Ex-Bayan Muna solon on Duterte: Mayabang, hindi nakikinig

A former party-list representative on Wednesday slammed President Rodrigo Duterte for failing to listen to the grievances of militant groups during a dialogue following his second State of the Nation Address (SONA).

"Mayabang. Parang hindi siya nakikinig eh. Yung issue ng endo, ibabato niya sa Secretary niya. Yung issue ng peace talks, ang sagot niya sa peace talks iharap n'yo sa akin yung mas magandang kausap. Ibig sabihin mas magandang babae ang iharap sa kanya," former Bayan Muna representative Teddy Casiño said in an interview on Unang Balita.

"Hindi dialogue ang habol ni Pangulo eh," he added.

Duterte on Monday night faced protesters outside the Batasang Pambansa Complex after delivering his second SONA.

"Meron kayong issue sa akin, naiintindihan ko. Alam ninyo ang posisyon ko rin. Alam ninyo na ginagawa ko ang lahat. Hindi ko sinasabi na tinatalikuran ko 'yan. Eh pati ako ina-ambush pa ninyo. Walang ganunan. 'Pag ginanun ninyo ako, talagang tatalikod ako ba-bye na lang," he said.

"Ano? mag-usap tayo uli? Yung martial law may tatapusin lang ako para sa lahat. Hindi yan forever. Maghintay lang kayo. Iilan na lang ang nandyan ang may kasalanan," he added.

The protesters are calling for the resumption of peace talks between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines and the lifting of martial law in Mindanao.

The protesters also countered the prohibition of "endo" or the practice of indefinite contractualization by employers in the Philippines.

Duterte told the protesters that they should ask their representatives in the Cabinet, including Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, about what he has done for the labor sector.

Meanwhile, Casiño said they were informed beforehand that Duterte would face protesters.

"Actually sinabihan kami maaga pa ng PSG (Presidential Security Group), na nagtanong daw si Pangulong Duterte kung pwede siyang magsalita doon sa rally. So maaga yung pag-abiso, pero kami naman naisip namin, baka may magandang sasabihin," Casiño said

"Baka naman may positive development sa peace talks kasi 'yun naman ang isa sa mga main demands ng mga nagra-rally doon. Bagama't nung narinig namin yung SONA na pinapauwi na kami may ganong parang inalipusta kami na umuwi na lang daw at walang kuwenta yung pagra-rally but the fact na gusto raw niyang magsalita eh sabi namin baka may gustong sabihing maganda. So pinaghandaan namin," he added.

The former lawmaker allied with the left insisted that peace talks should resume.

"Ang problema doon hangga't hindi nag-uusap ang dalawang panig, paano mareresolba yung ugat ng labanan at yung mga nakaharap doon mismo taga-Mindanao, madami doon yung mga lumad, yung mga manggagawa, mga magsasaka, ang panawagan nilang lahat, ituloy yung peace talks," Casiño said. —Marlly Rome C. Bondoc/ALG, GMA News