Duterte on state of the nation: ‘Dire, sad, frustrating’

Metro Manila, Philippines - Vice President Sara Duterte had decided to skip the president’s annual report in July for the second straight year, and described the state of the nation in three words: dire, sad, and frustrating.

In a media briefing in San Fernando, Pampanga on Wednesday, June 25, the vice president reiterated that she will not be attending the State of the Nation Address on July 28, saying she is expecting nothing substantial from her ex-political ally President Ferdinand Marcos Jr .

Duterte didn’t mince words in hitting the Palace, who quoted the president as saying her family was pro-China, for criticizing the administration’s foreign policy.

The vice president said it was an old narrative.

“I’m not pro any country at all… You stand on your own and face China with regard to your issues in the West Philippine Sea. You don't lean towards another superpower and say, ‘Please help me because he is bullying me,’” Duterte said.

She added Marcos is into photo opportunities to shore up public trust in his performance.

Duterte slammed the president’s presence in a recent inspection that destroyed P9.48 billion in illegal drugs.

“Hindi trabaho ng president na mag-photo op sa nahuli na drugs,” the vice president said.

[Translation: It’s not the president’s job to take photo opportunities in seizing drugs.]

The vice president also responded to Malacañang’s criticisms against her consecutive foreign trips.

In the last two weeks, Duterte attended separate events with Filipinos in Malaysia and Australia.

“Kapag personal, hindi ako gumagamit ng pera ng bayan. Kapag official, gumagamit ako ng pera ng bayan. Hindi ibig sabihin na personal na lakad yan ay holiday o pamamasyal ‘yan,” she said.

[Translation: When it's personal, I don't use public funds. When it's official, I use public funds. Just because it's a personal trip doesn't mean it's a holiday or a vacation.]