The dawn of genuine change has arrived. President Rodrigo R. Duterte has officially been sworn in for a six-year term and pledged to wage a “relentless” war against crime, illegal drugs, and corruption within the bounds of law, while ordering his Cabinet officials to cut red tape. Duterte, the firebrand mayor of Davao City who won by a landslide in the May 9 elections, also promised sweeping reforms to restore public trust in government as he expressed readiness to “serve everyone and not only one” in his quest toward a “better Philippines.” The 71-year-old mayor of Davao City took his oath of office in a simple ceremony in Malacañang, formally replacing President Benigno S. Aquino III. Supreme Court Associate Justice Bienvenido Reyes administered the oath to Duterte surrounded by family, senior government officials, diplomats, and other administration allies. Duterte, a lawyer by profession, is the first Philippine president to come [...]
