President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday (Sept. 24) said he is hoping for the elections in the country to be free from violence, and where people’s votes are counted correctly.
Duterte made the statement during the inauguration and marker unveiling of the new Sultan Kudarat Provincial Hospital in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.
“I’m pleading, almost praying, that people will really stick to the rule of law and avoid violence, kasi kapag hindi, then I will be forced to use the might of the military,” he said.
“Either we have an election that is free or I will use the military to see that the election is free. The military is the guardian of the country and I can call them anytime to see to it that people are protected and elections are freely, orderly exercised,” he added.
The health facility which inauguration was led by Duterte features state-of-the-art equipment to provide quality and affordable medical services in Sultan Kudarat and its neighboring provinces.
“It is not wrong to say that the Muslim of the island of Mindanao has already gone to its flowering of civilization. Maganda talaga at mahusay,” he said.
Duterte said he will provide more assistance to the facility in the remaining months of his term, including the provision of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines.
“Iyon na lang ang kailangan niyo really to complete a good facility. Hindi na kailangan pumunta ng Maynila,” he said.
“Let us continue working together to overcome the challenges brought by COVID-19 and build a stronger and healthier future,” he added. – Report from Mela Lesmoras/AG-rir
