#SONA2020: No US Bases, No War With China; Duterte Not A ‘Lame Duck’
President Duterte declared that the country could not afford go to war with China over the South China Sea dispute during his State of the Nation Address that the Palace said would focus on the government’s response to COVID-19 pandemic.
With less than two years to go before his term ends, President Duterte is not a lame duck leader and will focus all his efforts on ensuring the welfare of Filipinos in his remaining years in office, senators said on Monday, July 27.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go told reporters in an online press conference after the opening of Congress’ session that Duterte remains popular among Filipinos, which could help him do more in the remainder of his term.
“Even before, I’ve never called a president a lame duck even in the last year. To me, there’s no such thing as a lame duck president. Others only say that when they think that Congress cannot be controlled, but we’ve seen in the past that President Duterte has never meddled in the Senate,” Sotto said.
He also disputed observations that Duterte has been the cause of division among Filipinos or has failed to unify the people.
“When you have a president who has an approval and trust rating of 87 percent, what is there to unify? There’s no president who can get 100 percent (rating),” Sotto said. “The important thing is that he is the President, the buck stops with him, he wants to do this and that. As long as it’s within the legal bounds of the Constitution, so be it.”
Go, who has long worked with the President since he was the mayor of Davao City, said Duterte could not be considered a lame duck “as long as the people believe in him.”
“Let the people judge the President. If they think the President has shortcomings, he’s not perfect, but he’s doing everything he can to protect the interest of Filipinos, especially during this pandemic,” Go said.
He said if Duterte was not the President during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the country might have had a more difficult time.
Go said he is giving Duterte a grade of nine – with 10 being the highest – because the President does everything for Filipinos and because of his “sincerity to serve the people and his compassion for Filipinos.”
Don’t despair
Despite the continuous rise in COVID-19 infections, Duterte urged Filipinos not to lose hope as he expressed optimism that the country would be able to overcome the virus, which he claimed would soon be "laid to rest."
In his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Duterte admitted that Filipinos are living in a "troubled time" as COVID-19, which has infected more than 82,000 people in the Philippines, suddenly snuffed their dream of prosperity.
"No nation was spared. Neither rich nor poor were exempt from the onslaught of this deadly disease," the President said.
"But let us not despair. The vaccine is around the corner. Sooner and not later, the virus that gobbled up thousands of lives will itself be laid to rest," he added.
Duterte admitted that the government still has to improve on its response against COVID-19. He said all sectors should work together to address the impact of the pandemic, which has resulted in an economic contraction, business closures and job losses.
"Our actions are not perfect and I admit it. But all of us in government assure you we will not stop until we get things right and better for you," Duterte said.
"From the rubbles of adversity, a more resilient and stronger nation built on Bayanihan and pagkakaisa shall rise. Together, we shall overcome...This is the time to bring out the best in us," he stressed.
Duterte also admitted that the implementation of the P205-billion Social Amelioration Program was "not perfect" and that some opportunists "turned crisis into opportunity." He vowed to look into complaints that some drivers did not receive emergency subsidies for sectors displaced by the pandemic.
"We will catch up with you (opportunists) sooner than you think," the President said.
"I know exactly the difficulties you are undergoing. I pray that the officials of each LGU (local government unit) in our country – from the barangay to the autonomous regions – would set aside partisan politics and selfish interests to do what is right and good for all," he added.
Despite the shortcomings, Duterte claimed millions of Filipinos benefited from the government's aid programs. He said over 4.3 million poor families got assistance from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino cash transfer program while more than 9.2 million beneficiaries received subsidies under the unconditional cash transfer program.
But Duterte’s penultimate SONA, which took one hour and 41 minutes on Monday, July 27, again showed his combative side even as he outlined measures for recovering from the coronavirus pandemic.
He lashed out at Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, complained about being a “casualty” of ABS-CBN Corp., gave a December ultimatum for the telecommunications giants to improve their services, sought death penalty for drug offenders and requested the creation of new government agencies.
Duterte, however, appeared too soft with China on the West Philippine Sea issue anew as he declared that he cannot do much when it comes to the maritime row.
Duterte revealed that he asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to prioritize the Philippines and help finance the distribution of the anticipated vaccine for COVID-19. He did not disclose Xi’s response. Duterte said such a vaccine is just “around the corner.”
About 45 minutes into the speech, he briefly went off-script and said: “About four days ago, I made a plea to President Xi Jinping that if they have the vaccine, can they allow us to be one of the first? Or, if it is needed to buy it, that we be granted credit, so we can normalize as fast as possible.”
On war over West Philippine Sea: ‘Inutil ako’
Duterte said his administration placed the Philippines “in a far better position to advance our interests in an evolving regional order” and broadened the boundaries of diplomacy.
Then he went off-script again and acknowledged that: "Now, plenty of critics, both sides, claim about nothing has been done to retake forcefully or physically the South China Sea. You know, unless we are prepared to go to war, I would suggest that you better just call off and treat it us a diplomatic endeavor. China is claiming it. We are claiming it. China has the arms, we do not have it. So? It's simple as that," he said.
"They are in possession of the property...So what can we do? We have to go to war and I cannot afford it. Maybe some other president can but I cannot. Inutil ako diyan, sabihin ko sa inyo (I am useless on that, I tell you). And I'm willing to admit it: Talagang inutil ako diyan (I'm really useless on that)."
“China is claiming it, we are claiming it. China has the arms, we do not have it,” Duterte said as he visibly shrugged his shoulders.
No US bases
Duterte also said he would not allow foreign bases in Subic Bay, saying it will lead to a war that may result in the "extinction of the Filipino race."
Duterte said he read something about Americans' supposed plan to go back to Subic Bay last month.
Read more: US Navy Eyes Return To Subic Bay In A Commercial Deal
"I'll just put on record my thoughts. I have nothing against America, I have nothing against China. But if you put bases here, you double the spectacle of a most destructive... just like Manila in the Second World War, one of the most devastated cities in the world," the President said.
"You put up a base at this time? This will ensure that a war breaks out because there will be atomic arsenals brought in. This will ensure the extinction of the Filipino race," he added.
Duterte said his administration works without fail to protect the country's rights in the South China Sea, "neither beholden or a pawn to anyone."
"We build productive ties with everyone willing to engage us on the basis of equality and mutual respect. And we redefine our relationships with our most important partners,” he noted.
Subic Bay was one of the largest naval facilities of the United States in the world before it was shut down in 1992 after the Philippine Senate terminated the bases agreement with Washington.
The Philippines converted the facility, which was never home to the Philippine military, into an economic zone.
Duterte has ordered the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement between the Philippines and the US but this was suspended.
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, in a statement, said: “I think the President economized in spelling out his anti-pandemic program, which is what Filipinos were expecting to hear more from him.”
“He could have made it detailed and nuanced, in a language that is comforting, assuring and emphatic,” Recto said. “It scored low in the inspirational index. People were expecting a pep talk that will boost their morale, steel their resolve and will leave them to conclude, without a doubt, that indeed, we shall overcome.”
Duterte asked for public trust. “In a crisis of national proportions that affects every aspect of human life, governments need to have the support and cooperation of the people if it is to succeed in battling the cause of that crisis, that there are people who ask for compassion but show none themselves; that life, after all, is fickle like the weather.”
“Everyone’s cooperation is needed. I know that you, the Filipino people, have sacrificed a lot, but we have no other choice but to work together and to do even more.”
Acknowledging the problems people have with not just health and safety but also public transportation and livelihood, Duterte said: “I assure you your government will address squarely these problems and challenges to overcome them.”
