Duterte sticks to Sona speech, utters not a single cussword

By CONG B. CORRALES
Associate Editor
and NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent .

IN his “most behaved” public speech since he was elected into office, President Duterte delivered his third state-of-the-nation address yesterday that had the audience applauding some 27 times.

But in this city, a priest and various activists gave Duterte the same failing mark of “zero” as they staged mass demonstrations in the city in time for his Sona.

The President didn’t utter a single expletive. Duterte thanked both houses of Congress for passing laws he has signed as urgent and did not insult any foreign dignitary or local officials. He even thanked a couple of senators for

Duterte reiterated that his “war on drugs” would not be sidelined despite protests of human rights advocates. He called the protests against his war on drugs as “misdirected.”

He said illegal drugs result in criminal activities and that crimes erode societies.

Equally detestable, Duterte added, is the rampant corruption in government agencies. He admitted that he treasured friendships although he lamented that because of corruption he is forced to end these friendships.

“Corruption must stop,” said Duterte.

The President said he wants government services more accessible to the people and streamlined processes to cut red tape in the bureaucracy.

Without cussing, Duterte warned the mining industry to expect “radical” reforms before the year ends. He also warned rice hoarders and cartels to stop or “suffer the full force of the state.”

The laws and policies that he asked both houses to enact:

• end to contractualization;
• bilateral conference to draft policy for farmers’ support system;
• a national land use act;
• a department of disaster management;
• a universal health act;
• a second tax reform package;
• institute better foreign relations;
• institute better ease of doing business in the country; and
• a federal constitution.

Meanwhile, activist groups here gave Duterte the same failing mark as they staged mass demonstrations in the city.

The groups joined forces in staging protest actions that started at the capitol grounds all the way to Magsaysay Park in Divisoria starting at 10 am.

Fr. Rolando Abejo, spokesman of the Movement Against Tyranny (MAT), gave Duterte “zero” over what he said was the administration’s failure to improve the economic living conditions of many Filipinos.

Abejo sharply criticized Duterte’s Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law (Train) which, he said, only made costs of living shoot up.

“Ang gihimo hino-on ni President Duterte iyang gipatuman ang Train law imbis iyang hagatan sa hamogaway nga kahimtang ang mga Pilipino sigon sa iyang gisa-ad niadtong iyang pagpangampanya,” Abejo said.

Jomorito Goaynon, chairman of the group of indigenes, Kalumbay, said his group has also given Duterte “zero” because of its human rights record.

Goaynon said his group has noted many cases of extrajudicial killings, fake surrenders,  and illegal arrests, among others.

“Mao nang zero alang kanamo ang grado ni President Duterte,” he said.

Vennel Chennfoo, spokesman of the youth group Kabataan, said Duterte even failed to deliver even pn his so-called “war on drugs” which he had promised to win in six months since he assumed office.

“Gisa-ad ni President Duterte nga iyang sompo-on ang illegal drugs pina-agi sa ‘tokhang.’ Wala man masulbad, na-a man gihapon,” said Chennfoo even as he gave the Chief Executive a “zero.”

The group Solidarity of Transport Alliance in Northern Mindanao-Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Starex-Piston) said Duterte failed the public transportation sector. The group, like the others, gave Duterte a failing mark.

Ringo Lago, Starex-Piston in northern Mindanao, said Duterte’s mark is “zero” “… kay imbis iyang hagatan sa panginabuhi ang mga jeepney drivers and operator, iya na hino-ong ipatuman ang transport modernization, kansang bag-ong klasi sa mga sakyanan, dili makaya paliton sa mga jeepney operators.”