DAVAO CITY (June 26)—President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday night stressed that the Philippines cannot match the weapons of China and he will not put the lives of the 100-million Filipinos at stake.
In his speech during the 122nd Anniversary of the Presidential Security Group (PSG), Duterte cited the geopolitics and the world situation as the basis of his decision not to fight China, as he manifested- technology and wealth is beyond compare.
According to Duterte the Philippine arsenal cannot match the power of China, for many years, China was silent but they invested on agriculture and became a super power.
Duterte emphasized, “China became a great power has an arsenal which is comparable to that of the Unites States of America (USA).
Here is the full speech of the President:
Alam mo maraming issues ngayon at dapat ninyong malaman kasi sundalo kayo and then again added to that is your interest sa ating bayan.
Alam mo tinanong ako: “Would you allow the Chinese to fish in China Sea and in the waters which we claim as the Philippine Sea?”
Iyan ang contention pinag-agawan natin. But this is really historic. China was not so keen when she was weak. Ang ginawa ng China all those years because Russia — I’m talking about geopolitics — because Russia was providing the arms to counter — to balance the threat from the western world including America. Ang ginawa ng China hindi masyado sa armas. Pinaglaki nila ‘yung agriculture nila and ayaw makipag-away not even an argument.
Dumating ang panahon that China became a great power and had an arsenal comparable to any western power now. If not could rival or already in parity, tabla na sa America.
And that is why — I just said the geopolitics. Ang western power hanggang overflights lang sila pati padaan-daan. But they cannot confront China directly na mag-istambay sila diyan at sabihin nila ‘walang may-ari nito.’
Because China verily is the first country that I know — during the laws of the medieval times until now at saka ‘yung progression ng law until today — China is the only country who could claim an entire ocean. Bawal na talaga ‘yon.
But you must remember because you were already around. Noong China was building something in the Scarborough parang concept lang or mga cottages, there were already intelligence reports gathered from the overflights doon pati sa taas. That indeed there was an abrewing building of a complex. And yet America, who was the only power at that time who could stop it, never lifted a finger. Iyan ang totoo. Nandito man tayo lahat.
And they allowed it to become a military base. Now ngayon hindi na nila kaya. But at that time I supposed hindi na talaga kaya ng America. Kasi all you’d have to do is to bring in the Seventh Fleet and confront China and say, ‘Hey you guys, you cannot build an island in the high seas. That is simply prohibited.’
Ganun ‘yan. But Chi… America did not do anything except to papasok siya, sail about, ganun. Kaya hindi ko maintindihan bakit inallow (allow) niya that — what started to be a simple well housing or a beach then it became a runway. O ngayon tapos sabihin niya, ‘bawal ‘yan.’
Bakit hindi niya inilagay or better still to confront China? Ang France, Britain at America magpadala sila ng barko diyan sa China, ‘Hindi iyo ‘to. You cannot claim an island.’
Ang pinakamahaba mo is the 12 miles from the coastal. Iyong where there is the high and low tide. So ‘pag low tide o high tide doon mo i-measure ‘yung… Iyon ang batas. But nobody did.
So itong Pilipinas ngayon nagpadala tayo. Ako bilib talaga ako kay Wong — Admiral Wong. Dinala niya doon ‘yung barko na sira. Talagang binunggo niya, sinira niya, iniwan niya doon. It was just a symbolic claim of the Philippines. And to think that Wong was really a Chinese by blood but he was a real Filipino. Saludo ako sa kanya.
Na noong nagdating na ang panahon, there was a ruckus, because China now was powerful. Gusto na niya ngayon to assert. Because today he says that he has a missile 10 times the speed of sound and it is also a weapon which Russia has. Maybe they are sharing the technology.
O ito ngayon, panahon ni Aquino… Kasi ang totoo lang at panahon ni Albert may stalemate. Alam ninyo kayong Navy. Nagkatutukan kayo doon.
But it was Albert representing ‘yung nahuli sa Hong Kong, idinetain (detain). Naggamit-gamit ng passport na hindi naman dapat. When you are no longer an employee of government, you have no business using a government diplomatic passport.
Pagkadating doon, siya ‘yon. Siya ‘yung nagsabi, ‘sige alis tayo.’ Hindi umalis ang China. Tapos in between those years, ang ating mga fishermen could not fish there.
Tapos nag-order tayo sa America ng 63,000 M16s SIG Sauer. Binara ng Amerikano I don’t know why. But we needed those firearms because karamihan ng firearms ninyo loose na ang bore pati tumatalsik ang bolt.
