Duterte to open Palace gates to poor

MANILA, Philippines - It will be a Palace for the poor, and people can call the hotline 8888 for complaints or to seek government help.

President Duterte promised families in Tondo, Manila that he would open the gates of Malacañang to the poor, make government services closer to those in need and create a hotline where people can call in their grievances.

“You can enter Malacañang, especially the school children,” Duterte said during a “solidarity dinner” with around 500 people at the Del Pan Sports Complex on Thursday night.

Duterte said children could “bring their pillows and bedsheets and sleep” in the Palace.

“If I can invite the whole Manila to Malacañang, I would,” he said.

The President encouraged the public to air their concerns by calling hotline number 8888.

“If you were abused, raped or if you have a complaint against the government, call night and day and the important problems that I would see, I would address them,” he said.

Duterte said if he would not be able to personally call the complainant, he would call the community officials and the police.

The President said he would make sure government funds would be given to the people.

His first priority is making sure the government would spend funds for all children to go to school.

Duterte ordered the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. to use its income to purchase medicine for indigent patients in government hospitals.

He vowed to push for “genuine land reform” wherein vast tracts of agricultural land, capital and farm inputs would be distributed to poor farmers, and the government would buy their products.

“I don’t want to disappoint you and I don’t also like mere promises. There is no turning back,” he said.

“There has to be change not only in government, but in the people most of all. I promise that if you will cooperate with the government, our lives will improve,” he added.

Duterte’s camp said the President planned the solidarity dinner two weeks ago as his first public engagement after he assumed office.

Duterte wanted to make sure the people who voted for him would be able to join his victory.

The crowd, mostly from Isla Puting Bato, Vitas and Happyland, were served pancit bihon, fried chicken and pichi-pichi during the solidarity dinner.

Rody meets with militants

Duterte met with members of a militant group who gathered on Mendiola street near Malacañang during his inauguration on Thursday.

Members of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said they were airing their suggestions to the new administration in a rally when presidential guards approached them.

Instead of facing the threat of dispersal, which was the frequent consequence of their protest actions in the past, they said they were surprised when the guards told them that Duterte was inviting them to a dialogue in the Palace.

After the usual security screening, they said they were led to the Osmeña Room, where they met with the then newly sworn in President before he started his first Cabinet meeting.

Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes said Duterte warmly greeted them, even telling them that they should not worry about their attire – most of them were wearing denims and t-shirts.  – With Rey Galupo, Jess Diaz, Rhodina Villanueva