Actress and known Duterte critic Agot Isidro questioned the statement of Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque who announced that President Rodrigo Duterte has realized his promise to improve the lives of Filipinos after the country recorded growth in the economy.
He said, “Natupad naman ng Pangulo ang pangako nya na komportableng buhay.”
Agot did not let this pass and took to Twitter her reaction by raising the question: “Saang parte, Harry?” while tagging #harrystyleisbulok.
Saang parte, Harry? #harrystyleisbulok https://t.co/tX4CsOCXYA
— Agot Isidro (@agot_isidro) July 23, 2020
Other netizens also supported the sentiment of Agot and asked what were the fulfilled promises Roque was referring to.
Ito po ba ang tinutukoy nya? Sayawan na! pic.twitter.com/gK3ql5AWis
— Hanash Daily #KikoBam2025 #HeidiSonny2025 (@BIENsays) July 23, 2020
San banda ba yang Komportableng buhay? sa estado ng pamumuhay ng mga Pinoy ngayon sobrang labo ng mga sinasabi nya. Transparency para sa mga Inutang ng Gobyerno para malinaw lahat. Haha ilusyon lang ni Roque ang mga sinasabi nya. Isa syang Clown!
— เอ็ด (@dEGinto24) July 23, 2020
kapal ng mga mukha nila natupad lang nila mangutang eh haha
— Regina George #OUSTDUTERTENOW (@ReginageorgeV2) July 23, 2020
Buhay lang ang merun tayo, pero hindi na komportable sa galawan ng goberno nila….
— Ivy Vheng (@ivy_vheng) July 23, 2020
Malamang maam sa kanyang #Panaginip tulog pa ata si #SpokePerson
— Jayson Mabale (@asjrm2003) July 23, 2020
In the televised press briefing, the Palace confidently said that during the term of the Duterte administration the economy strengthened and the hunger rate decreased. Unfortunately, these efforts were ruined by the coronavirus outbreak.
“Tandaan po natin na noong unang tatlong taon at kalahati ng Presidente, nagkaroon po tayo ng pinakamababang hunger figures, napakataas po ng ating growth, ng ating ekonomiya,” he said.
“So sa tingin ko po, nagampanan po ni Presidente iyong mas komportableng buhay para sa lahat, medyo naantala dahil sa COVID,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) records otherwise showed that as of April 2020, the unemployment rate increased to 17.7% having at most 7.3 million jobless Filipinos. This was the highest recorded rate reflecting the effects of the coronavirus in the economy. Massive limitations were implemented that caused the shutdown of the labor market.
Compared to the unemployment rate in January 2020 it was just around 5.3% while in October 2019 its record is low at 4.5%.
Duterte during his campaign made a promise to give Filipinos a comfortable life. Peace and order were one of his promises and it included the war on drugs and peace talks, and another promise was abolishing corruption. Many critics, however, still question these claims.
