Updated 9 p.m.
Facing criticisms for his bold policies and unconventional rule, President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday remained unfazed and vowed that his commitment to fighting illegal drugs, corruption, and criminality has “even gotten stronger.”
Duterte arrived at the House of Representatives in Quezon City for his third State of the Nation Address (Sona) at 3:53 p.m. but the start of the program was delayed for almost an hour as the lower chamber faced a leadership row.
Former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was sworn in as the new Speaker as House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez welcomed Duterte.
Duterte had to talk to Arroyo and Alvarez before he proceeded to the plenary hall.
After almost an hour, Alvarez emerged and took this seat at the rostrum.
A few minutes later, Duterte entered the plenary hall and started his speech at 5:17 p.m.
In a 48-minute expletives-free speech, Duterte began by emphasizing his commitment the nation’s challenges.
“About two years ago, I solemnly took my oath as a worker of the national government. I was as inspired to institute real changes for the greater good of the Filipino people, as I was greatly overwhelmed then by the daunting challenges that lay ahead,” he said.
“Two years later, my solid commitment to directly and decisively address our nation’s collective challenges remains. It has not wavered. In truth, it has even gotten stronger through adversity and the desire to give the people the most we can, within my term in this government,” he added.
He said his administration’s war on drugs was “far from over” and it would be relentless and chilling.
The President said illegal drugs “waste away lives, dysfunctionalize families, and ruin relationships.”
“This is why the illegal drugs war will not be sidelined. Instead, it will be as relentless and chilling, if you will, as on the day it began,” he said.
“These drug dealers know fully well that their business is against the law. They know the consequences of their criminal acts, especially when caught in flagrante delicto and they violently resist arrest. They know that illegal drugs waste away lives, dysfunctionalize families, and ruin relationships. They know that once hooked, addicts will die slowly — slow deaths,” he added.
He remained unfazed despite various demonstrations during his Sona and called their protests “misdirected.”
“If you think that I can be dissuaded from continuing this fight because of [your] demonstrations, your protests, which I find, by the way, misdirected, then you got it all wrong,” he said.
He slammed human rights critics as he defended his brutal war on drugs and criminality.
“Your concern is human rights; mine is human lives. The lives of our youth are being wasted and families are destroyed, and all because of the chemicals called shabu, cocaine, cannabis, and heroine,” he said.
“You worry about the present; I am concerned [about] both the present and the future. I worry about the future because I know what crimes can do to the youth of this country. If not stopped, crimes can make human cesspools of succeeding generations. I will not allow it to happen. Not during my term,” he added.
Corruption
Duterte reiterated that his anti-corruption drive would be unforgiving.
“Time and again, I have stressed that corruption must stop. Corruption is like a leech that it bleeds the government of funds programmed for its infrastructure and other social development projects. It saps the morale or the morale of dedicated and honest government workers,” he said.
He said it is the “innocent” who would always “suffer and bear” the “horrible consequences” of corruption.
“Stolen wealth does not make the thief respectable. Neither will the trappings of wealth mask [nor] cap the stink that thievery exudes,” he said.
“One day, justice will catch up with those who steal government funds. And when that day comes, it will be the public who will have its retribution,” he added.
The President also warned rice cartels that create artificial shortage on the country’s top staple.
“Stop messing with the people. I hate to. Power sometimes is not a good thing. I hope I will not use it against use. Consider this as warning,” he said.
Bangsamoro Organic Law
The President vowed to sign the Bangsamoro Organic Law within 48 hours after it failed to be ratified by the lower house.
“Give me 48 hours and I will sign the law,” he said.
“Despite all that has been said [for] or against the Bangsamoro Organic Law by all sectoral groups, I make this solemn commitment that this administration will never deny our Muslim brothers and sisters the basic legal tools to chart their own destiny within the Constitutional framework of our country,” he added.
Duterte hinted that the passage of the BOL could lead peace in Mindanao.
“We will need loads of understanding and patience to endure and overcome the birth pangs or pains of the new beginning. To me, war is not an option. We have been through the catastrophe in Marawi. We have seen the horror, the devastation, and the human toll and the displacement of both Christians and Muslims alike,” he said.
West PH Sea
Despite Manila’s warmer ties on Beijing, Duterte said the government would not abandon its claims in the West Philippine Sea despite.
“Our improved relationship with China, however, does not mean that we will waver in our commitment to defend our interests in the West Philippine Sea,” he said.
The chief executive cited the bilateral and multilateral platforms between the Philippines and China to solve our maritime row.
“Opening lines of communication and amicably managing differences have led to positive developments that include renewed access of Filipino fishermen in the areas in dispute in the Philippines — West Philippine Sea,” he said.
Reject Train law suspension
Amid rising inflation and prices of fuel products, he rejected calls to suspend the tax Reform Acceleration and Inclusion (Train) law.
“Some have incorrectly blamed our efforts toward a fairer tax system for all the price increases in the past months, and some irresponsibly suggesting to stop TRAIN’s implementation. We cannot and should not. We need this for sustainable growth that leaves no Filipino left behind,” he said.
He lauded Congress for the landmark passage of the tax reform law, which he said “made funds available to build better roads and bridges, and improve health and education, and strengthen our safety and security. “
“TRAIN is already helping poor families and senior citizens cope up with rising prices. We have distributed unconditional cash transfers to 4 million people, and we will help 6 million more this year,” he said.
Pass key measures
The President urged Congress to pass a bill creating the Department of Disaster Management.
“We, in the Cabinet, have approved for immediate endorsement to Congress the passage of a law creating the “Department of Disaster Management,” he said.
“An inter-agency crafted and a high-priority measure aimed at genuinely strengthening our country’s capacity for [resilience] to natural disasters. I fervently appeal to Congress to pass this bill with utmost urgency. Our people’s safety requirements cannot wait,” he added.
Duterte also pushed for the “speedy passage” of the Universal Health Care Bill.
He said much “needs to be done to improve our healthcare system, which remains highly fragmented, resulting in disparity in health outcomes between the rich and the poor in the urban areas and rural.”
“While investments in health have increased over the years, several policy and operational bottlenecks have constrained universal health care for this country,” he said.
“To this end, I urge the speedy passage of the Universal Health Care Bill. Strong political determination, not political ambition, is the guiding light,” he added.
Environmental problems
Duterte said the famous resort island of Boracay, “widely regarded as one of our country’s treasures and admired worldwide for its natural beauty, has sadly become the representation of the government’s negligence, including mine.”
“I could not allow this decay to continue; decisive action has long been overdue. Recognizing that we are mere stewards of our natural resources, and I said enough is enough,” he said.
“We intend to restore its environmental integrity, alongside measures to alleviate those whose livelihood were momentarily affected. Environmental protection and ensuring the health of our people cannot be overemphasized; thus, our actions in Boracay mark the beginning of a new national effort,” he added.
The President again gave a warning to irresponsible miners.
“To the mining industry, I say this once again, and maybe for the last time: Do not destroy the environment or compromise our resources,” he said.
“Repair what you have mismanaged. Try to change management radically because this time, you’ll have restrictive policies, the prohibition of open-pit mining is one. It is destroying my country, the environment it will destroy the world of tomorrow,” he added. /je