Manila Hotel
March 20, 2018

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte graced the 2018 General Assembly of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) held at the Manila Hotel in the City of Manila.

In his speech, he reiterated and defended the government’s commitment on the war against illegal drugs.

“Just begin with children. How many children were raped and killed because the drug addicts are or were on the loose? ‘Yan ang hindi ko matanggap. These are the stories, which the human rights do not listen… I interpret the law because I know the law. I’m a lawyer. And I have to protect the dignity of this nation. I have not killed any innocent people. Ang sinabi ko lang, when I was mayor, do not destroy my country, do not destroy the young of this country. They are our only assets,” President Duterte said.

During the two-day conference which carried the theme, ‘Pederalismo: Ngayon Na!’, the LMP members mainly discussed the proposed amendments to the 1987 Philippine Constitution and the suggested shift to a federal system of government. The municipal mayors also tackled concerns affecting their respective jurisdictions.

In 2017, the LMP came up with various resolutions such as their request to adjust the fund in the 2018 National Expenditure Program (NEP) for the local government units (LGUs), the declaration expressing the league’s support to the national thrusts and programs of President Duterte, their deep sympathy and concern to the plight of the Marawi City evacuees, and their full support in modifying the 1987 Constitution.

The LMP was created through Republic Act 7160, also known as the Local Government Code of 1991, which states that there shall be an organization of all municipalities in the country that shall convey issues affecting municipal government management and formulate solutions to such matters.

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