Duterte praises Arroyo, vows to emulate her ‘strong-willed leadership’

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday praised former Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who he said was an “embodiment of strong political will.”

Speaking at the appreciation dinner for Arroyo that was hosted by the 17th Congress in Manila, Duterte said “no other chief executive in Philippine history comes close to President Arroyo’s example of carrying out decisive actions even if such actions would prove to be unpopular.”

“Indeed, her intuitive and hands-on leadership has carried our nation forward, especially during trying times,” he said of Arroyo’s tenure as president from 2001 to 2010.

He credited Arroyo’s economic acumen for laying down the foundations of the country’s steady economic growth during her term, “the effects of which are still felt today and will be felt in the years ahead.”

“Serving in various capacities, she crossed party lines and worked with various sectors in order to implement legislation that improved our people’s welfare, brought decentralized development to the poor and marginalized constituencies, and instituted significant fiscal reforms that have sustained our nation for almost three decades,” he said.

“Now, I only intend to make our country even stronger by following her brilliant example of a strong-willed leadership and decisive governance.”

The President said he hopes that Arroyo’s legacy “shine through and inspire millions of Filipinos as we move forward in realizing our dream of building a better and more prosperous Philippines for all.”

Going off script, Duterte said when Arroyo was president she would call him “in the wee hours of the morning just to listen to me and to seek my advice.”

“I was there when you made the decision, one major crucial. And since you did not follow me....,” he said, without elaborating.

He quipped that he did not kill anyone when he was still Davao City mayor on Arroyo’s orders.

“Of course, wala akong pinatay na tao na utos niya. Pinatay ko na lang kasi feeling ko gusto niya,” Duterte said, eliciting laughter from the crowd.

Arroyo had served as Trade undersecretary, senator and vice president before she was catapulted to power in January 2001 through a civilian-military revolt that toppled President Joseph Estrada over corruption accusations.

She then won a six-year term in the 2004 election that was marred by allegations of massive fraud.

Arroyo left the presidency in 2010 and then served nine years as congresswoman for Pampanga’s second district.

She spent four of those years in hospital detention on plunder charges stemming from the alleged misuse of P366-million intelligence funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office funds during her term as president.

The Supreme Court acquitted Arroyo of the charges in July 2016, shortly after Duterte assumed the presidency from Arroyo’s political nemesis and successor, Benigno Aquino III.

She was elected Speaker on July 23 last year, the day of the President's third State of the Nation Address. Arroyo left the speakership on June 30 as her third and last term as congresswoman ended. —LDF, GMA News