Solon welcomes Duterte’s intention to discuss addressing corruption with Congress

Kabayan party-list Representative Ron Salo on Tuesday welcomed President Rodrigo's declared intention to appear before Congress to discuss ways to end corruption through legislation.

In a message to reporters, Salo said the desire of the President to share his insights with Congress on corruption and red tape is "highly laudable."

"It will allow us to directly hear from the President who had an extraordinary experience of running both an LGU and the national government," he said.

"In addition, he was also a previous member of Congress and had extensive legal practice," he added.

In his televised address Monday night, Duterte said he is ready to appear before Congress to discuss how to cut corruption.

He added that “Congress might want to enact a legislation,” stressing that he cannot fight corruption especially when there are people “resisting moves of government to improve.”

The Chief Executive earlier met with Senate President Vicente Sotto III and House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano to discuss red tape and corruption.

House Committee on Public Accounts chair Mike Defensor said that following this meeting, the chamber formed a committee led by Majority Leader Martin Romualdez and composed of five lawmakers including him, Representative Joey Salceda, and Representative Jonathan Sy-Alvarado.

Defensor also said that like in the Senate, a measure has been filed at the House to expedite the processing and issuance of national and local permits, licenses and certifications during a period of national emergency.

During his address, Duterte also called on the public to report corruption directly to him.

“If you really want to have your complaints, you write me a letter and I will read it here kung sino ‘yung nakahawak ng papel nang matagal and maybe, if it is inordinately delayed, I will ask the idiot to sit here on this table tapos buhos ko ‘tong tubig sa mukha niya,” he said. — BM, GMA News