AMID HIS relentless crackdown on corruption in government, President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, November 7, said he was willing to give ordinary citizens the privilege to "slap a dozen times" the erring public officials in his presence.

In a speech delivered in Pasig City, the President prodded the public to air their grievances against corrupt officials by calling citizens' complaint hotline "8888."

Duterte said Filipinos and even foreign nationals should issue complaints against any "attempts or demands amounting to corruption" so government officials involved in corruption would face punishment.

"If you have something against anybody in government, anybody at all, go to me, I will contact you and I will call the person you are complaining against and the three of us will talk," he said.

"And I assure you that if it is indeed something which amounts to corruption or graft, I’ll give you the privilege of slapping that person a dozen times in front of me," he added.

Reiterating that he would not let anyone in government get involved in any unlawful activities, Duterte said he would not tolerate any workers in the public sector to "ask money from [anyone] or even little favors."

The President stressed he would not hesitate to humiliate corrupt officials, in an effort to help them realize that they are not doing the right thing.

"That way, you placed him in humiliation and you maybe shed off his dignity," Duterte said.

"And those are the right remedies for an idiot who is not needed in the government. Humiliation and maybe a loss of face is more than just the money. It is the worst way of losing whatever is left of you in this planet," he added.

On October 31, Duterte admitted the "militarization" of executive functions in a bid to curb corruption in government. (SunStar Philippines)