(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte is set to issue an order banning portraits of himself and those of other government officials, noting that the portraits of heroes should be placed there instead.
“I intend to issue a decree. Ipatanggal ko ‘yung mga litrato namin, lalo na ‘yang litrato ni… Tapos litrato, pagpasok niya, litrato niya. Na-buang man ‘yung mga ganun na tao,” he told soldiers in a speech on Tuesday.
He noted that when he was still Davao mayor, he ordered the prohibition and “told the decks there to display instead the portraits of our heroes.”
He particularly lauded Lapu Lapu, who he said was the first Filipino to kill an “imperialist,” Magellan.
“Kami, wala pa kami. We have not yet arrived at that—mga picture namin…I’ll issue the order. Gusto ko ‘yung mga hero natin ma-emulate ng mga bata,” he said, noting that some government officials who allowed their portraits to be placed on walls had even been charged with graft and corruption more than once.