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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Are the gloves off? Martin says Digong had many 'shortcomings' as president 

Are the gloves off? Martin says Digong had many 'shortcomings' as president 

Published Jan 29, 2024 06:53 am

At A Glance

  • House Speaker Martin Romualdez says Rodrigo Duterte had a lot of "shortcomings" during his six-year term as Philippine president. 

20240129_144036.jpgFormer president Rodrigo Duterte (left), House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Malacañang photo, Speaker’s office)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rodrigo Duterte had a lot of "shortcomings" during his six-year term as Philippine president. 

House Speaker Martin Romualdez gave this assessment of Duterte's presidency late Sunday night, Jan. 28, as he cited the latter's supposed "failures" when he was still the man in charge. 

These failures were in connection with Duterte's push for a federal system of government, as well as his controversial war against illegal drugs. 

"Baka hindi niya alam na marami siyang kakulangan di ba (Maybe he doesn't know that he has a lots of shortcomings)," the Speaker said. 

During an all party leaders' caucus, Romualdez recalled the federalism proposal that was an integral part of then-Davao City Mayor Duterte's platform. 

"Baka nahirapan naman talaga si president Duterte kasi yung plataporma kaya nanalo siya ay federalismo, at hindi lang yan amendment ng economic provisions. Ipagbabago yung buong sistema ng government. Mukhang hindi niya nakayanan," he said. 

(Maybe former president Duterte really had a hard time with its platform on federalism, which helped him win. It seeks to amend not just the economic provisions, but the entire system of government. Looks like he wasn't up for it.) 

"Eh ngayon na lang may naglulungsad ng magandang move for Charter amendments. Baka nakikita niya na yung hindi niya magagawa, baka mangyayari na ngayon kaya sinisiraan niya," the Leyte 1st district congressman said.  

(It's only now that we have a good move toward Charter amendments. Maybe he realized that the thing he can't do may end up happening now, and that's why he's assailing it.) 

Romualdez further said of former president Duterte, "Wala naman siya ginawa na maayos (He didn't do anything good)." 

According to the House chief, Duterte's flagship drug war didn't amount to anything, except for the deaths of many Filipinos. 

"Sinabi rin niya di ba, usapan niya kanina, drugs. Na bibigyan daw siya ng tatlong buwan, eh anim na taon eh, ang dami daming drugs pa rin. Yun ang nangyari dyan, and daming pinatay)," he said. 

(He mentioned drugs awhile ago. He said he would only need three months to get rid of drugs, but after six years, there are still a lot of drugs. That's what happened, and a lot of people were killed.) 

"Kaya mag-isip isip na lang muna siya (He should think first. Dare I say, those who are in glass houses shouldn't cast stones), Romualdez further said of Duterte.

 

Related Tags

Federalism shortcomings drug war Martin Romualdez Rodrigo Duterte
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