A number of points raised by Duterte were hailed by Francis Chua, chairman emeritus of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry: make ease of doing business mandatory; reduce personal and corporate income tax; assure clean government; government office process papers in three days. A total of 120,038 drug pushers and users, meanwhile, have surrendered to authorities.
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But the speech, coming on the heels of Mr. Duterte’s wide poll support, also drew flak here and there when it came to his controversial remarks about human rights in the context of his government’s relentless anticrime campaign. We have a bond to act together.
He spoke for 90 minutes, longer than the expected 40 minutes and veering from his prepared speech several times.
The budget for his address, normally a top event on the social calendar of the country’s political and showbiz elite, was scaled back dramatically and Duterte told guests to dress down, reflecting his disdain for opulence and lavish spending. He has yet to elaborate on his plans to tackle poverty and boost infrastructure, and he has been unusually quiet in the wake of the country’s victory in an arbitration case against China over the South China Sea.
“President Duterte’s unwillingness to use his State of the Nation Address to demand a thorough investigation into the alarming surge in police killings of suspected drug dealers and users in recent weeks symbolizes a critical failure in his obligation to defend rule of law and to protect the rights and freedoms of all Filipinos”, worldwide NGO Human Rights Watch said in a statement following his address. The declaration of a unilateral ceasefire and the call to correct historical injustices is a very bold move and sends a strong signal that the government is serious about ensuring permanent and lasting peace.
A unilateral ceasefire with communist rebels was declared yesterday by President Duterte to support the upcoming resumption of peace talks and to stop clashes that are “getting bloodier by the day”.
“The SOMO covers the cessation of all military offensives against the CPP-NPA-NDF particularly its armed group the New People’s Army including the conduct of combat maneuvers that may be construed as provocative acts that may be deemed violative of the SOMO”, Visaya’s order read. Gen. Restituto Padilla said.
Government negotiators have met with rebel counterparts and agreed to restart peace talks soon. Jose Maria Sison, a rebel leader in self-exile in Europe, plans to fly home to meet Duterte, his former student at a Manila university. “These will could benefit the OFWs and I’m sure that this will come into reality”, said Montenegro.
The guerrillas were waiting for Duterte’s government to free the first 22 of hundreds of what they regard as political detainees who would serve as rebel consultants in the resumption of peace talks in the Norwegian capital of Oslo from August 20 to 27, Jalandoni said.
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“All of us want peace; not the peace of the dead, but the peace of the living”, he underlined as applause broke out around the venue.
