THREAD: President Rodrigo Duterte addresses the nation | LIVE http://bit.ly/3k6AlmX 

President Rodrigo Duterte: The coronavirus curve flattened, meaning there are now less people with COVID-19

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Duterte says local chief executives also played an important role in implementing anti-virus measures in their localities

Duterte: The mask is one important factor. Yung mask talaga, nakatulong ng mabuti. It was an advantage that you followed the government

Duterte on vaccines: Meron na, I think it's Moderna, it's a US company. I think they are ready by September. China is also ready...Kung sino lang ang mauna magbigay sa atin ng mura, dun tayo pupunta.

Duterte on vaccines: Kung mahal masyado, we will go to the less expensive ones.

Duterte: Ang taas ng recovery natin. Ewan ko, maybe because of the climate or the constitution body itself.

Duterte: 'Wag kayong mainsulto, kasi totoo naman, pero wala akong nakitang 'squatter' na tinamaan [ng COVID-19].

Duterte warns against complacency, tells people not to let their guard down even when they think they have the antibodies.

Duterte on Pemberton's "absolute pardon": I am not favoring anybody, neither Pemberton nor the family.

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Duterte on Pemberton: The basic fault there is when you talk about good behavior, lahat na kwentahin mo. Ngayon kung hindi mo kwentahin, may kasalanan ka rin kasi they say na it is part of your being in prison.

Duterte: Itong gobyerno, may konting dapa. Sa good behavior, kailagan icompute mo sa lahat: detained for the crime facing trial and in prison siya for the crime.

Duterte: Ang pagkwenta ay hindi alam nila, kung kasali o hindi at may record. Eh walang record kasi yung lugar, alindoon na detinado si Pemberton, sa Marines. Ang Marines never kept a record, hindi trabaho ng Marines 'yan na magbantay. Hindi sila BJMP o Muntinlupa.

Duterte: Sinong magsabi ngayon na nung detained siya, nagkakalat siya sa loob — sumisigaw siya, he destroys things? Wala. Kasi walang listahan. So it is not the fault of Pemberton.

Duterte: Yung presumption, kasi wala naman sumbong, eh 'di walang ginawa yung tao na masama.

Duterte: In fairness, tapos na yung kwentada, [Pemberton] was recommended to be released, eh di i-release mo.

Duterte says Pemberton should be given good character presumption because there were no reports of him being unruly.

Duterte: Yung presumption, kasi wala namang sumbong, eh di walang ginawa yung tao na masama.

Duterte says he consulted with other officials including Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra regarding Pemberton's case: Sabi ko it's my decision to pardon. Correct me if I'm wrong, but ito ang tingin ko.

Duterte: You have not treated Pemberton fairly so i-release ko. Pardon. Ang pardon walang question yan.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on PhilHealth investigation: We expect that all our hearings will be concluded today, this evening.

Guevarra: Starting tonight and the rest of the week, we will be consolidating and analyzing all the information and evidence that we have gathered through seven hearings conducted by the task force since we formed it.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana: I went to Caloocan last Saturday and commended them for a good job. From a high of 90, ngayon less than 10 nalang ang kaso nila everyday.

Guevarra: By September 14, that's on Monday, we should be able to submit to you the report and our recommendations, including the possible filing of administrative and/or criminal cases against persons in PhilHealth.

Lorenzana says the COVID-19 Task Force is currently focusing its attention on Bacolod City, Iloilo City, and General Santos City, which have seen a spike in infections.

Guevarra: But the actual filing [of cases] after the submission of the report, because of this need to make sure that any complaint that we are going to file will be backed up by competent evidence.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III says all areas of NCR have recorded a decline in the number of daily COVID-19 cases.

Duterte: Secretary Duque, this is not the time for you to resign. I have full trust in you.

Duterte to Duque: Let us see doon sa negligence mo. Pero you know, if you handle a big organization...talagang magn negligent ka, kasi hindi mo mahabol minsan eh.

Duterte to Duque: What matters is corruption. If you're not corrupt, you don't have any reason to resign.

Duterte advises Duque to let the investigation to run its course.

Duque: Yung mga pumirma hindi ni-recommend for filing of cases. Yung hindi pumirma, sila ang dinawit. Bakit naman ganun? Heart of injustice...Masakit po 'yan, yung hindi ka nga pumirma, ikaw pa yung pinipilit na idawit.

Duterte: Kindly agree with some newspapers, the leading one, for our space, three pages yan siguro, yung projects. Yung projects on irrigation, DPWH, Transportation. Although wala ako ano sa mga secretaries, gusto ko lang malaman kung anong projects.

National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr.: We recommended to the IATF the upgrading of Lanao del Sur as MECQ, considering it is continuguous to Iligan City and its cases are also rising.

Galvez: We will recommend also that Bacolod City be placed under MECQ as recommended by the IATF.