Matagal kasi akong mayor. Alam ninyo kayong lahat dumaan sa ano — kayong matatanda. Kaya ko kaibigan itong mga opisyal, 23 years — for 23 years. Then one term as a vice mayor and one term as a congressman.
So iyon ang nangyari. So at that time there was an impasse. Hindi makapasok ang ating Pilipinong fishermen kasi inaabog.
So when I went to China to buy arms not to talk about fish because sabi ko ‘pag magputok itong Marawi, galing naman sa inyo, sabi niyo “umiinit na nang husto.” And they are passing arms around including my relatives doon, pati si Mamao. He is my brod. Taga-doon ang lola ko, sabi ng mga pinsan ko nagpapasahan na ng armas.
So I needed the arms wala ako, pumunta ako ng China. Sinabi ko sa China — I told the Chinese about my problems. And I said, “I needed those arms because I think there is an offing rebellion somewhere in Mindanao. Most probably it would be in Marawi.” Sabi ng Intsik, “Okay. We know your problem.” Ibinigay niya ako ng armas. “Huwag mo nang bayaran.”
But kulang naman and I could not impose a number because libre na nga eh. I went to Russia to talk to Putin. And Putin said, “Yeah, I know the situation. I’ll give you the arms plus trucks ‘yung apat.”
Sabi ko, “How much do I owe you? Can I…” Sabi ko mahirap lang kami na bayan pwede ba akong…? Just like what I proposed to China. Sabi nila, “wala.”
And mind you, until today ni isang toothpick walang hiningi ang Russia pati ang China sa atin. And I never allowed military alliances. Meron tayong RP-US Treaty eh. I could not add anything to that because it would be unlawful. Parang exclusive ‘yan. And it’s good.
Ngayon, noong ako na ang pumunta sabi niya… Eh dinala ko na lahat problema ko. “So what about my fishermen? They’ll go hungry. Can you not just reconsider for reasons of humanitarian?”
Sabi niya, “O sige dahan-dahan lang.” Kaya nakapasok. Ang sabi ni Xi Jinping sa akin — ako, si Año, si Delfin, silang lahat nandiyan sa harap — it was a bilateral. Kami dito, sila doon.
Sabi ni Xi Jinping, anyway that is our not fishing ground. But we will someday, maybe. But in the meantime — kaya ang nakikita, nahuhuli lang doon o nagkakaproblema, ang Pilipino.
So ito ngayon, we are allowed to fish. Sabi ang mga China maliit, pumasok naman. We cannot drive them away because they have insisted na kanila. Tayo, idinemanda natin ang China panahon ni Aquino, which was right. Nanalo tayo, sabi ng arbitral court, “sa Pilipinas ‘yan”.
Hindi ibinigay sa atin ‘yung sovereignty. Our sovereignty is only 12 miles. Ang economic zone, wala tayong sovereignty. No country in the world has a sovereignty sa kanyang economic zone — exclusive. It is not a question of sovereignty. Ang recognized lang ‘yung 12.
So pumunta na diyan ‘yung mga Chinese. Ngayon, nagkabungguan. You know, pagkabunggo, ‘yang bangka to bangka, that is a mere maritime accident or incident.
You do not react violently. As a matter of fact, halos kami ngayon are agreed na sideswipe. Tapsingan ba. Hindi talaga ‘yung binunggo. Kay kung binunggo, nasa ilalim na ‘yon.
Nobody was hurt kasi nga tawag nila parang sasakyan, ‘yung pasahero tinamaan ng — na-sideswipe. ‘Yun ang tawag diyan.
Ngayon, sabihin mo sinadya. Then let us have an investigation. Itinatago ko ‘yung aking baraha. Meron ng Customs, meron ng Navy, itinatago ko for the final report kasi gusto ko tingnan ‘yung ano sa China.
But that is no reason to go to war. Hindi mo pwedeng sabihin ipadala mo ‘yung mga grey ships mo. The grey ships ‘yon ang warship. Bakit ko ipadala doon on a mere maritime…? Wala namang saksakan nga, walang barilan. Nadisgrasya lang, iniwan.
Ang sabi ng China, nandoon kami, nagkita kami sa Bangkok, “Bakit naman ninyo ginawa?” Sabi niya, naglapitan na lahat eh. Then we realized na foreigner at Pilipino.
