Ni ROMEO ALLAN BUTUYAN II
UMANI ng batikos sa hanay ng ranking members ng Kamara si Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio sa pagtangging dumalo sa ikatlong State of the Nation Address (SONA) ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sa Hulyo 22.
Katwiran ni Duterte, dapat siyang umiiwas sa posibleng hindi magandang mangyayari sa naturang okasyon – bagay na lubos na ikinadismaya ng mga kongresista.
Sa isang pahayag, binigyang-diin ni Camiguin Rep. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo na mas dapat pagtuunan ng pansin ni Duterte ang pagsunod sa ‘proper decorum’ o tamang-asal at tradisyon sa halip na manood ng Netflix kung saan aniya halaw ang biro sa mga usaping seryoso.
“Vice President Sara Duterte should be more cautious with what she says. After all, she is still a public official, and Netflix is not a good basis for her actions or inactions,” pahayag ng Kinatawan ng Camiguin sa Kamara.
“Does she have a premonition of the things to come? She should refrain from watching too much Netflix. Her joke could have been better handled given that all high-ranking officials of the land would be there,” dagdag pa niya.
Ani Romualdo, sa mga nakaraang SONA, walang nagtangkang ipangalandakan ang pagiging ‘designated survivor’ para gamitin dahilan sa hindi pagdalo sa SONA kung saan angkop ang presensya ng ikalawang pangulo bilang pagpapakita nito ng respeto at suporta sa lider ng bansa.
“Kapag gusto, may paraan; kapag ayaw, may dahilan,” ang siya naman tugon ni House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs Chairman at TINGOG party-list Rep. Jude Acidre hinggil sa ibinulalas ng bise-presidente, kasabay ng hamon ilahad sa publiko ang tunay na dahilan.
“The public knows that Vice President Sara Duterte’s political situation is currently in flux. She has recently distanced herself from the ‘UniTeam’ with President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. and resigned from her position as the Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary. Something is going on,” sabi ni Acidre.
“At the very least, she should come clean and explain why she can’t or does not want to attend. She shouldn’t hide behind cheap jokes; again, the public knows something is up. Stand by your convictions, ma’am,” giit pa ng House panel chair.
“It’s a very bad joke. It leaves a bad taste in the mouth!” Ang paglalarawan naman ni Senior Deputy Speaker at Pampanga Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. sa litanya ni Duterte.
Paglilinaw ni Gonzales, ‘there’s no such thing as ‘Designated Survivor in the Philippines! Is she spending too much time watching Netflix? She better read our constitution. It’s as clear as sunlight. She should be more circumspect and responsible in her utterances, owing to her title and the high office that she represents.” payo ng ranking House official sa Pangalawang Pangulo.
Kinondena rin ng mga batang kongresistang higit na kilala sa tawag na ‘Young Guns’ ng Kamara ang ‘designated survivor’ statement ng bise-presidente.
“The Vice President’s remarks about being the ‘designated survivor’ are both inappropriate and reckless. Such rhetoric hints at scenarios that are alarming and baseless, sowing unnecessary fear among the public,” wika ni Isabela Rep. Inno Dy.
Para naman kay 1-Rider Partylist Rep. Rodge Gutierrez, isang abogado, ang ginawang pagbibiro ng pangalawang pangulo ay hindi angkop para sa posisyon ng huli at makakasira lamang umano ito sa isang makasaysayan at pambansang pagdiriwang.
“While obviously intended as a joke, it is quite inappropriate. The SONA is a serious event where we address the nation’s most pressing issues, and such comments taken out of context undermine its significance and fuel speculation,” ayon kay Gutierrez.
Sa panig naman ni Davao Oriental Rep. Cheeno Miguel Almario na tumatayong vice chairman ng House Committee on Mindanao Affairs, lubhang mapanganib ang sinabi ni Duterte.
“Her comments are unnecessary. As the Vice President, it is assumed that every statement she makes carries significant weight and results from careful consideration. When she makes such remarks, it prompts us to ask: What message is she trying to convey? Is she attempting to influence public opinion, divert attention from critical issues, or create controversy? As a high-ranking official, her words should foster unity and provide clear, constructive direction for the nation,” ayon kay Almario.
Sa pananaw ni Assistant Majority Leader Rep. Ortega, may negatibong epekto ang pahayag ng Pangalawang Pangulo at binigyang-diin na ang mga ganitong uri ng pahayag ay maaaring makasira sa tiwala at pagkakaisa ng mamamayan.
“The Vice President’s absence from the SONA, framed in such a dramatic and fear-inducing manner, does a disservice to the spirit of public service and solidarity. It’s imperative that our leaders demonstrate resolve and composure, especially during national events,” sabi ni Ortega.
Wika naman ni Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on Marawi Rehabilitation and Victims Compensation, ang mga lider ay dapat maging maingat sa kanilang mga salita at kilos, lalo na kapag tinatalakay ang mga mahahalagang isyu na nakakaapekto sa kaligtasan at katatagan ng bansa.
“Jokes about national security and succession are no laughing matter. The Vice President should be setting an example of leadership and responsibility, not creating unnecessary panic,” dagdag pa ni Adiong.
Hinikayat naman ni Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Jil Bongalon na isa ring abogado, ang mga pinuno ng bansa na pagtuunan ang sama-samang pag-unlad ng bansa sa halip na gumawa ng eksena.
“Our focus should be on the collective efforts to move the country forward, not on distracting theatrics. The Filipino people deserve better from their leaders,” paliwanag ni Bongalon.
Binigyan-diin naman ni Zambales Rep. Jay Khonghun, chairman of the House Committee on Bases Conversion, ang kahalagahan ng pagkakaisa sa SONA. Aniya, ang taunang pagtitipon na ito ay mahalagang pagkakataon para sa lahat ng sangay ng pamahalaan na magsama-sama.
“The SONA is a pivotal event where we discuss the nation’s future. It’s not the time for jokes or to shirk our duties. We need to be there, united, to address the pressing issues our country faces,” ayon pa kay Khonghun.
