President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his third State of the Nation Address on July 22, 2024. (Screenshot from RTVM/LIVE)
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ended his third State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday with a reminder to Filipinos: remain vigilant and fight evil in society.
The President quoted English philosopher John Stuart Mill’s speech about individuals who remain silent despite knowing all the wrongs in society.
“To solve all the problems that we have been suffering under, all officials, law enforcers, workers in government, and most of all, the citizenry must always be vigilant, principled, and think of the health of the nation,” he said.
“Let me end by recalling the words of a great man: Let not anyone pacify his conscience by the delusion that he can do no harm if he takes no part and forms no opinion. Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends than that good man shall look on. He is not a good man, he is not a good man who without a protest allows wrong to be committed in his name,” he added.
According to Marcos, Filipinos must always rise against evil.
“We should always fight for what is right and good. We should always love the Philippines and the Filipinos,” he added in Filipino.
Marcos’ closing remarks came just after he announced a ban on all Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) in the country due to the social cost these bring.
READ: Marcos: ‘All Pogos are banned!’
“Effective today, all Pogos are banned,” Marcos said. “I hereby instruct Pagcor (Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation) to wind down and seize the operations of Pogos by the end of the year,” he added.
The President also touched on the country’s rights over the West Philippine Sea, noting that the disputed region will always belong to the Filipinos.
READ: Marcos: West Philippine Sea not an imagination, it will always be ours