Newly stepped down Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday urged Filipinos to support the administration of his successor, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
“Let us give all our support to the new administration. Tulungan natin sila. Tulungan natin si Marcos,” Duterte said in a video posted by former Palace communications chief Martin Andanar.
Marcos Jr. was inaugurated as the 17th president of the Philippines during rites at the National Museum which Duterte missed.
Duterte did not endorse a presidential candidate in the 2022 elections.
He had called Marcos Jr., who ran alongside his daughter, now-Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, a “weak leader.”
Marcos to continue ‘Build, Build, Build’
In his inauguration speech, Marcos Jr. said his administration would continue building new infrastructure just as Duterte did with his “Build, Build, Build” program.
“My father built more and better roads, produced more rice than all administrations before his. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte built more and better than all the administrations succeeding my father,” he said.
Marcos Jr. said he would soon present a “comprehensive infrastructure plan” to cover his six-year term.
“No part of our country will be neglected. Progress will be made wherever there are Filipinos so no investment is wasted. The recovery of Philippine tourism with its emphasis on accessing nature’s beauty, I am sure we’ll exceed expectations,” he said. John Ezekiel J. Hirro