to be announced.
Therefore, I direct all department secretaries and the heads of agencies to reduce requirements and the processing time of all applications, from the submission to the release. I order all department secretaries and heads of agencies to remove redundant requirements and compliance with one department or agency, shall be accepted as sufficient for all.
I order all department secretaries and heads of agencies to refrain from changing and bending the rules government contracts, transactions and projects already approved and awaiting implementation. Changing the rules when the game is on-going is wrong.
I abhor secrecy and instead advocate transparency in all government contracts, projects and business transactions from submission of proposals to negotiation to perfection and finally, to consummation.
Do them and we will work together. Do not do them, we will part sooner than later.
On the international front and community of nations, let me reiterate that the Republic of the Philippines will honor treaties and international obligations.
On the domestic front, my administration is committed to implement all signed peace agreements in step with constitutional and legal reforms.
I am elated by the expression of unity among our Moro brothers and leaders, and the response of everyone else to my call for peace.
I look forward to the participation of all other stakeholders, particularly our indigenous peoples, to ensure inclusivity in the peace process.
Let me remind in the end of this talk, that I was elected to the presidency to serve the entire country. I was not elected to serve the interests of any one person or any group or any one class. I serve every one and not only one.
That is why I have adapted as an article of faith, the following lines written by someone whose name I could no longer recall. He said: “I have no friends to serve, I have no enemies to harm.”
On the international front and community of nations, let me reiterate that the Republic of the Philippines will honor treaties and international obligations. On the domestic front, my administration is committed to implement all signed peace agreements in step with constitutional and legal reforms.
Prescinding there from, I now ask everyone, and I mean everyone, to join me as we embark on this crusade for a better and brighter tomorrow.
But before I end, let me express the nations, on behalf of the people, our condolences to the Republic of Turkey of what has happened in the place. We offer our deepest condolences.
Why am I here? Hindi kasali ito diyan (This is not part of my speech). The past tense was, I am here because I love my country and I love the people of the Philippines. I am here, why? Because I am ready to start my work for the nation.
The first official Cabinet meeting was held immediately after President Duterte took his oath.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Two hours after swearing in his Cabinet members on Thursday, newly-installed President Rodrigo Duterte buckled down to work and met in Malacañan Palace for the first time with his official family to give his marching orders.
The various department secretaries were in complete attendance for the closed-door meeting.
Related: Duterte defends cabinet appointees: ‘They are not corrupt’
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea earlier told the media that the agenda included organizational matters, as well as typhoon and emergency preparedness.
Reporters, though, caught some of the matters discussed through RTVM's live feed.
Related: Duterte 'non-committal' on giving Cabinet post to Robredo
Duterte had a laundry list of tasks for his Cabinet.
He said he wanted to set up a 24-hour complaint office, manned by 10 operators and covering the whole country.
"The number would be 8888... And they can report to me any complaint and there will be a manager who will re-direct the complaint to the proper office, " the country's 16th President said.
To decongest passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Duterte said he's eyeing Clark International Airport for domestic flights. For this, he asked Transporation Secretary Arthur Tugade to study a road network heading to Pampanga.
Knowing how airport congestion burdened the ordinary travellers, the President said he didn't want any special treatment whenever he would take a flight.
He told the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) that he should not be treated differently from the other suffering Filipino passengers.
Aversion to gambling
Known for his no-nonsense stance on illegal drugs and criminals, the President now added another item to his hit list: online gambling.
He directed Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) chief Andrea Domingo to cancel "sometime soon" the licenses given to online casinos which have sprouted across the country.
Duterte cited the adverse effects of gambling to a person.
"In Davao they're at it but I stopped it on time. Mahirap yan puro sugal ang alam," he said (It's not good to be gambling all the time).
"And there is no way of collecting taxes there online."
Related: Duterte 'hell-bent' on stopping corruption
The former Davao City mayor also reiterated his disdain for corruption. He said he didn't want fixers at the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Registration Authority (LRA).
"Pag ayaw nilang maniwala, eh di (If they won't take this seriously) we'll just have to arrest them and lecture them somewhere else," he warned.
He also repeated his order for government agencies to fast-track the processing of documents: that it should be finished within three days.
Change of combative tone
In the wake of an announcement that a decision on the Philippines' maritime case would be out by July 12, Duterte said he didn't want to pick a fight with China — and he would rather wait and study first the ruling before making his next move.
Related: Ruling on PH arbitration case vs. China out on July 12
Before this, Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay had aired similar sentiments — saying Manila should not come out with strong statements against Beijing even if the Philippines won the case.
Related: On West PH Sea: Duterte eyes another option
It can be recalled that during the third and last presidential debate, Duterte had said that he would take a jet ski and plant a Philippine flag in disputed territories should China refuse to recognize a favorable ruling for the Philippines
CNN Philippines' Ina Andolong contributed to this report.
There are moments in our lives that shine brighter than others. Like when I met Jesse. Or when I saw my children’s faces for the first time. Or when the plane crashed.
