DUTERTEÂ’S SONA: A MIX OF ATTACK, WARNING, PLEA, WISH LIST, PROMISES

MANILA—President Rodrigo Duterte delivered his 5th State of the Nation

Address (SONA) yesterday, against the backdrop of a pandemic that has

disrupted the lives of millions of Filipinos and which continues to spread

across the Philippines.

Duterte used most of his annual address, which lasted for nearly two hours,

to threaten “oligarchs,” failing to go into detail on a pandemic recovery

roadmap for the country which had been earlier promised by Malacañang.

Unlike past speeches, the PresidentÂ’s second to the last SONA was delivered

to a limited audience of 50 key Congress and Cabinet officials who have been

crucial in delivering pet projects of the administration. The cap on

attendees was put in place due to physical distancing restrictions.

Duterte's 2020 SONA, summarized in 10 of his statements:

"The vaccine is around the corner. Sooner, and not later, the virus that

gobbled up thousands of lives, will itself be laid to rest."

Perhaps for the first time, the President did not open with a commentary on

his "Drug War." Instead, Duterte opened up with a promise that the vaccine

for COVID-19 is "around the corner." He had earlier stated that schools

should not open until said vaccine is found. The most optimistic reports

state that one could be developed by the end of 2020.

"I am a casualty of the Lopezes during the 2016 elections."

The President called out Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon for his call

to put an end to oligarchies. "Obviously, he was defending the Lopezes,"

said Duterte, referring to the family at the helm of the ABS-CBN network—the

same network whose 25-year franchise was denied by Congress. Early in the

battle towards renewing their franchise, it was reported that they had aired

a negative ad of Duterte, though the president said that he has accepted

their apology. Later on during the SONA, Duterte flat out told Drilon, “You

are a hypocrite.”

"There are people who ask for compassion, but show none themselves."

“There are lessons to be learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. It is much

easier to destroy than build,” he noted. The president stated that the

disease has made it more difficult to assure every Filipino a “comfortable

life,” and then added an acute observation: “Life, after all, is fickle,

like the weather.”

"Buhay muna bago lahat."

Duterte pointed out that when the pandemic struck, he “decided to prioritize

life over all other considerations.” Based on the government’s numbers,

around "1.3 million" infections were avoided thanks to the interventions

enacted. They aim to have rolled out 1.4 million tests in July with a

turnaround of two to three days for results. He also called for civil

servants to “Set aside partisan politics and selfish interest to do what is

right and good for all.”

"I made a plea to President Xi Jinping that if they have the vaccine, can

they allow us to be one of the first."

Once again stating that he would not allow face-to-face classes until a

vaccine is found and distributed, Duterte went off-speech to "mention in

passing" a recent dialogue with China's leader Xi Jinping. He stated that he

asked for special priority when they do indeed have the vaccine, adding,

"Life that is lost is lost forever."

"The patience of the Filipino people is reaching its limit."

Calling out companies that provide services, the President said that

consumers were being shortchanged. "Huwag niyo naman kami pahintayin bago

namin makamit services that other countries are enjoying," said Duterte. He

mentioned that the government will "be forced to take drastic steps" if they

do not.

"Smart, pati itong Globe, ilang taon na ito? At ang sagot palagi sa akin

'The party cannot be reached.' Saan pumunta ang yawa na 'yon?"

Duterte called out telecommunication companies, telling them to “Improve

your services before December.” He stated that government should have first

priority, “All that is good that belongs to government, whether it be the

airwaves, whether it be the lines, or whatever is good for the people will

belong to the government.” He told the companies, “You might not want what I

intend to do with you,” and added the sure to be oft-quoted line “I want to

call Jesus Christ [in] Bethlehem, better have that line cleared.”

"I did not hear so much clapping, so I presume that they are not

interested."

Duterte once again spoke about his goal to have capital punishment

reinstated by his administration. But when he mentioned “death penalty by

lethal injection,” it seems he wasn’t too happy with the sparse applause it

received. He then veered off the prepared speech and spoke of how drugs are

to blame for families falling apart and that drug syndicates continue to

operate inside penitentiaries. "Talagang binababoy tayo," he said.

"We work without fail to protect our rights in the South China Sea, neither

beholden nor a pawn to anyone."

