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New Philippine president vows to listen to the people

Rodrigo Duterte says he knows the limits of his power and authority
New Philippine president vows to listen to the people

President Rodrigo Duterte is welcomed to the presidential palace in Manila by outgoing president Benigno Aquino on June 30. (Photo by Joseph Vidal)

Published: June 30, 2016 09:48 AM GMT
Updated: June 30, 2016 09:50 AM GMT

Rodrigo Duterte, a controversial town mayor dubbed "Dirty Harry" and "The Punisher" for his tough stance on crime, has been sworn in as the 16th president of the Philippines on June 30.

Duterte, who won by a landslide in the May elections with 16.6 million votes, promised to "listen to the murmurings of the people" as he vowed to relentlessly fight the "problems that bedevil our country."

"No leader, however strong, can succeed at anything of national importance or significance unless he has the support and cooperation of the people," Duterte said in his inaugural speech.

The new president said corruption in government, criminality, proliferation of illegal drugs, and the breakdown of law and order will be "addressed with urgency" by his administration.

"I see these ills as mere symptoms of a virulent social disease that creeps and cuts into the moral fiber of Philippine society," said Duterte.

He said the real problem is the "erosion of faith and trust in government."

The new president said he is aware that many do not approve of his methods in fighting crime, which has been described by critics as unorthodox and verging on the illegal.

Duterte, however, said that he knows the limits of his power and authority.

"I know what is legal and what is not," adding that his adherence to due process and the rule of law is "uncompromising."

Archbishop Guiseppe Pinto, papal nuncio to Manila and dean of the diplomatic corps, reminded the new president that the "first word of a book is always the most important" in a toast during Duterte's inauguration.

"The initial page of the first chapter of this book, Mr. President, is dated June 30, 2016, and bears your name," said Archbishop Pinto.

"Starting today, all the women and men of this country are called to write on the blank pages of this book, engrave their aspirations and dreams, their convictions and ideas," said the archbishop.

 

Church groups call for the release of political prisoners during a march to welcome the assumption to office of President Rodrigo Duterte on June 30. (Photo by Jimmy Domingo)

 

Change has come

Activist groups rallied outside the presidential palace in Manila to show their support for the new president.

In an unprecedented move, Duterte invited leaders of leftist organizations to a meeting.

Renato Reyes Jr., secretary general of the New Patriotic Alliance, said the president’s welcome was "very warm."

Duterte with also presented with a 15-point agenda that activist groups want the new administration to address in his first 100 days in office.

The National Union of People's Lawyers (NUPL) welcomed the promise of change under Duterte’s leadership.

"[Duterte] is certainly no messiah but his pronouncements on peace negotiations, political prisoners, corruption, drugs, mining ... seem to provide a much needed respite," said lawyer Edre Olalia, the NUPL secretary general.

"The incoming president can be an instrument of change ... And that chance has come," he added.

The group of activist lawyers vowed to "help and cooperate in bringing change in the corridors of power, in the streets, factories, farms, schools."

"Yet we will be ever watchful, vigilant and principled," said Olalia.

 

Activist groups call on new Philippine President Rodgrigo Duterte to address the almost 50 years of armed conflict in the country during a march in Manila on June 30. (Photo by Mark Saludes)

 

Optimism runs high

In the central Philippine city of Tacloban, which was devastated by super typhoon Haiyan in 2013, optimism runs high among disaster victims.

"He has this freshness and unorthodox leadership and way of dealing with people and his constituency," said Dean Lacandazo, leader of a local activist group.

"I hope he will lead a pro-people rehabilitation and reconstruction project in Haiyan-stricken areas," Lacandazo told ucanews.com.

He described as a "great thing" Duterte's appointment of activists in his administration who offer "a ray of hope for Haiyan survivors."

"I am praying for his success. He has the passion to serve, he has a heart for the common people," said Grace Villanueva, an education official in the province of Leyte.

 

Real change

"Real change. This is the direction of our government," said Duterte.

The new president said he wanted to "revitalize" love of country, subordination of personal interests to the common good, concern and care for the helpless and the impoverished in his government.

"The ride will be rough," he said. "But come and join me just the same. Together, shoulder to shoulder, let us take the first wobbly steps in this quest," said Duterte.

On his first day in office, Duterte directed all government agencies to reduce requirements and the processing time of all government documents.

He also warned against the "changing and bending the rules" of government contracts and projects already approved and awaiting implementation.

"I abhor secrecy and instead advocate transparency in all government contracts, projects and business transactions," the new president said.

On the international front, Duterte vowed to honor treaties and international obligations.

Duterte is the country's first president to hail from the southern region of Mindanao.

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