THE SONA OF President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr was met with countless clapping of hands, especially by his fellow dynasts, meaning they meant to say, “Bravo!,” “Great points raised!,” “Ang galing!,” “That’s my President!”
Well, such reactions were expected, given that the clappers have that kindred spirit with the president that they themselves felt they were also doing fine for their respective constituents. But, did the people of goodwill who heard the whole speech also had the same sentiments?
Perhaps those who heard Pres. Bongbong Marcos seriously said that his cousin, former speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, should really be investigated, and that he’s the “president of the people,” not just of a particular sector of the population, did honestly clap their hands then. But that’s it, there were no other words worth clapping for afterwards by the Filipino people. Why?
The Filipino people expect their president, their head/leader of government, their chief promoter of the Philippine Constitution and Rule of Law, more specifically “to build a just and humane society,” as his mandate when he took his oath as President of the Philippines.
Honest Answers
The people naturally were expecting honest answers to how true and how much has he delivered over the past five years of his promise to serve the people, given their expectation of resolving the terrible and painful mess of a bloody and impoverished country left by the former president, the ICC jailbird Rodrigo Roa Duterte, (who, incidentally, has his daughter, VP Sara, currently on trial by an Impeachment Court, for betrayal of public trust and many other crimes against the people).
President Bongbong Marcos missed confessing that he failed, in all honesty, after promising a “Bagong Pilipinas” under his administration together with his “uniteam” partner, VP Sara Duterte, particularly the availability of the P20/kg of rice in the market. This promise was made because it would powerfully send the message that the food needs of the majority of the Filipino people will be met.
Indeed, among the many other expectations of the people from their president, the son of Dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos of the brutal Martial Law years, was a humane and compassionate approach to governance, in contrast to the “killing president” Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Unaddressed Concerns
President Bongbong Marcos could have mentioned, to be sincere as the country’s head-of-state, the unaddressed human rights violations of illegal arrests, tortures and detentions, enforced disappearances, ongoing EJKs of journalists, lawyers, pastors, and activists. These human rights violations have continued to taint his leadership, especially as he did not abolish the ICC jailbird’s notorious “baby agency” NTF-ELCAC.
It has generously budgeted this government office in the millions, as it illegally carries out its “red/terrorist” branding of activists and even development workers helping marginalized, LGU-neglected peasant and IP communities. President Bongbong refrained from commenting about the latest massacre of 19 people, including youths, by the AFP ground troops, in Negros.
Aware of the more than 775 political prisoners, most likely jailed for trumped-up charges, President Bongbong did not, even in general terms, mention that justice must be given due course under his administration.
He missed admitting his failure to provide full employment, improving the education system and healthcare needs of the people, raising the wages of workers, providing appropriate assistance to the farmers, fisherfolks and IPs, and solving the energy crisis.
To conclude his SONA, he could have humbly confessed not being a perfect leader, but he is still focused on the big-name fugitives, like Sen. Bato dela Rosa, Atong Ang and the crooks in congress and other government institutions. As president, Bongbong failed in serving the people!