Hours before the 3rd State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (PRRD), speculations about the replacement of house speaker Pantaleon Alvarzez by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the possible signing of the Bangsamoro Basic Law entertained the viewers. Duterte’s speech was expected to be controversial this year because of the many issues that beset the nation at the time of his SONA – the effects of the TRAIN Law, the inflation rate, and the continuing violations of human rights brought about by the Oplan Tokhang.
The most controversial and entertaining portion of the SONA happened even before it started. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA) went up the rostrum to take her oath as the new house speaker before addressing the audience on a muted microphone. The political fiasco drew flak on social media with Filipinos easily creating social media memes criticizing the developments (or demise) of Philippine politics. Despite GMA’s oath taking, then incumbent House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez still seated as speaker at the conduct of the joint session.
This year’s SONA was unlike the previous ones. PRRD’s 3rd SONA started past 5 o’clock with Duterte acknowledging Alvarez as the house speaker at the beginning of his speech. Duterte’s report barely talked about the achievements of the past year. Rather, he addressed the nation with the pressing issues of corruption, comparing it to a leech; the passing of the Bangsamoro Basic Law and the alleged legal impediments to the exercise of Muslim rights; the desire to end contractualization; the well-being of our OFWs; the protection of our environment and preservation of tourist destinations like Boracay; the appeal for damage reparation of big mining companies; the TRAIN law and Duterte’s controversial ‘war on drugs’. He emphasized during his speech that the war on drugs is far from over and that the ‘relentless and chilling’ aura of this war will remain.
In Commonwealth, on the other hand, the People’s SONA led by a number of militant groups and grassroots and mass organizations emphasized Duterte’s lack of concern for human rights and the dignity of life. While PRRD unusually disregarded profanity and vulgarity in this SONA, the people holding protests near Batasang Pambansa called this out for a complete disregard to be a role model for the youth. A burning of Duterte’s effigy which looked like a wheel served as a highlight of the mobilization. By this time, the militant groups and mass organizations were already calling for Duterte’s ouster and/or resignation for the many anomalies he had been acquainted in just 3 years to his term of office.
As Duterte ended his speech and went down the rostrum, many questions remain unanswered. But what was clear was that people’s rights would remain to be the government’s target – more violations and complete disregard.
By Alexa Mora
Comments