Rodrigo Duterte SONA 2016 - Video Highlights; Top Quotes and Full Speech Transcript [TEXT]

By Magnolia Yrasuegui, CP Contributor Tuesday, July 26, 2016

What was expected to be a 30-minute State of the Nation Address (SONA) of Philippine President, Rodrigo Duterte, morphed into more than 90 minutes – the longest first SONA of a president in the history of the Philippines. The speech included a lot of personal ad libs and jokes that showed who and what mattered to the 71 year-old President.

Duterte speaking out of the norm is expected as he is touted to be somebody who will speak his mind. Presidential Communications Officer Secretary Martin Andanar said that the improvisations and side comments of Duterte is his way of weaving his magic touch to the masses.

The original speech was only 15 pages long but because of Duterte's deviation from the prepared speech it has evolved into a 45 page transcript.

Duterte Quotable Quotes

"We cannot move forward if we allow the past to pull us back. Finger-pointing is not the way." – a statement believed to be directed to former President, Benigno Aquino III, who had a penchant of always putting the blame on the administration that preceded his.
"Lest I may be misunderstood, let me say clearly that those who betrayed the people's trust shall not go unpunished and they will have their day in court." – Corrupt members of his administration will not be treated with kid gloves.
"I am a stickler for the principle of separation between Church and State, I believe quite strongly that there should never be a separation between God and State." Duterte has been at odds with the Catholic Church who didn't approve of his style of leadership and often said that a Duterte Administration will be the start of a Godless society.

"We will not stop until the last drug lord, last financier and the last pusher has surrendered or put behind bars or below the ground if they so wish." – 65,000 (and counting) users and peddlers of illegal drugs has surrendered since the Duterte administration began
"To our police officers and other officials, do your job and you will have the unwavering support of the Officer of the President. I will be with you all the way. Abuse your authority and there will be hell to pay." – He encouraged Police officers of his support but will not tolerate abuses.

"Human rights must work to uplift human dignity. But human rights cannot be used as a shield of an excuse to destroy the county." – A shot at the Commission on Human Rights and activists who decry the alleged commission of extrajudicial killings brought about by the anti-drug campaign of the administration.
"I want peace of the living not of the dead" – Calling for a unilateral peace agreement between the CPP/NPA/NDF to which Chief political consultant Jose Maria Sison issued a statement of positively welcoming Duterte's call for peace.

"We strongly affirm and respect the outcome of the case before the Permanent Court of Arbitration as an important contribution to the ongoing efforts to pursue a peaceful resolution and management of our disputes." Addressing China's non-recognition of the ruling favoring the Philippines in the disputed territories against China.
"I assure you, this will be a clean government. I guarantee that 101 % this will be clean. – Reiterated his campaign promise to rid the government of corruption.

"Follow government standards. Do not destroy the environment." – Calling for a stop on illegal logging, illegal mining and other destructive practices against the environment.
"…hurry up the federal system of government" Citing France as a good example to follow.
"Implementation the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health law must be put into full force and effect" Government should promote the bill that has long been enacted into law but was not fully implemented because of the clout of the Catholic Church

The Duterte administration is proving to be going against the norm, and judging from his 91 percent approval rating he got before his first SONA, the Philippines is welcoming the change.