(MENAFN- Gulf Times) More than 6,000 Filipino expatriates in Qatar gave a warm welcome to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte at a community event held in the Lusail Sports Arena yesterday.
A large number of people started queueing up at the venue as early as 12 noon, and waited until evening to either see or meet Duterte in person.
President Duterte sings a duet with a female singer during a gathering at Lusail Sports Arena in Lusail yesterday. PICTURE: AFP
The president was serenaded by renowned blogger and singer Haina Uddin, who is based in Doha, performing one of Duterte's favourite songs, ‘Ikaw (You)'.
Enthralling the crowd, who repeatedly chanted 'Duterte in response, the president joined the singer on stage.
In his speech, Duterte highlighted the priorities of his government: eradicating corruption, war on drugs and fighting crime.
The president stressed he would not hesitate to fire any cabinet secretary or high-ranking government official found involved in corruption.
Even a shadow of doubt may be the basis for removing them from public office, he added.
Duterte also warned those involved in the drugs trade, asking them to stop what they were doing or get out of the Philippines. 'Do not destroy my country, was his stern message to them. 'Drugs are destroying our children, who are our wealth.
The president vowed to continue his fight against drugs in an effort to protect and preserve the future of the young generation, as well to free every street in the Philippines from criminals.
'I really love the Filipino, he noted.
Meanwhile, Duterte thanked Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain 'for being good to us. He thanked the Qatari leadership under HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani for providing an opportunity to Filipinos to work and live in Qatar.
The president is visiting the three countries as part of his ongoing GCC tour, with Qatar being the last stop.
Duterte also noted that the economy of the Philippines was doing well and getting the support of countries such as China and Japan. He asked Filipinos to be patient as he was working hard to bring about major reforms that aimed to benefit the whole country.
The president was joined by cabinet secretaries and other public officials, including labour secretary Silvestre Bello III, health secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell Ubial, defence secretary Delfin Lorenzana, trade secretary Ramon Lopez, transportation secretary Arthur Tugade, communications secretary Martin Andanar, national security adviser Hermogenes Esperon, presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella, Mindanao Development Authority chairman Abdul Khayr Alonto, Tesda director-general Guiling Mamondiong, presidential adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers affairs Abdullah Mamao, special envoy to the Middle East Roy Cimato, senator Alan Peter Cayetano, Taguig City mayor Lani Cayetano and Ilocos Norte governor Imee Marcos, among others.
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