Club Filipino, San Juan City
14 July 2016

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte graced the testimonial dinner in Club Filipino organized by the San Beda Law Alumni Association (SBLAA) for him as the first Bedan President of the Philippines.

During his speech, Duterte narrated his odyssey from his candidacy to his presidency. He said that he was reluctant to run for the highest government post until he saw the need to have a president from Mindanao. He talked on his hurdles while campaigning since PDP-Laban was experiencing financial diificulties.

The President expressed his abhorrence towards corruption and stressed that the government should not oppress its own people.

He also reiterated the peril of illegal drugs in the Philippines and warned that if these illicit drug businesses will not be prohibited, the country will become a narco-politics.

“We are the only country in the world kung saan ang shabu ay niluluto sa mismong national penitentiary… Tatapusin ko ito even at the cause of my honor, my life, and the presidency,” he said.

Furthermore, he emphasized his firm stand to improve government services and simplify requirements.

“Let the Filipino taste what is government…I do not want to see the Filipinos queuing outside. Ayaw ko ‘yan. Especially ‘yung mahihirap. It might be a pretended sentiment basta ayaw ko. Lalo na ‘yang mga taga-probinsiya…Ayaw kong magbalik-balik ang tao. I would like to stress it again. Ayaw ko pahirapan ang Pilipino,” he underscored.

President Duterte recounted some of his good memories while studying in San Beda and said that graduating from this school was one of the events in his life that made him proud. He even vowed to run the country with the San Bedan faithfulness that he learned.

Present during the testimonial dinner were Former President Fidel V. Ramos and the San Beda alumni comprising President Duterte’s Cabinet namely, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, and Communications and Technology Secretary Rodolfo Salalima.

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