Solons laud Duterte for inspiring, meaningful speech

Lawmakers on both sides of political fence on Thursday lauded President Rodrigo Duterte for his "short but powerful" inaugural speech, saying it made the people believe in the government again.

Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles said Duterte’s speech gave Filipinos a glimpse of what they should expect from his administration — straightforward, unembellished but unpretentious.

"It is short but powerful in inspiring our people to unite and bring their faith back to the government," Nograles said. "It is a reminder that Change is coming and change starts today."

[Read full text of Duterte's inaugural speech here.]

Iloilo Rep. Jerry Treñas, a Liberal Party stalwart who recently jumped ship to Duterte’s political party, the PDP-Laban, hailed the new President’s reassurance that his administration will honor ongoing government contracts and international treaties.

He said Duterte's speech is an indication that the gains made under the Aquino administration will be sustained and nurtured instead of being destroyed due to partisanship.

Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, who has expressed his plan to become part of the minority bloc in the incoming 17th Congress, described Duterte’s speech as "meaningful."

"The President sent across the message that there’s hope. He also reminded public officials that we were elected by the people with expectations of serving them," he said in a phone interview.

Although he will be acting as a fiscalizer of the Duterte administration, Suarez said he wants to give constructive criticisms of the President’s actions.

For his part, Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate said he is hopeful that Duterte will continue employing a "progressive" and "pro-people" stance in crafting government policies over the next six years.

He said progressive organizations expect Duterte to "vigorously pursue" the peace process with communist rebels, as the President had promised.

In his inaugural speech, Duterte said his administration “is committed to implement all signed peace agreements in step with constitutional and legal reforms.”

He noted the positive response his call for peace has generated from Moros, and said he is looking forward to the participation of other stakeholders to ensure inclusivity in the peace process.

Zarate, whose party-list and colleagues in the Makabayan bloc had been critical of the Aquino administration, said he also expects Duterte to make his predecessor and allies accountable for controversies such as the Mamasapano bloodbath and the Disbursement Acceleration Program. —KBK, GMA News