Amid various issues facing the nation, President Duterte appealed for peace and unity this yuletide season.
This, as he also called on Filipinos to support the government’s fight against illegal drugs and corruption.
The Chief Executive issued his call as he led the lighting of the Christmas tree at the Malacañang Palace grounds on Monday. In his speech, Duterte said the government would work hard to fulfill his campaign promise of bringing lasting peace in the country, stamping out corruption and ending the illicit drugs trade.
“I plead for the unity of the country, that we shall be freed of the communal wars. I plead for the next generation that there will be Filipinos able, competent, healthy, and good,” said the president.
“I plead for peace so that our citizens can move around anytime of the day or night. And I ask everybody in government that together we will stop corruption,” he added. He stressed that law-abiding citizens in the country will be protected and he will not stop until he puts an end to the problem of illegal drugs.
“I will end up the drugs. My orders are destroy the apparatus that has really damaged the Republic of the Philippines,” he further said, noting that the drug menace has produced four million Filipino addicts.
On the decades-old communist insurgency in the country, the president expressed optimism about the peace process with the left saying that the government negotiating team “will not really abandon the things that we all crave for our country.” (Elena Aben)
