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While Filipinos watched the final State Of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Benigno Aquino III, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte also sat with Davaoeños in People’s Park on Mon, Jul 27, to watch the SONA.
Duterte reacted to the President’s statement that the Anti-Dynasty Law is among the government’s priority measures.
He said Aquino wouldn’t have become president if it weren’t for his mother.
“Dapat sa kanya ‘yan. Siya anak ng presidente eh and there was a time yung mga relatives niya. That would give him a lesson if you limit one family to one candidate, so be it. He should learn his lessons very well, after all, kung hindi namatay ang kanyang nanay, hindi siya magiging presidente. It sounds funny. It’s ironic, but that is the situation. Kung sabihin mong dynasty, tingnan niyo ng mabuti nang di kayo matamaan,” Duterte said.
The mayor, known for his efforts to curb criminality in Davao City, gave a grade of 7 out of ten to the President’s performance in the last five years.
He said Aquino has improved the economy but noted that the Aquino government did not exert much effort to fight criminality.
“I do not hear any programs on criminality, not really on a massive scale, but drugs is creeping in to the lives of the young people. A report on MPD na 9 out of 10 pumapasok ang droga, that’s dangerous. You could equate it with the national security. As a matter of fact, it is worrisome just like China and Mindanao.”
Duterte is also dismayed by Aquino’s continued criticisms of the previous administration.
“Past is past. He should have focused on what to continue at the end of his term,” he said.
The mayor reiterated anew that he does not intend to run for President in 2016.
“I will say it again. I am not interested. Pabayaan niyo lang yan sila. Because if I change my mind, I’m a liar,” he said.
At a certain point in his SONA, Senator Grace Poe, Vice-President Jejomar Binay, and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas were shown on a split-screen video as the president said, “Lahat ba ng ating naipundar, lahat ba ng ating pinaghirapan, maglalaho dahil lang sa isang eleksyon?”
Binay and Roxas are possible contenders for the presidency in 2016. Poe is a leading contender for the presidency in 2016 according to voter preference surveys, but she has yet to decide whether to run or not.
Text: Hernel Tocmo, ABS-CBN News Southern Mindanao
Photo: ABS-CBN Regional Network Group
This article has been re-published with permission from ABS-CBNnews.com.
