Duterte lost wars on drugs, endo, poverty, Risa Hontiveros says

Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros said Wednesday President Rodrigo Duterte waged war on several fronts but lost so he is now distracting the public from it.

"President Duterte declared war on many fronts. A war against illegal drugs. A war against labor contractualization. A war against foreign domination. A war against poverty,” Hontiveros said in a press statement.

“The President has lost all the wars he has waged. He not only lost, he has cowered in the trenches and waved the white flag of surrender. It's all smoke and mirrors. It's state-sponsored obfuscation,” she added.

She said it is no coincidence that Duterte issued provocative statements leading to the second anniversary of the country’s historic victory in the United Nations arbitration tribunal against China and his State of the Nation Address (SONA), both happening in July.

“There is a clear attempt to divert public attention away from burning issues such as China's encroachment on our territory and the government's overall dismal performance,” Hontiveros said.

The senator said the President is trying to deflect from the issues of the thousands who were dead because of the drug war,  the government's nontransparent and erratic foreign policy, incompetence and corruption plaguing the current administration, rising inflation rate, the weakening of the Peso, and the general slowing down of the economy, and the deep, negative impact of TRAIN on many Filipinos.

She urged the administration to face the issues head on.

"Kung tunay na may tapang at malasakit si Pangulong Duterte, harapin niya nang tapat ang mga isyu ng mamamayan. Huwag siyang magtago sa mga walang kapaki-pakinabang at nakakainsultong pahayag para ilihis ang atensyon ng publiko at pagtakpan ang kanyang mga pagkukulang at kapalpakan,” said Hontiveros.

“President Duterte's political antics have failed to amuse and have only dismayed. It's time for President Duterte to cease his gibberish and face the issues," she added. —NB, GMA News