Duterte to 2022 PMA graduates: ‘Nation’s salvation rests in your hands, youth sector’

BAGUIO City – President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday told graduating members of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Bagsik Diwa” Class that the salvation of the country is now in their hands and the youth sector, while admitting that his administration “was constrained to adopt extreme legal measures to fight societal ills.”

“It is sad to admit that after six years, these evils hound us still though in lesser degrees of intensity,” the president said in a speech he delivered at his last commencement exercise as the

Armed Forces of the Philippines commander-in-chief.

“It is in the hands of the next generation of Filipino leaders and movers where our salvation rests,” he said, in defeating corruption, red tape, illegal drugs and crimes.

“You, the Bagsik Diwa Class, belong to that generation,” he stressed after commissioning the cadets into junior officers of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force, including this year’s top cadet, newly-commissioned Navy 2Lt Krystlenn Ivany Quemado.

The Nationalist People’s Coalition, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino and Hugpong ng Pagbabago also backed Romualdez.

“The Nacionalista Party is throwing its full support to Romualdez to become the next House Speaker,” said re-elected Las Pinas Rep. Camille Villar.

Romualdez also got the backing of the Party-list Coalition Foundation Inc. (PCFI), which met at a restaurant in Makati City on Saturday to endorse his bid to lead the House.

Romualdez, his wife Tingog Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, and his nephew, Ilocos Norte Representative- elect Sandro

Marcos—son of the presumptive president—were also present.

During the lunch meeting, the 60 lawmakers belonging to the PCFI signed a manifesto of support for Romualdez.

In the Senate, senators were wary of talking about the leadership of the chamber in the upcoming 19th Congress, but reelected Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, majority leader of the current Senate, said on Saturday a supermajority may be possible.

A supermajority i n t he 24-member Senate needs to have the support of at least 16 senators, which can easily propel any move by its leadership and the agenda of Malacañang.

“We have committed our support to the new administration,” Zubiri said.

Citing the 31 million votes cast for Marcos Jr., Zubiri said the “very large mandate” carries with it a strong need to make his legislative agenda work. ( Julie M. Aurelio, Melvin Gascon, Nestor Corrales © Philippine Daily Inquirer 2022)