Makabayan bloc hits Duterte over response to people’s plight ahead of his last SONA

The Makabayan bloc on Thursday criticized President Rodrigo Duterte over unfulfilled promises and questioned his response to the plight of many sectors ahead of his last State of the Nation Address (SONA).

In a press conference, Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate said Duterte’s legacy will be his militaristic response to the plight of the Filipinos especially during the pandemic.

“Hindi ang medikal na solusyon kundi militaristang solusyon. Ito ang magiging tampok, legasiya ng Duterte administration kung paano nito tinugunan ang kahirapan ng ating mamamayan,” he said.

(Not a medical solution, but a militaristic solution.  This will be the legacy of the Duterte administration on how it responded to the suffering of our countrymen.)

Bayan Muna partylist Representative Eufemia Cullamat said that Duterte’s last SONA would not be exciting as he already disappointed the public in his five years of leadership.

Cullamat cited the high price of goods in the market, dissatisfactory COVID-19 response, and worsening corruption.

She said the human rights violation also worsened citing the filing of trumped up charges, anomalous issuance of search warrants, killings, and shutting of over 200 schools of indigenous people.

“Lalong nalulugmok ang sitwasyon naming mga katutubo (We, indigenous people, become more helpless),” she said.

ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro pointed out that the Duterte’s administration was not able to fully provide the needs of schools, teachers, and students in blended learning amid the pandemic.

“Talagang hindi tinugunan ng gobyernong ito yung kalidad ng edukasyon (This government really did not address the quality of education),” she said.

Kabataan Party-list Representative Sarah Jane Elago urged Duterte to push for the improvement of the healthcare system, provide enough assistance, give student aid, and prepare for the return of classes.

For his SONA, Gabriela party-list Representative Arlene Brosas challenged Duterte to answer the issues of peace and order under his administration.

Brosas said there is no peace and order under Duterte’s administration citing the passage of anti-terrorism law, the shutdown of ABS-CBN, and the “sale” of the country’s sovereignty.

“Sa huling SONA ni Duterte, sagutin niya ang tanong ng taumbayan kasi nangako siya ng peace and order (In his last SONA, he should answer the question of the people because he promised peace and order),” she added.—AOL, GMA News