We are facing one of those moments once again.
I will be forever grateful that you are here today. You, who have given me your trust and have taken this fight as your fight. I am touched that you are with me again in this journey we are about to take.
But this journey is not just about us. This is a chance to bring those at the fringes of society to prosperity—in a bigger, more powerful way.
This is a dream come true for someone like me who hold consultation meetings on train tracks, sleep on boats, and ride single-motor version of tricycles called habal-habal to reach those we need to serve.
We are in this position because we cannot and will not turn our backs on the responsibility for inclusive growth and progress that matters, and we will not waste this chance to lift our advocacy to higher levels. We accept this chance to serve with humility, gratitude and a commitment to excellence.
The chosen direction of our President and our plans for the country have wide intersections and converge on the singularity of this vision: of bringing real prosperity to our people, especially those that have been left behind.
But this journey is not just about us. This is a chance to bring those at the fringes of society to prosperity—in a bigger, more powerful way.
Much has been done, but we continue to face more challenges. That is why we aim to resolutely face all obstacles, determined to eradicate them.
Inaugural Message of Vice President Leni Robredo
Oath Taking of the Vice President of the Philippines
Quezon City Reception House, June 30, 2016
We will not allow anything to derail us in our goals and we are willing to work with all to bring our plans to fruition.
The only way for all of us to realize our vision for our nation is to work together. During these times when there seem to be significant divisions and conflict in the world, the challenge is to come together, celebrate our commonalities and differences, and turn them all into strengths.
We must do right by the people, not only by our own people. Our loyalties must lie on those we are sworn to serve, even at the cost of personal interest.
This has always been the manner by which we have served; and it will remain that way for the rest of our lifetime.
The doors of the Office of the Vice Presidency are always open. Ours will be a listening office. We seek to unite the government and the private sector in a partnership for change, for those at the fringes of society that we have vowed to serve.
Our plan is to create partnerships between the government and the private sector towards real change.
We must do right by the people, not only by our own people. Our loyalties must lie on those we are sworn to serve, even at the cost of personal interest.
Collaboration is today’s most important and powerful resource. In our world today, our most important work are the things that we can do together.
If you recall, this is exactly the story of our journey together. When we started, very few believed that we had a sliver of chance to win. But because of the contributions of each single individual— like Nanay Alberta who pawned her ring to help with the campaign, like the Sumilao farmers who walked again to Metro Manila, like the dad-and-son tandem we randomly witnessed fixing our destroyed posters—like each one of you who sacrificed so much to get us where we are now and believed when nobody believed.
When we stand for what we believe in, when we are ready to sacrifice our personal interests, we can make the impossible possible.
We can accomplish many things in the next six years. We invite all who have a passion for helping the poor, for fixing systems for the poor, for unlocking barriers that perpetuate the status quo in the poorest areas of our country, to come to our office.
We will streamline and bring all these efforts together so that we can extract the highest possible impact from each point of collaboration.
When we stand for what we believe in, when we are ready to sacrifice our personal interests, we can make the impossible possible.
We have identified hunger and food security, universal health care, rural development, education and people empowerment as our main priorities. In these areas, there is no time to lose because every day, there is real suffering on the ground. Our dream is to make a head way on easing that suffering as soon as we can. Join me.
Together, let’s take another journey.
In our first 100 days, we plan to once again go to the farthest and the smallest barangays to pray with you, to laugh and cry with you, and most of all to listen to the things that you want changed. This is what we did in Naga City and in our district—the place where I was born, where I built a family with the love of my life, the place that formed my awareness of society’s problems, and calcified in my mind the solutions that work best. The place that gave birth to myself as a public servant.
The transformation that we personally saw in our district as we literally wore out our slippers walking with people on the ground, strengthens our resolve that this is the best way to bring about change in our nation.
As Jesse used to say when he was alive: “What brings us together as a nation is far more powerful than what pulls us apart.”
We hope that as we bring the Office of the Vice Presidency to your barangay, you will feel the government is truly there for you, and when you feel that, you will be inspired to spark your own change as well.
When change begins in ourselves, the change we want to see in our nation will truly happen. We have seen this in the farmers and fisherfolk we have helped, in each battered woman we tried to empower, in each indigenous person, or barangay health worker.
Any groundswell begins from an individual’s resolve. If you want our country to leave behind the things that hold it down, we must start within. That will spark a real groundswell, a unity of effort that brings about strength.
Whatever change we want to see in our nation must begin within ourselves. And when we do that together, nothing is impossible.
As Jesse used to say when he was alive: “What brings us together as a nation is far more powerful than what pulls us apart.”
When change begins in ourselves, the change we want to see in our nation will truly happen. We have seen this in the farmers and fisherfolk we have helped, in each battered woman we tried to empower, in each indigenous person, or barangay health worker.
During these times of conflict, unity is most important for our nation. We may come from different walks of life or different advocacies, but our dreams are the same: that each Filipino will live a dignified, prosperous life.
This moment, today, is the start of the fulfillment of these dreams.
