Nine Reactions to Duterte’s First State of the Nation Address

From the Asia Foundation Philippines/Weekly Insights and Analysis (Jul 27): Nine Reactions to Duterte’s First State of the Nation Address

On July 25, Philippines President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivered his first State of the Nation Address (SONA). In this special post, nine Asia Foundation staff in the Philippines share their reactions to his speech.

Steven Rood, country representative

The Filipino people got a good look at their new president, Rodrigo Duterte, during his first SONA on Tuesday, some 35 percent of which was ad-libbed rather than read from the script. President Duterte told members of the media later that night that part of the problem was that he was wearing new glasses so that he had trouble reading the teleprompter. While that was perhaps occasionally what happened, the president’s style is very informal, occasionally quite funny, and often scary (intentionally so) when talking about his passion, the anti-drug campaign.

The smooth part of the speech was when he read the parts about government programs and plans from the various departments. This was the conventional stuff, which was praised by business analyst Peter Wallace as the “SONA that said it” – a reassuring list of continuity in good policies from the previous administration, and initiatives on taxation, infrastructure, a streamlined bureaucracy, a balancing approach between economics and the environment, and the like.

With regard to the West Philippine/South China Sea, Duterte merely said: “we strongly affirm and respect the outcome of the case before the Permanent Court of Arbitration as an important contribution to the ongoing efforts to pursue the peaceful resolution and management of our disputes.” This cautious rendering in the presence of the Chinese Ambassador (in the audience) and in advance of a visit two days later by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, illustrates the difficulty of the maritime issues facing a militarily weak Philippines.

The headline surprise from the speech was the unilateral ceasefire with the New People’s Army, but one of the key messages was the warning that “human rights cannot be used as a shield or an excuse to destroy the country.” We learned a lot from the SONA, but some of what we heard we already knew.

Maribel Buenaobra, deputy country representative

Expected to be a 38-minute speech that would make the public shed tears, the SONA turned out to be 95-minute minutes long, not a tear-jerker, and definitely not conventional. The SONA, directed by no less than internationally acclaimed director Brillante Mendoza, drew mixed reactions from the public and netizens for both its strong and contradictory messages, proletarian appeal, and funny moments. Lacking the usual expletives that peppered his election campaign speeches, the SONA was still vintage Duterte: awkward, entertaining, full of ad-libs, but interesting nonetheless. His speech had concessions to almost everyone – lower taxes for the middle classes, public Wi-Fi to netizens, streamlined business processes to business groups, and a unilateral ceasefire to the left. But jokes aside, President Duterte reiterated his campaign stand on addressing drugs and criminality, with a warning that human rights should not stand in the way of his anti-drug campaign.

Aisha Midtanggal, assistant program officer

Dubbed as the SONA of many firsts, President Duterte’s message was popular not only because it tackled a number of important national issues and legislative proposals, but also because it broke a lot of records, protocols, and milestones.

President Duterte’s SONA was the first to allow militant groups to stage their rally near the Batasan Complex. The groups called their mass action “kilos-suporta” (which means support movement rather than “kilos-protesta” or protest movement). They created a “Portrait of Peace” mural instead of a burning Duterte effigy. It was also the first time that militant leaders were met by the president after his SONA, during which they talked about peace and social services in conflict-stricken areas.

The event was a less glitzy red carpet affair, as guests heeded the call of the president to dress down in simple business attire. Duterte sported his signature Barong Tagalog with rolled up sleeves and dark pants while Vice President Leni Robredo wore a traditional off-shoulder Filipiniana dress.

This is also the first time that three of the four highest positions in the government are held by Mindanaons – President Duterte from Davao City, Senate President Pimentel from Cagayan de Oro City, and House Speaker Alvarez from Davao del Norte.

