On (Monday) July 27, during his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Rodrigo Duterte once again attacked the Lopez family and the embattled ABS-CBN company.
In his statement, he tagged the Lopezes as “oligarchs” who abuse their power and control politics by backing electoral candidates who favored their interests.
“Great wealth enables economic elites and corporations to influence public policy to their advantage. Media is a powerful tool in the hands of oligarchs like the Lopezes who used their media outlets in their battles with political figures,” he said.
He added that he was a “casualty” of the network during the 2016 elections. “I am a casualty of the Lopezes during the 2016 elections.”
It can be recalled that days after the rejection of ABS-CBN’s new franchise application, Duterte celebrated his supposed success in dismantling the “oligarchy” in the country during his speech in front of soldiers in Jolo, Sulu.
Despite the unedited record of Duterte’s statement which caught him mentioning the network, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque and Senator Bong Go still tried to convince the public that the president was not referring to ABS-CBN but rather his past embattled business tycoons. This disproved the claim that the president is neutral on the ABS-CBN issue.
After hearing his remarks, many Kapamilyas took their disappointment to their social media accounts.
Elisse Joson, Karen Davila, Jeck Batallones, Bianca Dava, and others were dismayed by Duterte’s words and said that the SONA should not be used as a platform for personal vendettas.
Also, instead of wasting his time lashing out against the Lopezes, he could have focused on giving updates regarding the current status of the country amid the pandemic and other concerns.
No senator or private company deserves to be mentioned at the opening of the President’s SONA. This is about the state of the country, where we are, where we are going, not about personal vendettas or feelings. People are hungry and jobless. People are looking for inspiration
— Karen Davila (@iamkarendavila) July 27, 2020
Wow kami na naman 🤦♂️ SONA to guys ha, SONA
— jeck batallones (@jeck_batallones) July 27, 2020
Sana maging transparent ang gobyerno natin, sana sabihin ang talagang kalagayan ng pilipinas sa gitna ng Covid-19 at bigyang plano, solusyon, kung pano haharapin ang bawat issue. #SANA2020 #SONA2020
— Elisse Joson (@ElisseJoson) July 27, 2020
SONA. SONA magising na ang lahat sa tunay na kalagayan ng bansa. 🇵🇭 #SONA2020 #SONAgKAISA
— Bianca Dava-Lee 🐱 (@biancadava) July 27, 2020
PERSONAL THREAD:
President Duterte starts off 5th State of the Nation Address by attacking Sen. Frank Drilon, the Lopezes and ABS-CBN, accusing the family of using the network against political enemies. Says he is among victims.
— Mike Navallo (@mikenavallo) July 27, 2020
Special mentions so far:
ABSCBN
Lopezes
Senator Franklin Drilon
Senator Bong Go#SONA2020— Kevin Manalo (@kevinmanalo_) July 27, 2020
Some also questioned the supposed “neutrality” of the Palace on the ABS-CBN franchise issue.
Ayun deny pa nang deny mga spokes personnel mo and your camp na “neutral” ka sa isyu nang ABSCBN yun pala manggagaling din sa bibig mo. Your SONA just confirmed your true dark intentions. Thanks TheTurle ✌️🤣
— zndɹoƆ ʎppǝ⊥ (@teddspotting) July 27, 2020
GURL PANALO KA NGA DI BA https://t.co/be43b0JB3f
— Nick Villavecer (@nickvillavecer) July 27, 2020
Kala ko neutral. TSK.
— Ina Reformina (@InaReformina) July 27, 2020
kakaloka tong sona! parang late night shows ih https://t.co/gOEoJX5HtI
— DJ Jhaiho (@mor1019jhaiho) July 27, 2020
ABSCBN pa rin? 🙈😂 #SONA2020
— DJ Chacha (@_djchacha) July 27, 2020
The Palace has repeatedly stated they have nothing to do with the issues about ABS-CBN’s franchise after Roque claimed that they “maintained a neutral stance on the issue.” Duterte, however, has shown otherwise since recorded statements displayed threats against the network from as early as 2017.