Duterte spoke about how we had broadened “Philippine diplomacy.” To those

who say we have done nothing regarding our claims in the West Philippine

sea, he said that “unless we are prepared to go to war,” then we had better

call off the criticism. “China is claiming it, we are claiming it,”

clarified the president, adding that they have “the arms,” and we do not. He

also added, "some other president" may be willing to go to war for this

dispute but, "Inutil ako diyan and I am willing to admit it. Talagang inutil

ako diyan."

"I am through."

Duterte rounded back to Senator Drilon before somewhat abruptly ending his

speech, saying, “To take it against me for protecting my country is

something which I really resent.” He talked about oligarchies before

reiterating that the government should get the best services. “The best of

the transmission lines, whatever, government gets it first.” He then offered

a short thank you before clarifying that he was indeed done—with the SONA,

that is.

'USUALLY FULL OF RANTS AND EXCUSES': WHAT PUBLIC OFFICIALS SAID ABOUT

DUTERTE'S 5TH SONA

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte's fifth State of the Nation Address

(SONA) was "usually full of rants and excuses" and did not use the

opportunity to lay out a plan to further address the coronavirus crisis in

the country, several public officials said Monday.

Duterte opened and closed his speech accusing Sen. Franklin Drilon of

defending the Lopez family, whom the President labeled as "oligarchs."

Drilon earlier challenged the Chief Executive to ban political dynasties

after the latter claimed to have "dismantled" the country's oligarchs, days

after the Lopez-owned ABS-CBN was denied a new broadcast license.

Rather than lay down a course of action on how the country can survive the

COVID-19 crisis, the President began his speech "by assailing his critics &

ranting about his personal grudge against the media," Sen. Risa Hontiveros

said.

She blasted Duterte's tirade against Drilon, refuting the President's claim

that he has squashed oligarchs in the Philippines.

"The President makes no promise to unchain government from serving vested

interests."

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate also noted Duterte "again used this as

opportunity to hit his critics like Sen. Drilon and the Lopezes."

"From the start of his speech, it is now clear that he is not at all neutral

on the shutdown of ABS-CBN network," Zarate said. Malacañang earlier said it

had a "neutral" stance on the broadcast franchise renewal application of

ABS-CBN, a claim which many refute since Duterte himself threatened to shut

down the network last December.

Other senators meanwhile also hit Duterte's failed opportunity to give a

"clear" COVID-19 roadmap, something that the Palace earlier said the

President will discuss "in detail." The country has already logged over

82,000 cases of the deadly virus.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan castigated Duterte for not mentioning the

government's "missed targets" in mass testing, contact tracing, and the

distribution of cash aid for the poor during the pandemic.

"COVID, matinding gutom at kawalan ng trabaho ng 10 milyon nating mga

kababayan ang kalaban, hindi si Drilon," Pangilinan said. "Kapalpakan,

kapabayaan at garapalang kurakot sa DoH at PhilHealth ang matinding problema

at kalaban, hindi si Drilon."

Duterte's latest SONA "scored low in the inspirational index" for failing to

give a pep talk that will "boost morale" and "steel resolve" "to a people in

need of hope and direction" amid the pandemic, according to Senate President

Pro Tempore Ralph Recto.

"He could have used that speech to ignite their fighting spirit and light

the way forward for them," Recto said in a statement.

Sen. Joel Villanueva, chair of the Senate Committee on Labor, said the

President "did not clearly state" a concrete plan to address the

unemployment problem in the Philippines, noting that the COVID-19 crisis has

left about 7.3 million jobless Filipinos, as of April.

"It would have been a relief for them if the government stated its plan to

generate jobs for them and ensure that they and their families will have

something to eat in the days to come."

Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman meanwhile emphasized that the SONA "was

not the proper" time to threaten telecommunication providers Globe Telecom

and PLDT, saying Duterte "is using his threatening rhetoric against his

perceived oligarchies."

Duterte in his address warned PLDT and Globe Telecom to improve their

services or face "closure" or "expropriation."

The Magdalo Party-list meanwhile said Duterte's SONA contained the "same

elements" heard in his previous state reports.

