HONG KONG, Philippines – President Rodrigo Roa Duterte proved that he is not just a crime- and corruption-buster but also an economic ambassador during the recently-concluded World Economic Forum (WEF) on Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Cambodia.
This was how Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez described President Duterte, recounting how the latter conducted himself before the forum in Phnom Penh, which was attended by hundreds of top CEOs and executives and other world leaders.
“You know, every time we are out and we usually accompany the President, he is the one that’s really becoming the some kind of an economic ambassador as well,” Lopez said in a press briefing led by Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella on Friday, May 12, with other Cabinet secretaries at the Grand Hyatt Hotel here.
“He is not only known for the anti-drug campaign, addressing criminality and all that. That’s very well recognized. And the international community also understands that those are the basic foundation if we are to develop a very robust economy,” Lopez said.
Lopez said President Duterte ensures that in all of his trips abroad, and not only at the WEF, the President makes the pitch for the Philippines by underscoring significant developments in the country especially in trade and investment, industrial and infrastructure development, and economic growth.
“Kasi ang bottom line kay President, gusto niya talaga magkaroon ng trabaho, magkaroon ng negosyo ‘yung mga kababayan natin. Talagang ma-empower sila, lalo na ‘yung mga nasa baba na lahat pwedeng umasenso, lahat pwedeng magtagumpay,” he said.
Lopez meanwhile said other ASEAN leaders are “in full support” of the illegal drugs campaign of the President considering the harmful effects of illegal drugs in the society, adding that such problem impedes nation development.
“Let’s all realize, kung hindi iso-solve ni Presidente Duterte ang drug problem, sino magso-solve? I’m very passionate on this kasi itong kailangan ng Pilipinas. I-solve talaga itong ills of society. And this is the root cause that’s being solved,” he said.
“That’s why any effort to counter that is really counterproductive to me, na sinisira ‘yung momentum to solve that problem…Hanggang may problema ‘yan, eh talagang meron pa rin tayong magiging kahirapan and lack of development,” he added.
President Duterte highlights economic thrust at WEF
