Cordillera Convention Hall, Baguio Country Club, Baguio City
February 17, 2017

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte expressed his pride and gratitude for being a ‘mistah’ of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class ’67 during his speech in a dinner with the golden jubilarians at the Baguio Country Club in Baguio City.

“Our tradition of service to the people which can be attested by our history remains a source of pride to everyone, that is why I am very honored to be considered a class ’67… You know I am greatly, greatly proud to be a class of 1967. And there will never be a time that I would shame the class,” he said.

In his speech, the President divulged that he ordered the Ant-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to check on his financial information after being allegedly accused of having billions of pesos in bank accounts. He reiterated that if he or his family would be found to be involved in corruption in government, he would resign immediately from the Presidency.

“Sa totoo lang, I have not signed any voucher even for myself. I only receive a salary and that’s it. I do not accept my allowances. Wala po ako. I avoided it and it will be so until the end of my term. But then I would hit hard against corruption so I must set example. Because if I don’t, I cannot command obedience,” he stressed.

President Duterte also talked on the recent visit of Russia’s Security Council to the country and their exchanges on security encompassing weapons and critical mass information.

“They want to train our soldiers also. And initially last night, I committed to send ten PNP (Philippine National Police) members and ten members of the Armed Forces,” he said.

Moreover, the Chief Executive restated the gravity of the illegal drug industry in the country as the latest record shows that around four million Filipinos are afflicted by illegal drug contamination.

“Four million already are slaves by chemicals to fatten the pockets of the drug lords. I have to do some cleansing. Hindi naman lahat but the police will have to return, to back the campaign against drugs. I did not declare a police operation simply to deal with it… And my order to the armed forces and to the police was to destroy the apparatus of drugs,” he added.

After his speech, the President had a photo opportunity with the members of PMA Class ’67. He was joined by Cavalier Anselmo Avenido, Chairman of the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association Inc. (PMAAAI), and the families of the golden jubilarians.

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