Lawmakers from the House Makabayan bloc have offered their fearless forecast on the content of President Rodrigo Duterte’s upcoming State of the Nation Address (Sona): insults, threats, and misogynist remarks.
The opposition party-list legislators said they could expect nothing more from Mr. Duterte’s third Sona because the President could not just help but blabber when he gets hold of a microphone.
“Una, insulto, pagbabanta na may papatayin, pambabastos sa babae, samantalang tinutulak yung agenda,” ACT-Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio told reporters in a press briefing.
“Alam naman nating ‘di magpapapigil si Duterte. Basta may mic ‘yan, tuloy-tuloy ‘yan,” he added.
Earlier, Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque said the President’s third Sona speech will come “straight from the heart.”
Duterte, known for ignoring speeches made for him, said he will read his speech this time and that it will not go beyond 35 minutes.
READ: Duterte on 3rd Sona: I will read my speech and it won’t exceed 35 minutes
But Gabriela Rep. Emmi De Jesus does not believe a “direct from the heart” speech from Duterte.
“’Yung sinasabi mong direct from the heart, nakakatakot ‘yun. Kung maitim ang kanyang puso at maitim ang kanyang budhi, baka kung anu-ano na naman ang sabihin niya laban sa mga mamamayan,” De Jesus said.
For her part, ACT-Teachers Rep. France Castro said she expects Duterte to “boast about his fake achievements,” even to the point of likely changing real statistics, and make further pitch to fast track the amendment of the 1987 Constitution to shift to federalism.
“Ipagmamalaki niya ang mga pekeng achievements niya na gagawin ng kanyang economic managers na babaliktarin niya ‘yung tunay na istatistika. Pangalawa, yung baka i-endorse niyang pabilisin na ang pagpasa ng Charter Change,” Castro said.
Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, meanwhile, believed that the recent passage of several laws served as a cover-up for the dismal performance of the Duterte administration amid worsening poverty in the country.
“Kung mapapansin niyo, naghahabol ng mga dagdag na batas. Achievement sa dalawang taon na para pampatong sa kalagayan ng bansa. ‘Di lang ang ratings ni Pangulong Duterte ang bumulusok, pati na rin ang kahirapan,” he said.
READ: Drop in Duterte’s rating pinned on discontent
Tinio backed Zarate’s statement, saying Duterte’s style of government is no longer working with the public, adding that his accomplishments are anti-poor and only serve the interests of big corporations.
“Nagsasawa na rin ang taong bayan sa istilo ni Pangulong Duterte… Marami nang namumulat. ‘Yung mga accomplishments ng Duterte administration ay talagang pahirap sa maralita, anti-poor talaga. Samantalang pinapaburan ang mga big business interests,” Tinio noted.
Tinio said their group will be holding a big demonstration to emphasize the pressing issues facing Filipinos, especially the poor, during the last two years of the Duterte administration.
“Makikita natin ang pinakamalaking protesta laban sa dalawang taon ng paghahari, paghahasik ng lagim ng Duterte administration. Iba’t-ibang grupo ang magsasama-sama dala ang mga issues ng mga mamamayan,” he said. Syrah Vivien Inocencio, INQUIRER.net intern /kga