Nadine Ragonjan, senior program coordinator

During the campaign period, Duterte banked his political platform on the fight against drugs and criminality. Even in speeches before the business sector, he emphasized that progress cannot happen in a place where there is criminality and lawlessness. In his SONA, President Duterte reiterated: “There will be no let-up in this campaign. Double your efforts. Triple them, if need be. We will not stop until the last drug lord, the last financier, and the last pusher have surrendered or are put either behind bars or below the ground, if they so wish.” The Philippine National Police (PNP) has in recent weeks intensified its campaign against illegal drugs through its “Oplan Tokhang,” which saw the surrender of about 115,000 drug pushers and dependents across the country. In his speech before the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in a military camp in Maguindanao, he also tasked the military with helping in the anti-illegal drugs campaign: “It (the drug menace) is all over town. You have to help.”

While Duterte remains serious in his fight against illegal drugs and criminality, there remain concerns around human rights violations, especially the alarming increase in deaths of suspected drug violators in recent weeks. Duterte retorted in his SONA, “Human rights must work to uplift human dignity. But human rights cannot be used as a shield or an excuse to destroy the country – your country and my country.” Overall, it can be gleaned from the pronouncements of Duterte that while he is adamant in his campaign against criminals, he extends his hand of peace to rebel groups – the CPP-NPA-NDFP and Moro groups MILF and MNLF. Here, he distinguishes.

Anna Tasnim Basman, assistant program officer

It was no surprise when President Duterte made eight mentions of federalism in his SONA – the former city mayor has been touring the country since 2014 discussing the benefits of a more decentralized governance system. Immediately upon assumption into office, various efforts toward this shift have been in the works.

As Congress convened, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and former Senate President Franklin Drilon both filed House Concurrent Resolution No. 1, urging both Houses of Congress to convene in a joint session to call for a constitutional convention to “propose revision of the 1987 Constitution to establish a federal system of government.”

Even the administration’s plans for the Bangsamoro peace process involve the shift to federalism. Based on the new Bangsamoro Peace and Development Roadmap, the reconstituted Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) is tasked with “recommending amendments to the Constitution via the federalism project to establish the Bangsamoro government.” Still, considerable uncertainty about this shift remains, especially as previous efforts to change the 1987 Constitution have failed.

Marco Naguiat, assistant program officer

Freedom of Information (FOI) has been a long time coming. Since 1987, legislators have sought to pass the FOI bill, intended to enable the constitutional guarantee of the people’s right to access information. The closest the bill came to passing was in the 14th Congress (2007-2010) under the Arroyo administration, where it was approved in both houses (Congress and Senate) but ultimately was not ratified.

Under the Aquino administration, the FOI again had a good chance of passing, banking on the president’s campaign on anti-corruption and transparency, with the FOI’s passage to law as one of the campaign’s pillars. At one point in 2013, it seemed that FOI’s passage was certain. The Senate passed a version of the bill and was just awaiting the House (Congress) version. But from mid-2013 to 2015, the House version of the bill encountered significant delays. Ultimately, it led to the House of Representative’s failure to pass its version under the 16th Congress, the last session under President Aquino’s term.

This is in stark contrast to the Duterte administration. Just this May 2016, President Duterte ran and won on a campaign focused on swift action and transparency. On July 25, 2016, a mere four weeks into his presidency, Duterte made good on these promises and signed an Executive Order on FOI. The speed of which the Executive Order was passed even received mention during his SONA when he joked about “stealing one’s thunder” by getting ahead of Congress.

Bai Shaima Baraguir, assistant program officer

Duterte also discussed challenges on internal security as aggravated by local terrorist group Abu Sayyaf, stating that the “full force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines will be applied to crush these criminals who operate under the guise of religious fervor.” Such a statement does not fall far from initial pronouncements from his camp talking about neutralizing the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) as first priority of the Duterte administration. During his visit to the Western Mindanao Command Headquarters in Zamboanga City last July 21, Duterte stressed the need to combat urban terrorism. He cited the continuing beheadings of foreign nationals as an embarrassment to the country and the security sector. To which, he added that additional numbers of law enforcers are needed to establish order and end terrorism in the country.

However, these statements appear contradictory to his previous pronouncements about offering peace and opening negotiations with the ASG. Last July 9, President Duterte spoke during the Mindanao Hari Raya Eid’l Fitr 2016 activity in Davao City. In his speech, he said that he does not consider the ASG as criminals and that the ASG has resorted to violence because “they were driven to desperation.”

