President Rodrigo Duterte has urged the public not to buy medicines from “sari-sari” stores, as he warned that most of these medicines being sold in neighborhood stores were already expired.
“To say it again, Ill repeat it in a sentence: Don’t buy medical whatever, there —I cannot mention the medication, it would not be proper. Because you may buy medicines that are expired,” Duterte said in his regular “Talk to the People” public address Monday Night.
The President earlier directed the Department of Interior and Local Government to take steps to protect the public, as the government cracks down on the sale and proliferation of fake medicines in the market.
He warned that these expired medicines sold in “sari-sari” stores could cause headaches and serious side effects.
“So, the best way really is to give a warning, a serious warning, to our constituents specially to barangay captains, mayors, that you should not buy there,” Duterte added.
Meanwhile, Duterte said he was content that he was able to deliver his campaign promise that he would end his term with a strong military despite the government’s limited income.
Duterte made the comment after Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana reported on the modernization program in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the doubling of the salaries of all military personnel and pensioners.
“As I ponder on the last paperwork that I have to work on, I’ve been seeing their promotions… I am comfortable with the thought that I have done my best, especially what I have promised to the military,” the President said.
“It is not just a campaign slogan. It was something that I concocted while I was in the years as a mayor and, you know, you have to have rapport with the police and the military for you to succeed,” he added.
“Let it be a policy that you care for people who die for you… So, I made that promise to — I said that ‘I would double your salary’… I am happy that it helps improve the fighting spirit of the police and the military,” Duterte said.
