By Genalyn Kabiling
President Duterte is willing to let his critics take over the reins of government and solve the country's peace and order problems in one year.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (SIMEON CELI JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
The President made the offer after observing that groups opposing his campaign to clear the street of loiters have done nothing but criticize the government to get public attention.
"Ayaw nila ng tambay kasi ganun raw Constitution… P****, mas marunong pa kayo ," he said during the oath-taking of Northern Mindanao barangay captains in Cagayan de Oro City Monday.
"Kung ganun, pumunta kayo sa Malacañang, kayo ang paupuin ko. I’ll give you one year to sit down and solve the problem. Puro lang kayo daldal ," he added.
The President asserted that that government's anti-tambay campaign would continue unless the Supreme Court declares it was illegal.
As part of preventing crimes, Duterte said he has authorized the police to accost and frisk people loitering in the streets.
"Until the Supreme Court says or court says that I cannot do it… I am now invoking the police power of the state to establish order, safety, ‘yan. That is not subject to a legislation," he said.
"The President can order, the mayor can order, the barangay can order --- can issue regulations to protect public health, public safety, public order, and to protect the general welfare of the people. Until such time, that is my order," he added.
Duterte also minors loitering in the streets must also be taken into custody so they could be assisted by the Department of Social and Welfare and Development.
"So 18 and below are minors. You take them into custody not to arrest them, but for their own safety to protect them," he said.
"We can take custody of the minors to protect them under the principle of parens patriae -- the father of the nation," he added.