President Rodrigo Duterte. Fernando Sepe, Jr., ABS-CBN News

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte is allocating P2 billion to provide free medicine for the poor this Christmas season.

During the traditional lighting of the Malacañang Christmas Tree, Duterte announced Monday night that the funds for free medicine will come from a P5-billion check he received recently from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor).

The President said he has instructed Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial, "I want every Filipino holding a reseta of a doctor that could not find the money to buy the medicines. Sabi ko, 'ibigay ninyo 'yang P2 billion na 'yan this Christmas."

"So kayong Pilipinas, nakikinig sa akin ngayon, may mga reseta kayo, go to the [DSWD] or hanapin mo ang inyong city health or the hospital itself and we will buy the medicines for you," he added.

Aside from the free medicine, Duterte also reiterated his promise to grant executive clemency to elderly prisoners this holiday season.

However, he said he won’t agree yet to the release of 130 political prisoners affiliated with the with leftist movement.