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| Photo credit to PCOO |
Do you agree that it is only now, after six years, that the current government realized it cannot curb illegal drugs, as well as the other campaign promises made by the outgoing administration that landed him in the top post in the 2016 presidential elections?
For me, it was too late a realization for President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to only admit now, less than a month before his six year term as the country's chief executive, that he failed to deliver his number one campaign promise—the war on drugs.
This, after an estimated 18,000 people have been killed as part of the President's "cleansing program" from the illegal drug peddlers, drug users and sadly, included the innocent bystanders. Aside from the fight versus illegal drugs, PRRD also promised to address the then worsening traffic congestion in the country, thanks to the pandemic that Filipinos finally saw a traffic free Philippines these last two years. But if not for the pandemic, the traffic issue will not cease. In fact, it is slowly making an impact as we slowly move the economy and businesses forward.
Also, amongst the other critical and crucial promises that for me have remained unanswered include job security, education, environment, economic, graft and corruption, and foreign policy, among others.
Trully, the people are hungry for change that the majority of people at the time President Duterte offered to change the government system, the people were willing to take risks. But sadly, in the last six years so many had happened, and it proved one thing, the Filipinos and the nation made a wrong choice, thus, ended up disappointed because of failed promises.
The administration may argue my position following the COVID-19 as an excuse why the government failed to deliver its promises. But even before the pandemic held the nation hostage in March 2020, the incumbent government was already seated in power in 2016. So technically, there was a clear lead of over three years. But instead of addressing the present problem caused by the pandemic which to this day is still prevalent, the government opted to zoom in on "revenge". Among these vengeful actions made include the closing of ABS-CBS by not approving its renewal for franchise notwithstanding the 11,000 employees that will be left employed in the middle of the covid crisis, importing personal protective equipment instead of using this as an opportunity to generate jobs, running after the CPP-NPA including those civilians who pioneered the community pantry worse alleging some of them of working as fronts of the communist movement.
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| Photo credit to inquirer.net |
In 2020, the chief executive was openly bragging he successfully dismantled the "Lopezes" oligarch "Lopezes" that allegedly robbed the government billions of pesos taxes liabilities despite the Bureau of Internal Revenue that the network has no outstanding tax dues to the government. The BIR in a testimony said that the network paid P15.3-billion in taxes from 2016-2019.
On the contrary, the government has not lifted a finger to even pressure the family of the late dictator Marcos to settle the P23-billion real estate tax liabilities that have already ballooned to P203-billion since 1999. What makes it even worse, is the Presidential daughter, Mayor Sara is even running as the vice president of Marcos Jr.
The issue of corruption and illegal drugs that were thrown against some public officials including Sen. Leila De Lima, were the same issue also hounding the Department of Budget and Management and the Department of Health for the questionable fund transfer to supposedly purchase overpriced PPEs. This, not to mention the favored contracts entered into by the government through DOE Sec. Alfonso Cusi. These are just some of the many issues and problems that the Duterte administration will soon be leaving to us–Filipinos including the payment of new huge debts to supposedly fuel government programs and projects. But honestly, in your homes and day-to-day life have you one way or another felt the benefit of the "iron fist" president?
So I don't understand why the people would still want to fall on the promises of the Marcos-Sara tandem when their parents must be first held liable?
I am not endorsing any candidate although I already have a candidate, but my wish for those still undecided to also take into account the long term effect of the choices they will make on May 9, 2022, as the future generations will be shouldering the wrong decisions we make on the election day.
God bless the Philippines and the Filipino people.