MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte has fresh tirades against the Lopez family and the embattled ABS-CBN Corporation during the fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 27.
As the country listened to Duterte's SONA, the President criticized several personalities and how they have affected him and the government. Duterte began by mentioning the Lopezes saying that he was a victim of the family when he ran for the presidential elections in 2016.
"I am a casualty of the Lopezes during the 2016 elections," Duterte said.
He also mentioned Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and criticized him for supposedly defending the Lopezes when he said that not all rich families should be considered oligarchs. The President said Drilon is an example of the personality who is only taking advantage of a "preoccupied government."
"Obviously he was defending the Lopezes that they are not oligarchs... media is a powerful tool in the hands of oligarchs like the Lopezes who use their media outlets in their battles with political figures," Duterte said.
Towards the end of his speech, Duterte returned to mention Drilon and called him a "hypocrite."
The President also issued a warning against those who continue to profit and abuse others that they cannot escape the law. He said, "The profiteers, overpricers, and corrupt fellows must be happy now, but not for long. They can't outrun the long arm of the law."
He said we should not allow greed, self-interest and ambition to rule us because "we will be left with nothing better than the lesser evil instead of the greater good."
In these times, Duterte said we need men of integrity and faith as he mentioned national heroes like Jose Rizal, Gregorio Del Pilar. We will also benefit greatly from men of actions like Andres Bonifacio and men of men of inflexible patriotism like Apolinario Mabini.
Duterte also honored the brave frontliners and consoled the families of the casualties of the COVID-19 pandemic. He described the health crisis as the country "troubled times" where no one was spared.
"Neither rich nor poor was spared from the onslaught of this disease. But let us not despair, the vaccine is around the corner," Duterte said as he urged the public to remain hopeful.
— Sally, The Summit Express
As the country listened to Duterte's SONA, the President criticized several personalities and how they have affected him and the government. Duterte began by mentioning the Lopezes saying that he was a victim of the family when he ran for the presidential elections in 2016.
"I am a casualty of the Lopezes during the 2016 elections," Duterte said.
He also mentioned Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and criticized him for supposedly defending the Lopezes when he said that not all rich families should be considered oligarchs. The President said Drilon is an example of the personality who is only taking advantage of a "preoccupied government."
"Obviously he was defending the Lopezes that they are not oligarchs... media is a powerful tool in the hands of oligarchs like the Lopezes who use their media outlets in their battles with political figures," Duterte said.
Towards the end of his speech, Duterte returned to mention Drilon and called him a "hypocrite."
The President also issued a warning against those who continue to profit and abuse others that they cannot escape the law. He said, "The profiteers, overpricers, and corrupt fellows must be happy now, but not for long. They can't outrun the long arm of the law."
He said we should not allow greed, self-interest and ambition to rule us because "we will be left with nothing better than the lesser evil instead of the greater good."
In these times, Duterte said we need men of integrity and faith as he mentioned national heroes like Jose Rizal, Gregorio Del Pilar. We will also benefit greatly from men of actions like Andres Bonifacio and men of men of inflexible patriotism like Apolinario Mabini.
Duterte also honored the brave frontliners and consoled the families of the casualties of the COVID-19 pandemic. He described the health crisis as the country "troubled times" where no one was spared.
"Neither rich nor poor was spared from the onslaught of this disease. But let us not despair, the vaccine is around the corner," Duterte said as he urged the public to remain hopeful.
— Sally, The Summit Express