Eh ‘yung lahat baka — takot kami na baka rambulin kami doon kaya sila sumibat. Now, whether that is a good answer or not, that is their answer. Wala man tayong magawa. You cannot force another answer kung ayaw niya.
Ang problema nito ngayon, itong mga —Justice Carpio. Sabi ko nga, alam mo Justice Carpio, napaka-estupido mo. That is why hanggang diyan ka lang talaga. He’s from Davao. Basta noon pa, hindi ako bilib diyan buang na ‘yan.
Wala, wala — walang ka-rhyme or reason. Pati itong mga — mga senador, sa opposition. Alam mo, gusto talaga nila ng gulo. Kasi sabi ko — tanong sila, “Will you allow the Chinese to fish?” Sabi ko, “Of course”.
‘Yan ang pinag-usapan namin noon, kaya tayo naguusap eh. And that was we were allowed to fish again. It was a mutual agreement. Sige bigayan tayo. Fish ka doon, fish ako dito. Pero ang China, sabi niya not — meron pa kaming ibang… Kaya sinosolo natin dito.
‘Yung iba naman nahuhuli. ‘Yung iba — but nagtatawagan lang. Ngayon, sabi nila, ‘you have to ban China. I-prohibit mo’. Kung i-prohibit ko, how do I enforce my desire? Takot nga ang America, ayaw ngang mag-confront tapos ako pa ang ipusta nila. Gusto talaga nilang mapasubo ako.
So gusto nila pumunta ako doon, dalhin ko ‘yung mga — eh bakit giyera lang ano? Talagang giyera ‘yan. ‘Pag pinuntahan mo doon, alang-alang magdala ako ng Bureau of Fisheries ng dalawang bangka? Tapos sabi ko, ‘itulak mo ‘yan sila.’
Anything that is — that would force anybody to act contrary to his will is always offensive. As a matter of fact sa law, that is what’s called compelling anybody is a crime. Eh gusto nila i-prohibit ko. Why will I go there and prohibit them na the only way to stop them is talagang gamitan mo ng ngipin ‘yan?
Sinabihan China — sinabi na natin, ang usapan natin, huwag na muna ngayon pagusapan, mag-kaibigan lang muna tayo. Pagbigyan ko kayo ng armas, ano pang gusto ninyo? Ang mga projects ngayon. Kita mo naman. You from Luzon. Kita mo ‘yung highway ngayon? Kita mo ‘yung mga… Tapos gusto mo lang na pilitin na umalis sila doon? Tayo ang mapulpog.
My God, I am not willing to sacrifice any soldier or policeman to die na walang kalaban-laban. Pag-andar pa lang ng barge diyan banda sa — they can — their missiles, ‘yang nakatutok diyan, they can reach Manila in seven minutes.
Eh kung magkainitan talaga? Kung gusto talaga nila sundin. You enforce. Eh kung magkapikunan? Kung paputukin ka niya diyan? Eh magpaputok ka.
Ang hawak nila kwitis pero ang warhead is atomic bomb. Ang ating hawak, kwitis pero para pampista lang ‘yan. Hindi ‘yon pang-away.
Alam naman ninyo, talo talaga tayo by the sheer might. Unang-una, manpower, pera at marunong talaga. All these years, they went into production, agriculture. Binusog muna nila ang tiyan nila. Tahimik sila. They never quarreled with anybody.
Now that they are strong, they now have the gall to claim an entire ocean, which is… I don’t know how to say it. Tapos ‘yang diyan, sabi nila, “Would you allow the fishermen to fish?” “Of course”. That was our agreement. ‘Di ba itinataboy tayo? Kaya binunggo nga ni Admiral Wong. Do you remember? Iyon ‘yan.
Tapos gusto nila ipasubo, magpunta ako doon to insist on my order to stop. Kung lumaban ‘yan? Magpadala ka doon ng any symbolic thing there — M60 o bazooka. Magpadala ka ng barko doon na may armas, ano kayang mangyari?
Ito ang hamon ko, ang hamon ko sa America, Britain, France, mag-assemble tayo dito sa Palawan tapos diretso na tayo doon sa Spratly. Agawin na natin kung maagaw natin.
Ah kung maubos tayo lahat… Sabihin nila, “Duterte is not protecting the interest of the Filipino.” You’re a g****** s***. You want me to put the lives of 110 million Filipinos by going into trouble? Gusto mo ipusta mo ‘yang…
Kaya sabi ko, mabuti’t — para maintindihan ninyo ‘yung galit ko. Hindi ako sa hindi natatakot. Kung gusto nila, sabi ko nga, mag-imbita sila kay hindi naman talaga natin kaya ‘yang — p*** karami ng armas diyan ngayon. Sabay-sabay kami.
