#SONA2018: Pro-Duterte demonstrators hail ‘success’ of drug war

Pro-Duterte rallyists here at IBP Road to express support to the President on his 3rd Sona. INQUIRER.net / JHOANNA BALLARAN

Demonstrators clad in blue, green and white trooped to IBP Road in Quezon City on Monday to express support for President Rodrigo Duterte on his third State of the Nation Address (Sona).

Over 1,400 supporters took part in the pro-Duterte rally just a stone’s throw away from the Batasang Pambansa Complex where the President will make his speech later at 4 p.m.

Most of the supporters were senior citizens from cities nearby Metro Manila.

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Deputy Administrator Arnel Ignacio poked fun at the age of those in the crowd, saying he was “not informed” that he was going to a Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) event.

“Hindi ako na-inform na SK pala ang pupuntahan ko,” Ignacio said, drawing laughter from the crowd.

Evangeline Leal, 64, was one of the demonstrators who barely slept just to take part in the mass action.

Leal, a member of Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte National Executive Coordinating Committee, came all the way from Maria Aurora town in Aurora province to express her support to the President.

She said Duterte’s most significant achievement in the past two years was the controversial anti-illegal drugs campaign.

“Nawala na ‘yung mga droga sa amin; mayroon man ngayon paisa-isa syempre hindi naman malilinis kaagad ‘yan,” Leal said.

(Illegal drugs in our community was gone. There are still a few but of course you cannot get rid of it right away.)

When asked if she was in favor of Duterte’s iron-fisted method in the anti-illegal drugs campaign, she said: “Okay lang ‘yon, may mga kasalanan kaya dapat lang patayin.”

(That is okay, they have sinned so they should be killed.)

The grandmother said she expects Duterte to address in his Sona the rising costs of goods and his programs for senior citizens like her.

Leal said she was not forced to join the rally and she freely took part in activity to express her unwavering support for Duterte. /kga