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 nation’s, 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.
Thank you and good afternoon.