By Kaela Patricia Gabriel

PHOTO: PCOO

President Rodrigo Duterte who vowed to combat corruption five years ago said corruption is ‘endemic’ unless the government is ‘overturned completely’ through laying off all existing officials and martial law.

During the State of the Nation Address (SONA), Duterte stood by his previous claim that it is impossible to eradicate corruption as it is already a part of the system, recommending martial law to his successor as a solution to the matter. 

“If I were the next president, if you think that there [really] is a need for you to change everybody in the system, then you declare martial law and fire everybody, and allow the new generation to come in to work for the government,” Duterte stated.



“I still have a year to go, I will reach you… But corruption is endemic in the government. You cannot stop corruption, nobody can stop corruption until you overturn the government completely,” Duterte said.

In a presidential debate during the 2016 polls, Duterte had sworn he will stop corruption in the government within three to six months.

Later on Duterte’s term, convicted government officials such as senator Bong Revilla, ex-senator Jinggoy Estrada, and former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo were released as they are victims of ‘slow justice’.


Watch the SONA here: RTVM