Genuine state of the nation

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

March Fianza

The latest change in this administration is President Duterte’s directive for Exec. Sec. Salvador Medialdea to issue a memo asking government workers to stop addressing him “His Excellency” and “Honorable” in all official communications. He simply wants to be addressed as President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

He also instructed that all Cabinet officials shall be addressed as “Secretary” instead of “Honorable.” Apparently, Mr. Duterte wants to maintain his “down to earth” style, encourage among government workers lesser formalities in communications or apply simplicity in communicating.

Another change people are expecting to see is the attendance of street activists during the President’s SONA. This was informally agreed on between Mr. Duterte and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Sec. Gen. Renato Reyes after the latter asked the President if they can hold their protest rallies closer to the Batasang Pambansa during his SONA to which Mr. Duterte said, “sure, no problem.”

        Minutes after Duterte’s oath-taking last June 30 as the country’s 16th President, activists who were gathered at the Mendiola Bridge where bloody protest rallies were held in the past, were surprisingly fetched by elements of the Presidential Security Group and brought to Malacanang upon the instruction of the new President.  

By the way, in other countries, all sectors are welcome to attend SONAs, including the opposition, and are even allowed to pour out loud outcries that repeatedly interrupt the speaker.

        Reports have it that this time too, the SONA event will no longer be in festive mood as lawmakers, their spouses and guests will not have the opportunity to flaunt their expensive gowns. President Duterte wants to bring back the true spirit of the SONA event, so that even the food to be served will simply consist of fresh lumpia, salted duck, smoked fish, pandesal, monggo soup and empanadita, among others.

The President’s speech, according to his spokespersons, will highlight his administration being a government of the people, detailed with a people’s economic agenda that will grab the red carpet from under the feet of the fashionistas in congress.

         For his legislative agenda, Mr. Duterte is expected to include in his SONA his proposal to revive the death penalty and Charter Change to pave the way for federalism. This, in addition to doable promises about an administration that is more responsive to the people. Malacanang spokespersons also said that Duterte’s first SONA is expected to be as brief as 30 minutes.

Surfing the net, I came across people’s grievances vis a vis protests that have become the norm during SONAs. The usual things raised were land reform, peace and order, lack of jobs, corruption and poverty. These were overused issues in SONAs delivered by Presidents Marcos, Cory, Ramos, Erap, Arroyo and especially Noynoy whose “matuwid na daan” did not improve the conditions in Tondo.

         Another topic that is expected in the President’s legislative agenda in the SONA will be an update on the Freedom of Information Bill if it will not be overtaken by an executive order. This, to me, will be an issue that allied militant groups in attendance will be waiting to hear about. The topic, I imagine, might elicit an uproar from the crowd.

          But to make the day of the SONA more genuine, the President should talk about the more important topic of corruption in relation to the ongoing fight against illegal drugs and the unexplained killings that came with it, and illegal gambling or jueteng that has damaged the country’s moral fiber.

Illegal gambling in whatever form, as much as illegal drugs, should also be eradicated as this is prevalent and allowed by the police and LGUs. Tolerating illegal gambling is a crime, participating in it is corruption and so it must be stamped out.

Tita Cory’s time when jueteng operations became extensive, up to her son’s administration have not eliminated jueteng and illegal gambling because every LGU where one’s political mass base comes from is involved. Congressmen, governors, mayors, councilors, barangay heads, policemen, farmers, market vendors, media outfits and all were involved. In some instances, gambling operators shared their illegal earnings with the church.

Just like illegal drugs, jueteng and illegal gambling dens (along Legarda in Baguio) tolerated and operated by LGU politicians and barangay officials are not easy to eradicate because they get protection all the way to Congress, Camp Crame and Malacanang.

          And so for a SONA to be genuine and for Duterte to be a true-blue anti-corruption President, jueteng along with illegal drugs should be stamped out too.