"As usual, the elements of a Duterte SONA were there – very few important

updates, some more promises, bloated drug problem, defeatist stance in the

West Philippine Sea, fear-mongering, ramblings against the opposition, Xi

Jinping and Bong Go. The COVID-19 pandemic was not given the commensurate

attention it needs considering that it is the most urgent problem right

now," it said in a statement.

"One thing is sure, our nation will suffer great losses in the hands of Mr.

Duterte."

DUTERTE USES FIFTH SONA TO CASTIGATE DRILON OVER CHALLENGE TO BAN POLITICAL

DYNASTIES

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday used his State of the Nation

Address to castigate Sen. Franklin Drilon over the opposition lawmaker's

proposal to ban political dynasties if government wants to dismantle

oligarchy.

Duterte opened and closed his speech by taking a swipe at Drilon, accusing

the latter of defending the Lopez family, whom Duterte labeled as

"oligarchs."

"In an interview, he arrogantly mentioned among others that oligarchs need

not be rich. Then he linked the anti-dynasty system with oligarchy and the

topic was my daughter and son," Duterte said of Drilon.

"This happened after the Committee on Franchise voted 70-11 to deny the

grant of franchise to ABS-CBN. Obviously, he was defending the Lopezes that

they are not oligarchs," he added.

Drilon, who leads the Senate Minority, challenged Duterte to ban political

dynasties after the President flaunted to have destroyed the country's

oligarchy days after ABS-CBN was denied a new broadcast license.

Drilon reminded Duterte that identifying an oligarch should not be based on

wealth alone.

"You are an oligarch if you use your power to promote through the political

system your own interest," Drilon had said.

Duterte called Drilon a "hypocrite" over his remarks.

"Bakit kasi ikaw lang ang galit? Nasabi mo na dynasty, dynasty. You are a

hypocrite. You know that you cannot pass an anti-dynasty law," the President

said in his SONA.

Drilon has filed an anti-dynasty bill in the past, but the measure failed to

pass the legislative mill as most lawmakers are part of political dynasties.

DUTERTE BATS FOR REVIVAL OF DEATH PENALTY EVEN AS PANDEMIC CONTINUES TO GRIP

PH

MANILA -- With two years left in power and even as the country still

grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday

renewed his push for the reimposition of death penalty in the country for

crimes related to illegal drugs.

Duterte, during his penultimate State of the Nation Address, asked Congress

to reinstate death penalty by lethal injection as he continues to wage his

administration's war on drugs.

"I reiterate the swift passage of a law reviving death penalty by lethal

injection for crimes specified under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act

of 2002," Duterte said.

When his proposal was met with silence, the President quipped: "I did not

hear enough clapping, so I presumed that they are not interested."

Duterte, who enjoys the majority support in Congress, has asked for the

passage of a law reviving the capital punishment for drug-related crimes

even in his previous SONAs.

SONA 2020: DUTERTE STOPS MIDSPEECH, BLAMES POOR EYESIGHT

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday stopped in the middle of

delivering his penultimate State of the Nation Address, citing his poor

eyesight.

Duterte was reporting about the country's improved credit rating when he

paused, saying he could not read his speech because of his poor eyesight.

"[Please] understand, the light, because I have...my eyesight is not as good

as new," he said before resuming his speech.

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go earlier said the President suffers from daily

headaches because of the coronavirus crisis.

"Masakit ang ulo niya araw araw. Sino ba namang Presidente ang hindi sasakit

ang ulo dahil sa COVID-19?" Go told reporters in an earlier online press

conference.

THE REST

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POLICE SAY SONA PROTESTS ‘GENERALLY PEACEFUL’

MANILA — Protest actions during President Duterte’s fifth State of the

Nation Address (SONA) were generally peaceful despite the arrest of 34

demonstrators in Quezon City, Marikina and Caloocan, the Philippine National

Police (PNP) reported yesterday.

“The situation was generally peaceful and orderly with no untoward incident

reported,” PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said in a message sent

through Viber.

Around 6,000 police officers secured DuterteÂ’s SONA.

PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa instructed police units to slap fines on

violators of local government ordinances on quarantine so they will not

spend a day in jail.

“Right away they can pay their fine and be released,” he said.

Brig. Gen. Ronnie Montejo, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director, said

around 1,817 members of cause-oriented groups took part in a two-hour rally

at the University of the Philippines campus in Diliman, Quezon City.

