Sona: big talk, no programs

CANBERRA—In his first State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, President Duterte served notice that his all-out war against criminality, illegal drugs and corruption would “not stop until the last drug lord, the last financier and the last pusher have surrendered, or are put behind bars.”

He reissued the draconian message that he first delivered during his inauguration address on June 30: that his campaign would be “relentless and sustained.”

But despite the rhetorical emphasis on crimes in the Sona, there was hardly a word that condemned the extrajudicial killings attributed to vigilantes similar to the death squads allegedly nurtured by Mr. Duterte when he was mayor of Davao City. Neither did he indicate what he intends to do to stop the extrajudicial executions being blamed on his cohorts.

In defense of his alleged connection with death squads in Davao, Mr. Duterte lambasted international as well as local organizations who have criticized his human rights record as abetting a witch-hunt on suspected drug pushers and users. In his Sona he was ambivalent. “Human rights must work to uplift human dignity,” he said. “But human rights cannot be used as a shield or an excuse to destroy the country’s dignity—your country and my country.”

Addressing local government and law enforcement officials in his hour-and-a-half-long speech, which was full of double talk and littered with chatty and irrelevant ad libs, Mr. Duterte said that when he decided to seek the presidency, “I knew what the ills of the country were, I knew their causes, and I was briefed on who caused [them].” He went on: “I heard the people on the streets complain that justice had become illusory… I knew that equity and fairness and speedy disposition of cases had deteriorated into hollow concepts. As a former prosecutor, I know there are always ways of knowing how fast or how slow [a case would go].  What I did was to look into the number of postponements and the time difference between postponements, and the next setting. … I will appreciate deeply if all in the government attend to this urgent need.”

“I was determined then, as I am now better positioned to wage war against those who make a mockery of our laws, including those who make life miserable for all of us,” he continued.

The President then proceeded with a seeming tutorial on his experiences, to assure us, the uninitiated in the tricks of the trade, that “vindictiveness is not in my system.” Nevertheless, he said, “like you all, equal treatment and equal protection are what I ask for our people.” He did not say whether suspected drug dealers tagged as criminals are entitled to this norm of equal treatment. He then perorated: “But we must have the courage to fight for what we believe in, undeterred by the fear of failing or losing. Indeed, courage knows no limits, cowardice does.”

Addressing law enforcement officials, Mr. Duterte ordered the National Police Commission to speed up the investigation and adjudication of administrative cases against police officers charged with involvement in criminal and illegal activities. In this quest, he said: “I would put at stake my honor, my life and the presidency itself.” He repeated the warning to the public not to do drugs and contribute to the drug crisis that has engulfed the nation.

The President said an interagency committee on illegal drugs will be put up, to integrate all efforts in the antidrug campaign. In expanding the campaign beyond the ambit of battling crimes and law enforcement, he said, “There will never be real and tangible development without making our people feel secure. And it is our duty to uplift our people’s welfare. With this, my administration shall be sensitive to the state’s obligation to promote, protect and fulfill the rights of our citizens, especially the poor, the marginalized and the vulnerable. Social justice shall be pursued even as the rule of law shall prevail at all times.”

He also pledged that his administration “shall implement a human approach to development and governance, and to improve the people’s welfare in the areas of health, education, adequate food and water, housing, etc.”

But where’s the blueprint for all these programs?

Amando Doronila was a regular columnist of the Inquirer from 1994 to May 2016.