"Resolve the issue, pass the bill, or I will" - President Duterte

President Rodrigo Duterte addressed the public in a feat to 'solve the problem' on the derailment of the 2021 national budget yesterday, October 9, 2020.

The President pleaded to solve the conflict within the Congress and to think of the Filipinos who are currently in hospitals, in need of medicine, and those who are in the brink of death.

"People are dying, people are sick, people need medicine." he said in his suprise public address.

Although the President did not mention House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco by name, he implied that the people failed to see what is important in the current times because "everybody wants to be speaker".

Velasco is supposed to take over the House Speaker role on October 14 based on the 15-21 term sharing agreement between him and Cayetano.

However, Cayetano ordered a suspension of sessions and was set to continue on November 16. This would have delayed the passing of the 2021 budget.

President Duterte expressed his sentiment about how important his legacy to his family and how the totality of this commotion will be blamed to his administration alone.

"Gusto ko maganda ang aking administrasyon... Huwag niyo akong isama sa gulo niyo." President Duterte said.

He also gave Congress a choice of whether to solve the issue on the impasse and pass the bill legally and constitutionally or he will do it by himself.

"If you don't solve the problem, I will solve it for you." the president remarked.

In the next coming days, the President will be monitoring if there is something they can hope for but if there's not, then he pledged to do what he can do.

Words by Jean Claire Peruda

Photo from Manila Bulletin Online