“The present setup can’t accommodate all the calls. It’s always busy. Tell PLDT. If not, I’ll shut down their business,” Duterte said in a speech in Cebu on Sunday, Feb. 24.
His statement drew laughter from the audience.
“Oo, that’s true. I don’t want to brag, but they owe government eight billion (pesos),” Duterte said.
“No President has ever asked for payment. But when I became President, I said…,” Duterte added.
Upon his assumption of office, Duterte put in place the 8888 hotline so citizens could air their grievances about government agencies, officials and employees.
The hotline was institutionalized in a bid to help eradicate corruption and ensure efficiency in government.