Ako, si Trump, diyan sa deck. Teleskopyo, malapit na tayo. ‘Pag sumabog tayong apat, ‘di okay lang, eh di tapos na ang… It’s not the time to go to war. Eh kasi hindi… Reality, that’s geopolitics.
Kaya nga nang-agaw sila noon, nakipag-giyera, geopolitically they were strong. Kaya Japan came here, may war machine sila eh. Mine is just to defend the internal integrity of my country.
Kaya ako talaga galit diyan sa mga Abu Sayyaf, komunista, terorista, pati ‘yang… Ang binibira nila ngayon, sinasabi ko na sa inyo sa police, lahat kasi ngayon may armas. Be careful. The Davao experience in the 23 years na ako ang mayor, mainit ‘yang baril. Kunin talaga ‘yan, always at the back.
Sabi ko, before you go out, you better use your… Pag kayo naka… I-check mo lang ‘yang diyang ano. Lahat naman kayo may cellphone eh.
And when you’re ready to go out. You review. Kunwari naka-stand by pa rin doon ng apat o lima suspicious character, puntahan mo na kaagad barilin mo na. ‘Yun pala NBI, naloko na. [laughter] Walang coordination.
‘Yan ang — I’m just warning you. Mainit masyado ‘yang baril sa NPA. Kukunin talaga ‘yan. Lalo na kung saan kayo nakatira. Be careful. I should know. I was the mayor when the Sparrow was born. Sila De Vera pati si Kintanar, taga-Davao ‘yan. De Vera ‘yung una, si Benjamin.
Ngayon, nandiyan lang siya sa cemetery nakikita ko. He dabbles in painting. Pero I don’t know why he is there sa cemetery naka-istambay. Siya man ‘yung leader noon. Wala, wala na ‘yan silang leader. A little more push. Siguro two years ‘pag talagang bakbakan nang husto. Ang mabuti niyan is not to give them any room, any space to move. Maabot din natin ‘yan.
I have always insist… Kaya ‘yang helicopter, nandiyan man sila. ‘Yang helicopter, gusto ako bigyan bago apat. Sabi ko, unahin mo na muna ‘yung requirements sa military. Tutal lumilipad pa man.
Ngayon, kung may marinig kayodiyan na malakas na putok, iyon na ‘yon pag-landing siguro baka… Pero I don’t… Inuuna ko talaga ‘yung interest ng mga tao. Hindi mo ako makita magbili-bili diyan ng ano. Anything I said no, unahin muna sa — unahin mo na ang Air Force. Ibigay mo na sa kanila. Okay na ‘yan. Pwede pang lumipad ‘yang helicopter ko. Nakangiti pa lagi ‘yung piloto. Eh ‘di ibig sabihin okay. So that’s my…
But you know, as I — you protect me, you can be very sure that I have your interest in the mind. Lahat ng gusto ninyo binili ko na. Mga ano… I… I… I… I —- you know, si Delfin ang nagdala sa second ranger — Second Scout Ranger Regimen sa Davao kaya kami nagkilala.
Kilala ko ‘yan si… Kilala ko man lahat ‘yang mga officials because matagal ako nag-mayor, dumaan lahat ‘yan pati pulis. Kilala ko ang… ‘Yung pag-alis ko na, medyo lesser ang contact. But when I was mayor, barkada ko talaga.
Do not believe that I’m a communist. Ako politiko. Pagka-eleksyon p***, basta boto, lamano ‘yan. Bakit pwede mong awayin? Mawalaan ka pa ng boto. Pagkatapos niyan, so when I became President, nagkaroon na ng clear cut, ganun.
Kaibigan ko man ‘yan sila. That is why during my time nagsu-surface sila. Kumakain pa diyan sa Malacañan. Kasi gusto ko talaga na matapos na. But kung hindi, well that is your burden, the Armed Forces and the Police. Iyon ang trabaho ninyo.
Pero ‘yung sana ang — Central Mindanao medyo nagkalma na. We were able to really convince those guys sila Murad. And I’m trying to set up a meeting with Nur Misuari. I would concede the same arrangement.
And more than that, buksan ko ‘yung ano for barter. Not smuggling. Pero hindi dito sa Zamboanga. Maraming maro (clever) dito eh. Naghalo ‘yan diyan. It will be controlled by the Navy.
