Mr Duterte said he would review the Philippines’ commitment to cut carbon emissions under a historic climate deal concluded in Paris previous year, and backed his Environment Minister who had been cracking down on errant mining firms. Thousands of activists were allowed near the gates to listen to President Duterte’s speech.
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An global human rights group has branded President Rodrigo Duterte as a “cheerleader” for the killing of drug suspects, an act which he seemed to have advocated in his first State of the Nation Address (Sona).
All eyes and ears in the country will be on President Rodrigo Duterte when he delivers his first State of the Nation Address at the Batasang Pambansa, Monday.
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Drilon said that Resolution of Both Houses No. 1 calls for a convention, whose members shall be elected by January next year, to propose amendments to, or revision of, the 29-year-old Constitution.
One senator who lost a bid to become vice president said he wants to hear Duterte’s broader vision for the country…saying “this would prove that he’s more than a one-trick pony whose only expertise is a barbaric anti-illegal drug purge”.
He said a suspension of offensive military operations (SOMO) “covers the cessation of all military offensives against the CNN (CPP/NPA/NDF) particularly its armed group, the New People’s Army”. “An exchange of unilateral ceasefire declarations will be one of the first items in the resumption of the NDFP-GRP peace talks scheduled for August 20 to 27 with the aim of making these unilateral declarations effective”, Madlos said.
“The commander in chief has initiated a very bold move and we fully support him in his effort to bring sustainable and lasting peace”, said military spokesman Brig.
The rebels have also praised Duterte’s critical stance on the security policy of the United States, which has blacklisted the communist insurgents as terrorists for its bloody attacks, including an ambush that killed a U.S. Army colonel near Manila in 1989.
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza said there could be a release of some 11 communist leaders who will join the Oslo talks.
Dutere’s predecessor, Benigno Aquino, revived negotiations soon after taking office in 2010 but shelved them in 2013, accusing the rebels of being insincere about finding a political settlement.
Also nicknamed “Duterte Harry” for his zero tolerance approach to crime, Mr Duterte reiterated his warnings about drugs in the nationally broadcast speech, describing the country’s rampant narcotics problem – including monumental rates of methamphetamine use – as “staggering and scary”.
He also vowed to wage a “bloody” and “ruthless” campaign against the narcotics trade, alarming human rights advocates who are anxious that it could lead to extralegal killings.
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Duterte vowed to show “no mercy” in his bloody war on crime, warning criminals that priests and human rights advocates can not protect them from being killed.
