Duterte's SONA criticized for focus on oligarchs over pandemic plan

President Rodrigo Duterte's 2020 State of the Nation Address (SONA) was criticized for focusing on his personal vendetta against "oligarchs," including the Lopez family of ABS-CBN, rather than presenting a comprehensive plan to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

Duterte's speech quickly shifted from acknowledging the pandemic to criticizing ABS-CBN owners, labeling them oligarchs and claiming they influenced the 2016 elections.

The shutdown of ABS-CBN and the denial of its franchise renewal, a decision supported by Duterte, was highlighted as an unpopular government action during the pandemic.

The President also discussed his anti-drug campaign, stating that drug activities increased during the pandemic and vowing to tackle the virus with the same "fervor" as his drug war.

Experts believe Duterte's obsession with "oligarchs" and his bid to reimpose the death penalty could distract Congress from prioritizing the country's recovery from the pandemic.

Duterte threatened a government takeover of utilities owned by those he described as "oligarchs," a move reminiscent of his attacks on ABS-CBN.