Manila Hotel, Manila
October 18, 2018

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte underscored the continuing campaign of the government to fight graft and corruption in the country as he spoke before the business sector during the 44th Philippine Business Conference and Expo (PBC&E).

He emphasized that ridding graft and corruption is not just a sole responsibility of the government, but of all the Filipino people.

“So I promise you that corruption would be dealt with severely and I am doing it. That’s a campaign promise which I’m doing now. What is utterly lacking is the assertiveness of the people of their constitutional, civil, and political rights,” the President asserted.

He added that he would give ‘100 percent satisfaction’ to the business sector if they would help in combatting corruption. He also promised to give them a platform for their complaints.

“Yan ang pangako ko sa inyo. And you will be protected. Kung magsumbong ka sa akin, then I will just tell him in front of you better be sure that nothing happens to this guys,” he said.

He added, “Ang Pilipino… ‘yan eh because you surrender, you give in to people in government who are into graft and corruption. Ang makatulong niyan, magsama tayo. Isumbong mo lang at sinabi ko nga, anybody who is complaining about graft and corruption. I will give you an audience any time.”

This year’s Conference focused on the theme, ‘Infrastructure and Digital Economy: The Game Changers’. Spearheaded by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the Conference centered on different ways of sustaining investments in infrastructure and leverage amidst the so-called ‘digital economy.’ It served as a platform for the government and the private sectors to navigate opportunities and potentials in these trends for a sustainable economic growth.

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