No more denials, threats: Hontiveros tells Duterte to own up mistakes in handling COVID pandemic

By JOHN CARLO M. CAHINHINAN

Senator Risa Hontiveros urged President Rodrigo Duterte to own up in his upcoming fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) the supposed government’s mishandling of the health crisis brought by the coronavirus pandemic.

According to Hontiveros, the President’s speech “should no longer contain any denials, threats, or any downplaying of the country’s situation amid the pandemic.”

Instead, Hontiveros urged Malacañang “to accept and apologize for its shortcomings in the last few months.”

“Karapatan ng taumbayan na marinig ang sinserong pag-ako at paghingi ng tawad ng pamahalaan—sa delayed response mula noong naitala ang pinaka-unang kaso ng COVID-19 sa bansa, sa kawalan ng preparasyon at plano, at sa kulang na suporta sa mga LGUs at frontliners,” said Hontiveros.

Hontiveros said Mr. Duterte’s government should pledge to improve its service to the people, starting by increasing transparency and accountability for the billions of pesos in funds being used for the country’s COVID-19 response.

“Ngayong may mga alegasyon ng korapsyon at hindi sapat na ayuda para sa mga nangangailangan, dapat ay magpatupad ang pamahalaan ng independent audit para mapanatag tayo na bawat piso ay napupunta sa pagtulong sa taumbayan,” she said.

Instead of denials and threats, Hontiveros appealed to the chief executive to present plans to stop the COVID-19 crisis.

“Hindi pwedeng magpaligoy-ligoy ang gobyerno. Hindi na masisilaw ng gimik, teatro, o mga pagbabanta ang taumbayan. No theatrics, no threats. Kailangan ang pagpapakita ng tunay na malasakit sa pakikinig sa mga hinaing ng Pilipino at pagtugon sa pang-araw-araw nating pangangailangan,” said Hontiveros.

Hontiveros stressed that the President’s penultimate SONA should inform the public on how the government intends to solve the most pressing problems faced by Filipinos today starting with the COVID-19 pandemic, as infections continue to rise and spread in many parts of the country.

She said that the SONA should also show how the government plans to restore the economy and help the millions of Filipinos who have lost their jobs and businesses during the pandemic.

“Karapatan nating lahat na marinig ang isang komprehensibong plano para masugpo ang COVID-19 at tugunan ang pagkalugi ng mga maliliit na negosyo, at ang kawalan ng trabaho ng maraming Pilipino. This plan is long-overdue,” she added.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)