No sirens; we are just gov’t workers – Duterte

DAVAO CITY — President Duterte has reminded government officials to behave as workers in government and quit the use of sirens when moving along traffic.

“I told them — walang maggamit ng siren at (do not use sirens and) I do not like you to strut around with many bodyguards,” Duterte told guests at the 11th Ambassadors’ Tour Philippine Reception at the SMX Convention Center here.

“Huwag kayong mag-siren (Don’t use sirens), we are not a special breed. We are just workers of government. We are paid to work. We are not paid to strut around,” said Duterte, who added this to his policy against graft and corruption.

He said he also wants government officials to limit their security escorts to one or two, citing how he rode his motorcycle around Davao City without a bodyguard when he was mayor.

He shared that like his father, who was a former governor of Davao province, he is just a simple government official.

“Tatay ko governor for 10 years dito (My father was governor here for 10 years), when this was only one Davao. We were not even allowed to ride in his car, maski naka-parking (even when it was parked),” he recalled.

The President thanked the participants of the 11th Ambassadors’ Tour for taking time to visit Davao City.

“This serves as a special homecoming program for you so that you can share with your colleagues your success as our country’s most respectable representative in the United States,” he said, adding that as Filipinos based in the US, they can contribute to the country by promoting the Philippines as an “ideal location for business to thrive, and as a great destination for tourists to experience.” (PND)