Return of the Yellows: The Presidency of Leni Robredo & Onwards

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Robredo
12:28 PM PDT, Tuesday, March 20th, 2018

Quezon City Reception House, Quezon City, Philippines.
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Philippine President Leni Robredo delivering her Inaugural Address at QC Reception House on March 20th, 2018 upon her swearing in as the 17th President in simple ceremony.

Earlier in the day, the AFP had removed controversial Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte from office upon learning of the revelations that Duterte had ordered the murders of many political opponents such as outspoken Senator Leila de Lima, torturing many college students, who had been protesting Duterte's authoritarian leadership, the blood War on Drugs & the possibility he might have ordered the assassination of then-POTUS Barack Obama on April 28th, 2014 as well as massive EJK's.

When authorities knocked on the doors of Bahay Pangarap (one of the guest Residences of the Philippine President on the Malacanang Palace Grounds), it was discovered that Duterte, some family members & other associates had fled the country, it wasn't known where he had fled: PRC, Russia, Turkey or possibly Belarus. There were rumors that Duterte had fled to Davao City to avoid getting arrested (where his daughter, Sara was the Mayor & planning a possible 2022 Presidential bid).

With Duterte removed from office, this pretty much made VP Leni Robredo of the opposition LP, the 17th President by default, realizing she was now the Commander-in-Chief, she wasted no time in ordering the arrest of many Duterte associates & corrupt politicos, who were complicit in the EJK's & other corruption scandals.


 
The Ascension to the Presidency
12:00 PM PDT, Tuesday, March 20th, 2018

Quezon City Reception House, Quezon City, Philippines.

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It was a packed place inside the QC Reception House, where among the dignitaries, who attended: former Presidents Fidel V. Ramos, Benigno SC Aquino, III, former Philippine House of Representatives Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr., Senate Minority Floor Leader Franklin Drilon, US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, Republic of Korea Ambassador to the Philippines Han Dong-man, French Ambassador to the Philippines Nicolas Galey & several other dignitaries.

Several of the TV Networks were broadcasting the simple ceremony as Robredo was about to take the Oath of Office as the 17th President.

The polite applause died down as Philippine Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio took to the podium to administer the Presidential Oath of Office. The clock had just struck 12:00 PM, Noon; the controversial Duterte Presidency had officially expired, with PSG Agents confiscating the nuclear football & other Presidential trappings as Airbus A321 soared through the skies of Davao City, carrying the disgraced former President into a self-imposed internal exile. Back in Quezon City, VP Leni Robredo had now officially ascended into office as the Philippines' 17th Commander-in-Chief. The Senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines now stood before the cameras, broadcasting the images live to what felt like every pair of eyes in the entire world. "Madam VP," he began, "please raise your right hand, put your hand on the Bible & repeat after me your Oath of Office..."

Carpio: "I, Maria Leonor Gerona Robredo, do solemnly swear.."
Robredo: "I, Maria Leonor Gerona Robredo, do solemnly swear..."
Carpio: "that I will faithfully execute..."
Robredo: "that I will faithfully execute..."
Carpio: "& conscientiously fulfill my duties as President of the Philippines."
Robredo: "& conscientiously fulfill my duties as President of the Philippines."
Carpio: "Preserve & defend its Constitution..."
Robredo: "Preserve & defend its Constitution..."
Carpio: "execute its laws,"
Robredo: "execute its laws,"
Carpio: "do justice to every man,"
Robredo: "do justice to every man,"
Carpio: "& consecrate myself to the service of the Nation. So help me God."
Robredo: "& consecrate myself to the service of the Nation. So help me God."
Carpio: "Congratulations Madam President."
Robredo: "Thank you very much Mr. Senior Associate Justice. I really appreciate this."

Soon afterwards, the crowd cheers in loud applause as the 21 Cannon Salute is fired by the AFP Artillery Unit Regiment & the Presidential Anthem, "Mabuhay" is being played.
 
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The Inaugural Address
12:20 PM PDT, Tuesday, March 20th, 2018

Quezon City Reception House, Quezon City, Philippines
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Following the Presidential Anthem & the 21 Cannon Salute, it was time for President Robredo to address the Filipino people as the country's 17th Chief Executive...
"Former President Fidel Valdez Ramos, former President Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino, III., Senate Minority Floor Leader Franklin Drilon, former Speaker of the House of Representatives Feliciano Belmonte, members of the Senate & House of Representatives, your Excellencies of the Diplomatic Corps, fellow colleagues in government, aking mga kababayan.

Today, I have assumed the Presidency under extreme circumstances. We have faced uphill battle in the fight of democracy over the past few years, the rule of law violated with outright, blatant disregard, people speaking out on the issue of human rights were being slandered on Social Media, arrested on false charges, murdered in extrajudicial killings. The Philippines faced one of these tests again, where authoritarianism had been creeping on the edge of enforcing dictatorial policies, where constructive criticism isn't allowed, the non-stop corruption inside government causing discouragement of those, who want to participate in the democratic process of public service. I want to say it right here & right now, our long national & international nightmare over the past 2 years is finally over (applause).

Our Constitution works, despite it not being perfect. Here, the Filipino people rule & want the government to listen to them, not the other way around (loud rounds of applause). We know the 1987 Constitution is the best constitutional document we've got. The Philippines has overcome many challenges: from surviving the Philippine-American War, World War II, Japanese occupation, overcoming the brutality of Martial Law during the Marcos Dictatorship to the restoration of democracy in the 1986 People Power Revolution, the Philippines has shown the world that an island, tropical country in the Pacific can & will overcome strong, tough challenges & persevering all of the difficult challenges & obstacles.

I am acutely aware that you have not elected me as your President by your ballots, & so I ask you to confirm me as your President with your prayers. & I hope that such prayers will also be the first of many.... If you have not chosen me by secret ballot, neither have I gained office by any secret promises. I have not campaigned for the Presidency. I have not subscribed to any partisan platform. I am indebted to nobody, & only to my three precious daughters, Aika, Tricia & Jillian----as I begin this difficult job... My fellow Filipinos, our long national & international nightmare is over.... The Constitution of 1987 works; our great Republic is a government of laws & not of men. Here the people rule. But there is a higher power, by whatever name we honor him, who ordains not only righteousness but love, not only justice but mercy.

I have not sought this enormous responsibility, but I will not shirk it, any more that I did when I was elected to the Vice Presidency less than 2 years ago. I understand that there were some people out there, who would've preferred a different result. However, a majority of Filipinos took a chance on someone from Naga City & Bicol by giving their trust to me in the country's second highest elected office. It is only fitting then, that I should pledge to everyone & to all of you that I will be a President of all the Filipino people, all socioeconomic backgrounds, all zip codes & all nationalities.

Manuel Quezon tackled the problem of landless peasants in the country, reorganizing of the island's military defense, government reorganization, vigorous program of social justice. Sergio Osmena continued the fight for Philippine independence, restoring the Commonwealth government during the height of World War II following the liberation of Manila. Under Manuel Roxas, the Philippines gained independence following World War II & under his watch, Treaty of General Relations was ratified.

It was under the Presidency of Ramon Magsaysay, that the Philippines was one of the most well-governed countries; trade & industry flourished, the Philippine military was at its prime & the country gained international recognition in sports, culture & foreign affairs. Carlos Garcia pursued the Filipino First Policy & the Austerity Program.
 
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