Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24) — Ahead of the fifth anniversary of President Rodrigo Duterte’s oath taking on June 30, Malacañang says the chief executive still has his eyes on the same advocacies.
“It hasn’t changed,” said spokesman Harry Roque when asked on Duterte’s priorities in his last year as chief executive.
“It is still ensuring that every Filipino is vaccinated and his continuing campaign against corruption and prohibited drugs,” he added.
Sworn in as president on June 30, 2016, Duterte ran under the promise of ending the country’s drug problem in three months.
He eventually extended this deadline to six months, then to three years as he “miscalculated” the problem.
The chief executive eventually promised a drug-free community for Filipinos before the end of his term.
On the other hand, Duterte has also been encouraging the public to get inoculated against COVID-19 as the country aims to quash the spread of the virus.
He recently threatened to arrest individuals who refuse to receive vaccine shots, which officials later explained was just an expression of the President’s frustration amid the health crisis.
RELATED: Palace: COVID-19 vaccination could be mandatory, but Duterte not eyeing law for it yet
The Palace earlier said Duterte has no plans of extending his presidency. However, he has yet to formally announce his plans in the 2022 polls, wherein he has been urged by partymates to run for vice president.
https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/9/28/Duterte-not-interested-in-extending-his-term-Roque.html?fb
https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/6/11/Duterte-running-for-VP-in-2022-still-possible.html
