Duterte administration detrimental to Filipinos, says leftist group

After hearing President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (Sona), progressive group Sanlakas is convinced that the administration is detrimental to Filipinos, especially those in Mindanao and those living in poverty.

“Because the war on illegal drugs will not be sidelined, the policy of “kill, kill, kill” continues. The Duterte regime is a government of disaster to poor families who remain victims of the government’s war on drugs,” Sanlakas Secretary General Aaron Pedrosa said in a statement on Monday.

During the Sona, President Duterte vowed that the government’s war on drugs will be relentless, and “is far from over”.

“This is why the [war on] illegal drugs will not be sidelined. Instead, it will be as relentless and chilling, if you will, as on the day it began,” the president said.

READ: Duterte: Drug war to remain ‘relentless and chilling’

Pedrosa also lamented the inability of Congress to ratify the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) on Monday, due to alleged internal problems with the House leadership.

“Duterte is a straight-face liar.  Bangsamoro Organic Law has not yet passed.  It was sidelined by trapo (traditional politicians) infighting in Congress, by the very legislators who were asked to consider the welfare of the Bangsamoro,” he said.

“The congressmen placed their self-serving political interests over the miserable lives of millions of Moros, an alarming yet foreseeable development,” he added.

Hours before President Duterte delivered his Sona, former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took her oath of office as House Speaker, replacing Davao del Norte Representative Pantaleon Alvarez.

READ: With House sound system dead, Arroyo takes oath as new Speaker

Discussions on the change in the house leadership stalled the program for more than an hour. However, it was Alvarez who sat as the House speaker during the Sona itself. /ee

READ: Despite Arroyo being sworn in, Alvarez takes Speaker’s seat at Sona

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