President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Tuesday urged the newly-promoted uniformed personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to protect people’s interest by demanding accountability and ensuring social justice.
Twenty-seven personnel from various services were sworn in by President Duterte in Malacañang.
In his address, the President told the newly-promoted personnel to contribute to the development of the nation by being a catalyst in the society.
“I am here because I love my country, and I love the Filipino people. Narinig ninyo ‘yun? Iyon na ‘yun. So ang hinihingi ko sa inyo, join with your compatriots sa Armed Forces pati police,” he said in his speech.
He told the new officials that they could be part of a social pressure group demanding change along with political parties, civil society, the media and the military.
“Pressure group, partido, political parties. Pressure doon sa… Then the civil society, they create the pressures in the society and the democracy. Then you have the… Itong media. It’s a pressure group. Then you have the military. Also a pressure group,” he said.
“Pagkasabi nilang, ‘Adre, huwag naman ganun. Walang lokohan ‘to. Ibigay na ninyo sa Pilipino kung ano tapos okay na tayo.’”
Although acting as pressure group, he clarified that it should not mean inciting a rebellion but just a move to protect people’s interest.
President Duterte continued to rail against the water concessionaires, Maynilad and Manila Water, describing the 1997 agreements as a classic case of economic plunder.
The President wants the concession agreements modified. The Department of Justice has been working to revise the concession agreements with the two water concessionaires after finding several “onerous” provisions in the agreements.
