MANILA, Philippines — As the country celebrates National Heroes Day, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano rallied the public Monday to set aside differences and support the Duterte administration’s efforts towards nation-building.

“President [Rodrigo] Duterte called on our fellow Filipinos to emulate the patriotism of all heroes before us by supporting the government’s nation-building effort, especially our campaign against illegal drugs, criminality, corruption, poverty, and environmental degradation,” Cayetano said during his speech at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

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He represented Duterte who was absent because he was “indisposed,” according to Sen. Bong Go. Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo, meanwhile said, the President was just “a night person.”

READ: Panelo defends Duterte’s absence in gov’t rites: ‘He is a night person’ | Indisposed Duterte skipping National Heroes Day rites

“President Duterte, therefore, asked that our fellow Filipinos set aside our differences so that we can together, we may shape a more dynamic and prosperous society that will serve as a cradle of future generations for Filipino heroes by making the right choice to do the right thing,” Cayetano added.

Duterte’s running mate in the 2016 national elections also reminded the public that everyone has an “obligation to make a choice, to sacrifice to have self-discipline, to have national discipline, a choice to serve our community and our people.”

“Today, we should recommit ourselves to the choice to sacrifice, to love our country and to do everything that we may have a safe and comfortable life for all,” Cayetano added.

The former Foreign Affairs chief paid tribute not just to the nation’s heroes but also to those who have shed blood, sweat, tears, in the defense of this nation and the values it represents, like the uniformed personnel.

The representative of Taguig-Pateros also recognized 104-year-old “Ka Peping” who he said never missed a flag ceremony in Taguig City and always makes an effort to stand up and salute the Philippine flag. /je

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