Renato Reyes, secretary general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, gave a much

higher figure of participants at around 10,000.

Montejo lauded the participants for following what was agreed upon during a

dialogue over the weekend.

THOUSANDS STILL STRANDED IN RIZAL MEMORIAL, GOV'T EYES TRIPS HOME BY THURS

MANILA -- Some 2,000 people who sought the governmentÂ’s transportation

assistance are still stranded at a baseball stadium in Manila, the interior

department said Tuesday, adding that it aimed to send the group to their

provinces this week.

Around 3,600 people, many of whom lost their jobs due to the coronavirus

pandemic, registered to get free bus and ferry rides to their provinces.

However, almost 8,000 people flocked last week to the Rizal Memorial Sports

Complex, where beneficiaries of the Hatid Tulong transportation program were

supposed to fix their documents and get tested for the coronavirus before

their trip, said Interior Secretary Eduardo Año.

Tents had not yet been set up at the stadium when rains forced authorities

to cram the travelers inside the stadium, officials earlier said.

The government had sent home 4,793 people from the stadium as of Monday,

while 284 others were brought to a housing site in Bulacan as they wait for

their respective provinces to lift their moratorium on the entry of

returning residents.

Some 2,000 people left at the stadium are waiting for trips to Zamboanga,

Butuan, Davao provinces, said Año.

“Ihahatid natin ito hanggang Huwebes ang pinaka-target natin,” he told

ABS-CBNÂ’s TeleRadyo.

To avoid a repeat of the stranded individuals cramming into tight spaces,

the government will separate travelers by the region where they are headed.

Each region will have its own jump-off point, said the official.

“Kung 5 region ang pupuntahan, 5 sites ang ipi-prepare natin para hindi

magkumpol-kumpol,” he said.

ABS-CBN OFFERS TRANSMISSION NETWORK, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR DISTANCE

LEARNING

MANILA — ABS-CBN Corp. said Monday it is offering its transmission network

to help government air educational programs in the coming school year, which

will see a shift from traditional classroom education to distance learning.

The shuttered broadcast network said it hoped to help government deliver

education to students while the country deals with the coronavirus pandemic.

"We are offering the use of our transmission network to broadcast

educational programs all over the country. We hope to help the government

continuously educate students nationwide despite the limitations brought

about by the pandemic," ABS-CBN said in a statement.

ABS-CBN also said it is offering government the use of all the educational

programs it produced over the past 20 years.

"While this is not expected to have any business impact to the company, we

are hopeful that our network can help in the education of our students

nationwide," the company said.

The media company made the statement hours after President Rodriog Duterte

said TV frequencies returned to the government would be used to deliver

"uninterrupted, quality education" to students at home.

"TV frequencies reverted back to government for whatever cause or reason...

will be used to provide uninterrupted quality education to our children and

our shift to e-learning," Duterte said in his 5th State of the Nation

Address.

Under its distance learning plan, the DepEd plans to deliver lessons to

students through TV, radio, print and digital modules, and online platforms.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

'WE DESERVE BETTER': NADINE LUSTRE CALLS FOR CHANGE IN OWN SONA

MANILA – “We deserve better!”

This summed up Nadine LustreÂ’s cry as President Rodrigo Duterte delivered

his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa

Monday.

On Instagram, Lustre shared a photo which bears the writing: “Pagbabago,

hindi abuso. Pagkakaisa, 'wag mang-isa. Hawak kamay, 'wag hugas kamay.”

The statement concluded with Lustre declaring that as a Filipino, she stands

for her country and that its people deserve better.

Lustre captioned the photo with “Nakikiisa sa bayan na lumalaban” before

using the hashtags #ItoAngSONAko and #SONAgkaisa.

Lustre is one of the many celebrities who have spoken up about current

issues.

Last week, the actress urged her followers to never lose sight of the real

issues instead of causing a divide among people who are fighting for the

same causes.

“Sana ay ibaling natin ang atensiyon natin sa mga bagay na nararapat

pagtuunan ng pansin. Pakiusap, huwag tayong mag-away-away at maghati. Wala

na tayong oras,” she said.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.

– Jiddu Krishnamurti