Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) President Rodrigo Duterte's first State

of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday echoed his election campaign

promises and his inaugural address law and order, economic
development, and improved government service.
At the outset, Duterte pointed out that all three leaders facing Congress and
the nation Senate President Aquilino Koko Pimentel, House Speaker
Pantaleon Alvarez and the President himself are all from Mindanao. That
is a sign of fresh efforts to address the decades-long neglect of the
southern Philippine region while it tries to deal with festering armed
conflicts and underdevelopment.

Unilateral ceasefire with Reds

To loud applause, the President declared a unilateral ceasefire with the
New People's Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the
Philippines, which has been waging a 47-year-old insurgency.
"I expect and call on our fellow Filipinos in the National Democratic Front
and its forces to respond accordingly," Duterte added.
The NDF, the political arm of the CPP, represents the rebels in peace
negotiations to end Asias longest-running insurgency.
NDF representatives have indicated they were open to a ceasefire while
holding negotiations with the Duterte government, a departure from their
previous firm stand of not agreeing to a truce until a final peace deal has
been signed.
Formal peace talks are scheduled to resume in Oslo, Norway, next month.

'Relentless' fight vs. corruption, crime

Recalling his promises during the election campaign, Duterte said his
administration's fight against crime, illegal drugs, and corruption "will be
relentless and sustained."

"We will not stop until the last drug lord, the last financier, and the last
[drug] pusher have surrendered or [have been] put behind bars or below
the ground if they so wish," he said.
He also warned police officers and government officials involved in crime.
"Abuse your authority, and there will be hell to pay for you would have
become worse than criminality itself," he said.
Duterte ordered the National Police Commission to speed up the
investigation of cases of officers linked to crime. He also directed the
Napolcom to suggest policies for making lifestyle checks on the police.

Inter-agency fight vs. drugs

Duterte said his administration will create an inter-agency committee to deal

with illegal drugs and integrate efforts and strengthen partnerships of all
"stakeholders." He said the armed forces will prepare military camps to be
used for drug rehabilitation.
Military reservists will be mobilized for an information campaign against
drug use, and dissemination of information regarding the drug rehabilitation
program.
Duterte said the government will prioritize the rehabilitation of drug users as
residential treatment and rehabilitation facilities are established all over the
country.

'Full force' vs. Abu Sayyaf

Duterte said the "full force" of the AFP will be applied "to crush" the terrorist
Abu Sayyaf group, whom he described as "criminals who operate under the
guise of religious fervor."
Among other things, he plans to increase coordination with Malaysia and
Indonesia and strengthen the government's counter-terrorism program by

amending various laws on terrorism, terrorism financing and cyber crime.

He did not specify the amendments.

Maritime row with China

Duterte also stood by the Arbitral Tribunal's decision that favored the
Philippines in its arbitration against Chinas claims to virtually all of the
South China Sea.
We strongly affirm and respect the outcome of the case before the
Permanent Court of Arbitration as an important contribution to the ongoing
efforts to pursue a peaceful resolution and management of our disputes,
Duterte said.
The five-member Arbitral Tribunal upheld the Manilas position that Chinas
nine-dash line maritime claim is excessive and encroached into the
Philippines' 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Duterte has appointed former President Fidel V. Ramos to stand as the
country's special envoy to China in talks over the maritime dispute.

'Social justice will be pursued'

Duterte said his administration will pursue a "human" approach for

development with improvements in health, social welfare, education, food
and housing.
He said addressing global warming will be a "top priority."
"But upon a fair and equitable equation. It must not stymie our
industrialization," he added.