At nagawarning lang ako na if that NAIA is not — the security is not improved there — I will order the Air Force to take over. Kasi you must remember I declared a national emergency when I started as President. And I would invoke it.
Napakadisgrasya ‘yan kung may mangyari diyan. Talo tayo lahat diyan. One way would lose lahat ng ano.
So marami akong plano, radical changes because it is needed. But going to war — wala mag-exercise lang kayo araw-araw. Just keep your physique.
Dadating rin ‘yan kung panahon. And you know, wherever you are, I’m always there. In Marawi, in Jolo binibisita ko kayo kasi mahal ko ang sundalo ko, mahal ko ang pulis ko. Kaya sabi ko, bakit? What was my justification?
Alam mo, sa totoo lang, you can ask Gordon and si Bong may alam eh, Loren. Sila ang may — si Loren ang may hawak. Sinabi ko talaga sa kanila kasi ‘yung TRAIN ang pinag-usapan, TRAIN Law.
Sabi ko, “Unahin ninyo ang sweldo ng Armed Forces pati pulis. ‘Pag hindi ninyo ipinasa ‘yan, mag-resign ako.” Sinabihan ko si Gordon. “Ayaw mong maniwala? Sige. Subukan ninyo.”
At dito minsan sa command conference, tanungin ninyo ‘yung mga opisyal, I offered to step down. ‘Yung mga coup d’etat, coup d’etat? Bakit bawal? Awayin mo itong sundalo ko na p*** galing man rin diyan?
Sabi ko, huwag kayong magpunta ng Malacañan ha? Sipain ko kayo lahat, magdala-dala kayo ng armor. Magpunta ka lang dito, tawagan mo lang ako. Magkape tayo. ‘Magkape tayo, Rod.’ ‘O sige.’
‘O anong problema?’ ‘Eh gusto ka naming palitan.’ ‘O ‘di sige. Kayo na. Gusto ninyo? O raise your right hand. Sige. I… I…’ O alis na ako. Bahala na kayo. Wala akong… Coup d’etat, coup d’etat. Hindi ako worried diyan.
Alam mo palad ang buhay eh. There is always a time for everything. If I don’t make it at the end of my term, fine. That’s my destiny. If I die? The same. Kung anong mangyari, it’s always written in destiny ng tao.
Kaya sabi ko talaga sa mga generals, ‘yan sila lahat, huwag kayo magpunta-punta dito sa Malacañan magdala-dala ng mga tangke de giyera. Hilas (arrogant) sa Bisaya. Corny sa Iningles. Ewan ko kung ano ‘yan sa Tagalog.
Magkape lang tayo. Sabihin mo, ‘Rod, kailangan namin magkape sa iyo. Gusto namin ipalit si ano, si Chiquito.’ Eh ‘di sige kung gusto ninyo. Mamili kayo kung sino ang gusto ninyong lider.
Kasi kung lider na hindi ninyo suportahan kagaya ko, kung ayaw ninyo ako, p***** i**, you tell me because I will not waste my time with you. And I can always go home and retire. Iyan ang totoo diyan.
But anyway, hindi pa man nangyari, I don’t want you to fight with your fellow soldiers and policemen kagaya ng ibang Presidente. Erap did it. Marcos did it. Tama ‘yon. Walang lider magsabi na mag-counterattack. G*** ‘yon. Tama ‘yung ginawa nila. Bumaba sila.
Ako, if I’m no longer needed or if I — kung ang tingin ninyo mas may mahusay pa sa akin? Go ahead. Let me know. We dispense with this dramatic sa mga tangke, tangke de giyera. Lumang tugtugin na ‘yan. Just let me know.
But in the meantime, but you still believe in me na kaya kong dalhin ang bayan pati ang problema, eh ‘di salamat. I’m doing my best. Corruption ngayon wala na, hindi talaga ako papayag. Iyan ang maasahan ninyo.
Marami na — marami tayong pera ngayon. Pero hindi ko sabihin, pero marami tayong pera. Kasi maganda ang koleksyon pati I do not allow talaga ang corruption. Bayad ka nang husto. Just pay the right amount, wala akong problema.
At saka ilang Cabinet members na ang sinipa ko? Marami na kaya. Iyong iba were with me in 1988 noong when I first — nagkampanya pa ‘yan. Masakit sa loob ko pero wala talaga akong magawa. That’s the deal.
Our oath of office, I will reduce it in two sentences: We are here to protect the people. And we are here to preserve the Republic of the Philippines.
