Slap gov’t officials who extort, Duterte urges investors

January 26, 2017

President Rodrigo Duterte urged on Thursday investors not to give in to extortion activities of government officials to finally end corruption.

In a speech in Sarangani province where he led the switch-on ceremony of a power plant, Duterte said he has his own faults, but corruption is not one of them.

"I am trying to address my fellowmen and to the investors, do not pay. You do not have the obligation to give money...all you have to be is to be assertive," Duterte said.

He said if government employees, such as in the Bureaus of Customs and Internal Revenue, would ask money, investors should just tell them to go to Duterte.

"All you have to say, 'Look guy, if you want money, I'll give it to Duterte. I'll double the amount'," Duterte said.

He advised investors or anyone being extorted with to create a scene by slapping  government staff so it could reach him through the media.

Investors or other people could send their complaint to government's 8888 complaint hotline, he said. Duterte added he will summon the concerned government employee to Malacanang.

"You, in the government, it's time to have a respite from corruption," Duterte said.

Aside from eliminating illegal drugs in the country, Duterte also vowed to end corruption in government. Celerina Monte/DMS