‘Comfortable, not great life for Pinoys’

MANILA, Philippines - The country “will not be very great” under his watch, but life will be “comfortable” for many Filipinos, President Duterte told descendants of Dr. Jose Rizal during the rites commemorating his death yesterday.

“It will be a hard time (for the corrupt). It will be adjustments for everybody, and I assure you, we will not be very great, but we’d have a comfortable life,” Duterte told some of Rizal’s descendants gathered for the commemoration ceremonies at his monument in Rizal Park.

Duterte led the formal honor rites, including the raising of the flag and laying of a wreath at the foot of the Rizal monument.

Instead of the usual speech extoling the virtues and sacrifices of the national hero, Duterte moved around to talk with members of the Rizal family, including former beauty queen Gemma Cruz-Araneta.

Accused of leading a rebellion against the Spanish colonizers, Rizal was sentenced to die by musketry in 1896. His execution at the Bagumbayan field that now bears his name is believed to have sparked greater outrage against Spain and led to the Philippine Revolution in 1898.

In a written Rizal Day message, Duterte enjoined Filipinos to make sacrifices if necessary in order for the country to attain true independence.

In the same message, Duterte lamented how independence has remained elusive for the Filipino people even after the death of Rizal exactly 120 years ago.

“We are fortunate recipients of the fruit of Rizal’s sacrifices, the freedom that he fought for and the self-identity and honor that he strongly believed we ought to defend,” he said. 

“Beyond his prodigious and various talents, Rizal is best honored when we regard him as a beacon and moral compass in these challenging and perilous times,” Duterte pointed out.

“As in his time, our country is still fighting for independence. But today, we are fighting for freedom from the bondage of poverty, crime, illegal drugs and corruption,” he pointed out.

“Indeed, they are our present enemies; they are the modern invaders that subjugate our people’s hearts, minds and spirits,” he maintained.

Addressing Rizal’s descendants, Duterte said seeing Filipinos enslaving fellow Filipinos really made him very angry.

“We are here also, idiots of this country are making slaves of our brothers. And they get into the attitude… slavery to a chemical,” he said, apparently referring to illegal drugs.

“Hindi ako galit, talagang galit ako (I’m not just angry, I’m really angry),” he added.

Duterte called on all Filipinos to show the same passion and nationalism Rizal had shown during his time.

“Each of us should manifest the same fervor and dedication that moved and motivated Jose Rizal to action. Let us therefore emulate the traits of Rizal, let us be willing heroes – patriotic, faithful and loyal to our Motherland,” he said.

“This day of commemoration is a day of grateful remembrance of his martyrdom so that we may also awaken and become our own heroes – committed to advocate good governance and uphold the rule of law; steadfast to end criminality and all forms of government corruption, and compassionate to the plight of the poor and less privileged,” Duterte added.

The President assured Rizal’s descendants that the country would be in good hands as he battles corruption and illegal drugs.  

He added, however, there would be sacrifices as the nation continues its journey to development and stability.

“As our nation undergoes a significant phase of social development and economic growth, a period of national unity that calls for cooperation, patience and sacrifice of our people is necessary,” he stressed.

ISIS threat

In the same commemoration rites,  President Duterte expressed his concern before guests from the diplomatic community, including US Ambassador Sung Kim and Russian Ambassador Igor Anatolyevich Khovaev, over the ISIS threat in the country.

“Anyway, in the Middle East… really, there is truth that ISIS – since it becomes a chapter in this part of the world… another trouble…we hope that we can be at peace,” he said.

Turning to the US ambassador, Duterte said he was thankful for his and the others’ presence in the Rizal Day rites.

He also told Kim that he would like to have another meeting with him to talk about more important matters.

“We’d like that. Nice to meet you, Mr. President. Hope to see you,” Sung replied.

Christopher Go, special assistant to the President, was spotted speaking to the US ambassador. Go said Kim has expressed his intent to find the most appropriate time for the meeting with Duterte. After the Rizal Day event, Duterte flew to Leyte to check on the condition of those injured in last Wednesday’s blast.

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana downplayed reports of plot to oust the President, supposedly being hatched by former US ambassador Philip Goldberg.

“Hindi totoo iyon. Hindi ako naniniwala doon (That’s not true. I don’t believe that). The US would not do that. Hindi ako naniniwala doon,” he said in an interview on the sidelines of the Rizal Day commemoration.