Press Release
June 30, 2016

Recto on Duterte's speech: 'Presidential, persuasive, purposeful'

Like a great woman's dress, it was long enough to cover the subject, but short enough to be interesting. It proved that brevity need not be junked to accommodate a host of bold statements.

In my opinion, he bookmarked the breadth of the things he initially wanted to do, balancing audacity with the guarantees that his administration won't go overboard in pursuing them.

He will go hard after criminals but not at the expense of killing the rule of law.

He will comfort the afflicted but not by impoverishing the already comfortable.

He will help laborers but will not harm capital in the process.

Because his initial pronouncements struck the right mix of being bold but responsible, they were courageous and comforting at the same time.

They were also the things the nation needs today.

Like ending the war with the Reds in the countryside and ending red tape in government offices.

Like restoring public's trust in the government by changing the way it serves the people, while urging the people to also begin the change in themselves.

His speech was presidential, purposeful and persuasive. We expect more of it in the days to come as he delivers his marching orders to his army of change.

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