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Makabayan bloc congressmen rained on the parade that was President Benigno Aquino III’s final State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Mon, Jul 27.
BOOS AND ANTI-PNOY POSTERS
Towards the end of the speech, the left-wing lawmakers brought out posters critical of Aquino and called him a failure, to the catcalls of the Aquino-friendly gallery. “Boos” were also heard. Senator Franklin Drilon booed right back.
WATCH: Video shows Drilon booing back at PNoy’s critics
In a statement, Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares said, “Sa huling SONA ni Pres. Aquino, dapat makita niya at ng mamamayan na pahirap at pahamak ito sa mga Pilipino.”
“Mula sa bulok na mga serbisyo tulad ng sa MRT, LRT at PNR hanggang sa napakamahal na kuryente, toll at tubig na patuloy na nagpapahirap sa mamamayan ay pahamak din ito tulad ng nangyari sa Mamasapano at pagbenta sa interes at soberanya ng bansa dahil sa EDCA at Cha-cha,” he said.
Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate said, “Ibinalik na naman ni Aquino ang sisi kay Arroyo at kanyang mga kritiko, na para bang wala na siyang inambag sa malalang kalagayan ng kahirapan, kagutuman, at kawalan ng katarungan sa ating bansa sa kasalukuyan. Sisi sa umpisa, sisi sa huli ang kalakhan ng SONA ni PNoy. Lutang sa ulap ang mga nilistang mga achievement ni Pnoy. Hindi ramdam ng ordinaryong mamamayan nag sinasabi nyang credit ratings at paambon ambon na tulong mula sa gobyerno.”
“Ang katotohanan, sa pagpasok nya noong 2010, inuubo na ang ating ekonomiya pero ngayon hindi na lang inuubo, hinihika na ang ating ekonomiya. Dalawa sa 3 Pilipino ang nagsasabing sila ay mahirap. Pito sa 10 magsasaka ay walang lupa. Kulang na kulang ang sahod ng manggagawa. Nilalapastabgan nag karapatang pantao ng mamamayan. Ito ang tunay na kalagayan ng sambayanan,” Zarate added.
BELMONTE: I WAS EMBARRASSED
House Speaker Sonny Belmonte was displeased with what Makabayan lawmakers did but kept his distance from any possible complaint before the House ethics committee.
“I was very embarrassed,” Belmonte said.
He added that President Aquino understands the dynamics in the Lower House, being a former congressman himself.
Pro-administration lawmakers, meanwhile, defended the President.
Liberal Party Secretary General and Samar Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento said, “After the President 6th SONA which unfortunately would be his last, I cannot help myself but compare the Philippines that we have now to what it was 10 years ago and even during when I first served as an elected official in 1992. We have a better performing economy under PNoy. Parang isang pamilya na lumaki na ang sweldo– kaya nang bumili ng mga bagay-bagay na gusto. Of course the 5 years of PNoy is not enough to solve all our problems. This is the reason the 2016 elections is very crucial if we want to continue the reforms that PNoy started. Let us remember that the first couple of years of the PNoy admin was very difficult. But we have taken off. And we will continue to improve if we elect a leader who is capable of carrying on Daang Matuwid.”
Davao City Congressman Karlo Alexei Nograles said, “The President’s SONA speech shows that he understands the value infrastructure in developing the countryside, improving the economy and generating jobs. And it is enlightening to hear him say that infrastructure programs will be given to localities regardless of political color but according to need.”
Iloilo Congressman Jerry Trenas said, “As a member of the administration party and the majority coalition in Congress, the President’s last SONA speech makes me really proud to be an active partner of the Aquino administration in our quest for reforms in governance. The long list of reforms and accomplishments that were mentioned by President Aquino made me realize that we’ve really gone a long way in our effort to make life better for our people and make the Philippines a better place than it used to be.”
Text: RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News
This article has been re-published with permission from ABS-CBNnews.com.
