MANILA, Philippines — An end to alleged extrajudicial killings or EJKs, and the release of detained Senator Leila de Lima were just among the items in the wishlist of a legislator for this year’s State Of the Nation Address (Sona).
President Rodrigo Duterte will again deliver his Sona on July 22, his fourth since he came to power in June 2016.
Twelve days ahead of Sona, opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros came out with a list of what she hopes to hear from the President.
“Kung wish lang eh di wish ko na sabihin ni Presidente matitigil na ‘yung war on drugs para isang immediate na resulta, matitigil ‘yung karamihan ng extrajudicial killings,” Hontiveros said during the Kapihan sa Senado on Wednesday.
“Wish ko lang na sasabihin ni Presidente, palalayain na si Senator Leila, at may cease-and-decist order na s’ya dun sa mga harassment cases laban kay Maria Ressa bilang isang tanda nang paghupa ng atake n’ya sa mga kababaihan at kababaihang lider lalo na ‘yung mga nagbibigay ng kritisismo sa kanyang paggo-gobyerno,” she added.
De Lima has been detained over drug charges, while Rappler chief executive officer Maria Ressa has been facing various charges, including violations of the Anti-Dummy Law and Securities Regulation Code.
READ: Rappler’s Maria Ressa faces antidummy charges
Hontiveros also wants to hear the President say that he would no longer push for Charter change, and instead find within the existing Constitution solutions to the country’s problems.
“At wish ko lang sasabihin ni Presidente na sa wakas, after three years icha-champeon na n’ya, itataguyod ‘yung tagumpay natin vis-a-vis sa China sa West Philippine Sea at simula na sa pagsulong n’ya ng hustisya para sa ating mga kababayan sa Gem-Ver 1,” she noted.
“Pero after that, magigising na ako,” the senator added.
Gem-Ver 1 was the Philippine fishing boat reportedly hit by a Chinese vessel near Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea last June 9, leaving 22 Filipino crewmen adrift at sea.
Despite this, Hontiveros said she still plans to attend and listen to Duterte’s Sona, noting that the President was just the guest speaker in one of the special gatherings of Congress. (Editor: Katherine G. Adraneda)