City of Dasmariñas — President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Tuesday, November 28, called on Congress to add more teeth to the law to free Filipinos from corruption that has been plaguing the country.
In his message during the birthday celebration of lawyer Alfredo Lim here, the Chief Executive noted that the presence of graft and corruption in government is destroying the country.
“My suggestion is we add more teeth to the law,” the President said.
The President reiterated his call to the legislators to craft a Constitution that would mandate more accountability to government officials.
“Let us amend the Constitution. Shorten or restrict the powers of everybody including the presidency but make a Constitution that would mandate more accountability and responsibility of officials,” he said.
“If you can craft a law wherein I would also put my own inputs there and it would guarantee everybody or stop corruption. Do not be afraid to amend the law,” he added.
In addition, Duterte assured that he has no intentions of clinging to power.
“Do not be afraid of dictatorship. I am not aiming for it. I do not ask it and I do not like it,” he said.
“Make me a Constitution that would do away with a long suffering corruption-ridden country and I would be willing to just step out para hindi kayo matakot ‘Ah si Duterte, gusto diktador lang ‘yun,’” the President added.
At the same time, Duterte also made an appeal to the high court to dispense with the issuance of temporary restraining order (TRO).
“I am asking the Supreme Court publicly now to convince the lower courts not to be wasteful in their TRO because there is money in it,” the President said.
Among those present during the gathering were Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go and Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua. (PND)
