Opposition lawmakers assess Duterte’s 1st year
Senators Antonio Trillanes IV (center) and Risa Hontiveros (right) and Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano on Sunday, July 16, 2017, gave President Rodrigo Duterte a failing mark for his performance after a year in office. The three lawmakers explained their ratings during a news conference at the sidelines of an alternative State of the Nation Adress (Sona) dubbed “So Ano Na” at the University of the Philippines Bahay ng Alumni. (Photo by MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB / INQUIRER.net)
Opposition lawmakers in the 17th Congress on Sunday gave their assessment of the first year of President Duterte during an alternative State of the Nation Address (Sona), “So Ano Na,” ahead of the President’s Sona on July 24.
Senators Antonio Trillanes IV, Risa Hontiveros and Bam Aquino, as well as Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat and Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano delivered their assessment in the alternative Sona held at Bahay ng Alumni in UP Diliman, where they slammed the rising number of extrajudicial killings in the administration’s war on drugs, and martial law in Mindanao.
Trillanes also read Sen. Leila De Lima’s statement.
Trillanes blamed President Duterte for detaining De Lima over the drug trade charges filed against her in connection with her alleged involvement in the Bilibid drug trade.
“Duterte did this to instill fear, not only to silence De Lima, in the opposition and ordinary people,” Trillanes said.
In her statement, De Lima lamented the sense of apathy on slain drug pushers and users.
“Human rights is under attack, and not just by killings in the streets. The battle is also being waged in the people’s minds. And that’s where the war will be won or lost,” De Lima said.
On the issue of women, Hontiveros said Duterte’s first year was a most dangerous one for women, what with the President’s rape jokes that only perpetuated misogyny.
“The first year of the Duterte administration is a dangerous year for being a woman. It’s a year of resurgent misogyny, and endless killings. It is a dangerous year for ordinary Filipinos. It’s a year of living dangerously,” Hontiveros said.
Alejano said the Mindanao martial law was only a “test case” for the eventual imposition of martial rule nationwide.
He added that the declaration of martial law only legitimized the Maute group and its desire to gain the recognition of the Islamic State terror group .
