Leni to attend Duterte’s 3rd SONA

MANILA, Philippines —  Vice President Leni Robredo will attend the third State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Duterte on Monday despite the latter’s recent tirades against her.

Robredo said she hoped Duterte would tackle pressing issues like inflation, the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, status of the government’s anti-drug campaign and the West Philippine Sea conflict, in his speech.

“I will attend because it’s my obligation, and I’m always interested in what the President would say,” the Vice President said in an interview in Cagayan de Oro City on Monday night.

Robredo said she is also looking forward to hearing the Duterte administration’s accomplishments in the last two years. 

Former president Benigno Aquino III, however, will not be attending his successor’s SONA for the third straight year.

Last week, Duterte called Robredo “incompetent” and said he would not step down if she would assume his post.

The President said if ever there will be Charter change and a shift to a federal form of government, he wants a young transitional leader to be elected.

The President’s comment against Robredo came hours after the Vice President said she is ready to lead a “united opposition” against Duterte.

Robredo said the President should focus on the country’s economic problems rather than insult her or God.

Meanwhile, Robredo said the administration should understand the value of dissent.

“We should not fight. I believe that we (united opposition) should not oppose everything because we might become irrelevant. It’s clear to me and to the groups whom I had talked to that while we criticize the things we don’t agree with, we should also support the good things this administration is doing,” she said.

SONA protests

The group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said yesterday a broad coalition composed of different sectors will be joining the SONA protest actions on July 23.

Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes said the “United People’s SONA” is the direct result of the anti-people and anti-national policies of the Duterte regime.

“President Duterte has succeeded in bringing various groups opposed to his plan of Charter change and dictatorship. He has spurred resistance to tyranny throughout the country,” Reyes said.

   He noted that many of the groups joining the protests come from the ranks of workers, peasants, women, urban poor, youth and students, and other oppressed sectors. 

“Many of the groups joining the protest are reeling from the economic crisis brought about by TRAIN (Law) and new taxes, depressed wages, contractual labor, landlessness and the government’s overall subservience to foreign economic dictates,” Reyes said.

Also joining the protests are the families of victims of extrajudicial killings, contractual workers, lawyers and law students, religious groups offended by Duterte, artists and journalists, victims of martial law from Mindanao as well as fisherfolk from Zambales. 

“Many are outraged at the puppetry to foreign interests of the Duterte government. People are indignant over the continuing spate of extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs and crime,” Reyes said.

Reyes said it is also important to point out that the broad united front has emerged just two years into the term of Duterte.

“It highlights the growing isolation of the regime amid the worsening crisis in the Philippines. The SONA protests will belie official Palace statements that the Philippines is a ‘darling’ economy instead of a depressed economy. The protests will counter official claims of success in the war on drugs and crime,” he added.

Bayan said the groups gathering on Monday will present a formidable opposition to any maneuvers that seek term extension, dictatorship and nationwide martial law.

“Congress is advised to listen to the manifestations in the streets on July 23,” Bayan said, adding it will hold protests nationwide to underscore the growing people’s resistance to the Duterte regime. 

 “We expect the peaceful yet militant mass actions to happen in major urban centers outside Metro Manila. On SONA Day, Bayan will gather various sectors at the University of the Philippines in Diliman before joining the unity march towards the designated rally site along Commonwealth Avenue,” Reyes said.  –With Mayen Jaymalin, Rhodina Villanueva, Raymund Catindig