Duterte’s first year in office an ‘epic failure’- Trillanes

President Rodrigo Duterte’s first year in office was an “epic failure,” one of his staunchest critics in the Senate said Thursday.

“Lagapak. Talagang massive failure, epic failure itong administration ni Duterte on all fronts,” Trillanes said at a media briefing.

Duterte will have notched one year as chief executive officially next week, June 30.

Trillanes said Duterte’s administration failed to deliver on its promise to improve traffic in Metro Manila, provide more job opportunities, and accomplish the President’s peace and order agenda.

“Nag-improve na ba yung traffic? Hindi di ba, lumala? Yung MRT, nag-improve ba? Hindi, lumala. Ito yung mga pinangako nila. At maraming nalinlang na mga kababayan natin na ito daw si Duterte may political will, ito daw si Duterte ang mag-aayos ng basic na problema. Hindi, pinalala niya,” Trillanes said.

“Sabi nila noon, magre-restore ng peace and order, ngayon ba peaceful ba sa bansa? Sabi nga ni Secretary Cayetano, para na tayong Singapore. Para na ba tayong Singapore? Ginulo niya yung bansa, lahat ng aspeto,” Trillanes added.

Trillanes was referring to former senator and now Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano who earlier said the Philippines was becoming like Singapore as he defended the government’s war on drugs.

On federalism

At the same news briefing, Trillanes criticized the Duterte administration for failing in its agenda to shift to a federal form of government.

Trillanes said that not a single commission nor committee is preparing a draft to this effect that would require the approval of Congress.

“Dapat kung yan yung centerpeice ng governance mo, dapat from the get-go, meron kang draft na, ito binabalangkas natin ngayon. Ngayon nga, wala eh,” Trillanes said.

Under the proposed shift of government, the country will be divided into states that will be formed from the existing regions. Each state will be granted autonomy.

Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, president of the ruling PDP-Laban, earlier said federalism will be one of the priorities of Congress when it opens its second regular session next month. 

As of posting time, GMA News Online was still awaiting a response from Malacañang on Trillanes’ claims. — RSJ/KVD, GMA News