Arroyo describes Duterte as ‘awesome’ in 1st year as president

Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo lauded the first year of President Rodrigo Duterte's leadership, describing it as "awesome."

"Yesterday he celebrated his first year as president. He has shown awesome leadership in many programs he has set out to do during his presidency," Arroyo, a known ally of Duterte, said in her speech during the 52nd Inner Wheel Clubs of the Philippines meeting in Makati City.

"In the first year he has completed yesterday, he instituted bold reforms against illegal drugs and corruption," the former President and now 2nd District of Pampanga representative noted.

Arroyo also cited the President's P8.4-trillion massive infrastructure spending initiative dubbed as "Build, Build, Build" throughout his presidency.

"And speaking as an economist, I'd like to add his 'Build, Build, Build' initiative is commendable and is a step in [the] right direction towards sustaining our robust economic growth," she said.

"Our economic growth today is one of the best in the world," she added.

The former president underscored that Duterte accomplished "uniting" Filipinos toward the goal of achieving "real change."

"Beyond his accomplishments in the technical work as a president, one thing that the president has done is to inspire and unite the Filipino people towards his goal of effecting real change in the country, pagbabago," she said.

"So let's all wish him the best as he begins his second year and the best of health for the rest of his term as he fulfills his mandate for the nation and for the people," she added. — John Ted Cordero/MDM, GMA News