In his inaugural speech, Duterte promised the Filipinos that his administration will make a change to the country, a message he has been sending out since he started presidential campaign.
Advertisement
Rodrigo Duterte, the former mayor of Davao City who drew the world’s attention with his controversial remarks against criminals, was sworn in as the 16 president of the Philippines on Thursday.
Despite his softer tone, he warned his critics not to get in the way of his reform agenda. “But now he is in power, he needs to lend substance to those words and break with his earlier rhetoric”, said Rafendi Djamin, Amnesty International’s Director for South East Asia and the Pacific.
Such groups are concerned that extrajudicial killings could spread across the Philippines under Duterte. But the millions who voted for the new Philippine leader see him an anti-establishment hero.
“God knows, I really do not want to declare any fighting with anybody”.
On his first day in office, Duterte directed all government agencies to reduce requirements and the processing time of all government documents. He even whistled at a reporter during one of the media press cons and said that she should have taken it as a compliment. This was one of the complaints of businessmen particularly with the Department of Transportation and Communications under Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya.
He also told them to respect contracts.
Last month, they raised the bounty they had put on the president, the Manila Bulletin reported.
“I abhor secrecy, instead advocate transparency in all government contracts from submission of proposals to negotiation to perfection and finally to consummation”, he said.
While this move may not be within the tastes of traditionalists and conservatives, the analyst said separate inaugurations benefited both Duterte and Robredo as they are not required that they go together.
He also touched on foreign affairs.
Addressing the worldwide community, he said his government will honor all treaties and obligations, a statement that could mollify the United States amid calls by left-wing groups to scrap the Visiting Forces Agreement the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement which they say violate the Philippine constitutional ban on foreign military forces on Philippine soil.
Under the Aquino administration, the Philippines agreed to host US military forces and allow them to set up facilities under an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. He said the Philippines is a USA ally and partner but has every right to pursue relations with China.
Advertisement
A senior Philippine diplomat said American and Australian officials are curious how the new president will handle relations with their governments, which have enjoyed strong ties with outgoing President Benigno Aquino III, who bolstered security relations as a way to counter China’s assertiveness in disputed South China Sea territories.