Interestingly, part of Duterte’s plans on combatting terrorism involves foreign policy. He made mention of this during his SONA when he specified strengthening coordination with nearby Southeast Asian countries, Indonesia and Malaysia, to suppress kidnappings. Duterte also promised to “develop partnerships with nations sharing common interests and concerns with the Philippines; maintain and sustain bilateral and multilateral consultations and dialogues; and continue to expand cooperation on human assistance, disaster response, maritime security, and counter terrorism.”

On the local context, Duterte talked about strengthening the country’s counter-terrorism program by amending various laws on terrorism, particularly those involving human terrorism, terrorism financing, and cybercrime. In particular, the amendment of the Human Security Act (Republic Act 9372) would be a welcome development as the Aquino administration was unable to do so despite prioritizing the proposed amendatory bill. The current law also contains controversial provisions that limit its enforceability.

Christian Hope Reyes, assistant program officer

For someone who describes himself as a “socialist,” Duterte’s sincerity to fortify the path to forge a peace agreement with the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army/National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) may come as no surprise. Nevertheless, he went beyond initiating the peace talks with the rebel group to making the unprecedented move to appoint people sympathetic to the NDF as cabinet members of his administration. Such appointments can further facilitate the peace negotiations, but certainly Duterte will have a tough balancing act in managing his cabinet, which also includes former military officials.

In his address, Duterte announced a unilateral ceasefire with the CPP-NPA, effective immediately. This declaration was made despite the kidnapping of four members of the Philippine National Police by those believed to be NPAs a day before the SONA. For its part, the NDF welcomed Duterte’s announcement and assured to “make the appropriate response” and “reciprocate” soon.

Even with the strong political will and the record-high trust rating of Duterte’s ability to resolve an insurgency that has lasted for almost half a century, doing so within his six-year term is an arduous quest, which may ultimately rest on the sincere commitment of both parties and the sustained political capital of Duterte’s presidency.

Noraida Chio, senior program officer

Bangsamoro people, like other Filipinos, eagerly tuned in to Tuesday’s SONA. Though some have reservations on how the legislative proposal on passing the Bangsamaro Basic Law (BBL) minus the Constitutional issues that are contentious, will be realized, a majority remain optimistic and lauded the president’s speech.

According to a statement by Atty. Alamia Masahud, executive secretary, Office of the ARMM Regional Governor, “[President Duterte] again acknowledged the historical injustice against the Moro people and the need to correct it. He called for an end to centuries of mistrust and warfare between the government and the Moro people and urged Congress to pass the BBL (Bangsamoro Basic Law). He said it is the only solution for Mindanao, while the concept of federalism is being explored. We in the Autonomous Regional Government reiterate our utmost commitment as the government’s Partner For Change.”

Nash Maulana, a Bangsamoro journalist, shared his thoughts as “My apprehension though is when the government gives the BBL (minus, minus), and later shifts to federalism, while the federal powers granted to other regions prove greater in substance than the BBL granted in government’s (and Congress’) own terms. Still, the peace roadmap of the Duterte administration sets an expanded Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) as the starting point of continuity of the peace process. BTC is a provision of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro; therefore, they are not setting aside CAB.”

In the peace process, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) welcomed President Duterte as a “true son of Mindanao.” Chairman Murad Ebrahim said Duterte’s “message of justice, freedom, equality, and social justice resonates with our aspiration for genuine change.” Three days after the approval of Comprehensive Peace Roadmap, Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza met with Chairman Haj Murad Ebrahim of the MILF at Camp Darapanan to discuss the implementation phase of the peace process. According to both parties, the Bangsamoro peace process will formally resume with a meeting of the 10-member GPH-MILF Implementing Team in Kuala Lumpur early August of this year.

The views and opinions expressed here are those of the authors and not those of The Asia Foundation or its funders.

http://asiafoundation.org/2016/07/27/nine-reactions-dutertes-first-state-nation-address/