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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Saturday, January 21, 2017
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ILOILO City – Unlike his meeting with mayors on Jan. 11, President Rodrigo Duterte was more subdued and there was not much cursing when he met the country’s governors on Thursday in Malacañang.
For the 81 provincial leaders, it was a welcome surprise.
“He was civil. He wasn’t angry or irritated,” said Iloilo’s Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr.
The President asked the governors to help him win the war against illegal drugs and support the campaign for a federal form of government, he said.
But at one point, Defensor said, “may mga ginpangalibak sya.”
The Palace meeting lasted for some one hour and 30 minutes, said Defensor.
According to Antique’s Gov. Rhodora Cadiao, the President apologized for speaking harshly at times.
Not one among the governors was named and shamed for alleged involvement in illegal drugs, she added.
But according to Capiz’s Gov. Antonio del Rosario, the President brandished his list of government officials allegedly involved in illegal drugs.
“We were, however, not shown the list,” said del Rosario.
During his meeting with mayors, Duterte mentioned, among others, Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog of Iloilo City for alleged links to drug traffickers.
The President also asked the governors to help in the campaign against illegal gambling, said del Rosario.
According to Defensor, the President also vowed to be equitable in allocating national government resources with local government units.
“He told us political party affiliation is not a consideration,” said Defensor.
One national program the President cited is KALSADA that aims to help local government units in progressively improving local road conditions by providing technical and capacity development assistance to provinces through training, mentoring and coaching on local road management as well as funding for road upgrading, improvement, and rehabilitation./PN
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