Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 19) — Photographs of public officials displayed in government offices will be replaced with images of national heroes instead, President Rodrigo Duterte said.
“I intend to issue a decree. Ipatanggal ko ‘yung mga litrato namin,” he said, speaking at the ceremonial turnover of pistols to the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Tuesday.
[Translation: I intend to issue a decree. I’ll order the removal of our photos.]
Duterte said displaying images of national heroes would inspire children visiting government offices.
Government officials have yet to reach the level of distinction national heroes have achieved, he said, adding that some of the officials who had their photos on display faced multiple graft and corruption charges. He did not mention names.
“Gusto ko ‘yung mga hero natin. Ma-emulate ng mga bata. Eh ‘yung iba diyan sa picture limang beses na dumaan ng graft and corruption sa kaso eh,” said Duterte.
[Translation: I want images of our heroes so children can emulate them. Some of those displaying their pictures have gone through graft and corruption cases five times.]
Duterte, who prohibited the display of his image in the Davao City Hall as Mayor, said photos of the officials belong in their family living rooms–not in government offices.
“Doon mo ilagay ‘yan sa mga pamilya ninyo, doon sa sala [Go display your photos in your family living room],” he said in remarks during the ceremony.
“Sa Davao, when I was Mayor, I prohibited the display of my picture. And I told the decks there to display instead the pictures of our heroes,” Duterte added.
Before this, Dutere also noted there were few prominent Visayan heroes compared to those from Luzon.
The President said he considered Jose Rizal, who hailed from Laguna, and Gregorio del Pilar, from Bulacan, who were central figures in the Philippine Revolution as role models, but he wanted more heroes from the Visayas to be acknowledged.
“Hindi naman kailangang number one. Basta may maidagdag lang ako kasi wala nga kaming hero,” he said.
[Translation: It doesn’t need to be number one. Just so we can add someone because we don’t have a hero.]
This was why he created the Order of Lapu-Lapu to give recognition to the Mactan chieftain, largely regarded as the first Filipino hero for standing up to a colonial power when he killed Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in the Battle of Mactan in Cebu on April 27, 1521.
“It behooves upon me to give due recognition to everybody. Puro taga… Wala man ako sa ano kay puro talaga mahuhusay man ‘yan. Pero dinagdagan ko, so may Order of Lapu-Lapu tayo,” he said.
[Translation: It behooves upon me to give due recognition to everybody. They’re mostly from (Manila)… They’re all very good, of course. But I added this so we have the Order of Lapu-Lapu now.]
The distinction, which Duterte created last April 7, recognizes government officials and private individuals for their “invaluable or extraordinary service in relation to a campaign or advocacy of the President.”
CNN Philippines’ Amanda Lingao contributed to this report
