Statement of Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, Partido Liberal president, on the State of the Nation Address

The coup attempt at the House of Representatives highlights the state of the nation: power grab for, of, by politicians.

The address itself was more of the same promises made during the 2016 election campaign. The coco levy trust fund law, for instance, has been promised then, and promised again now. As with realizing workers' right to security of tenure, an independent foreign policy, the entry of a third party in telecommunications, etc.

The promise to continue "relentlessly" on the war on drugs is, as has been admitted, "chilling" and also senseless. Because daily killings have not solved and will not solve the drug problem. Daily killings are in fact part of the problem, as violence and impunity have now spilled over and have claimed the lives of children, journalists, and priests.

Particularly grating is the supposed fight against corruption as the reality is miles away from the promise. Where is the mastermind in the P6.2-billion shabu smuggled out of Customs? Who was held accountable in the intra-family advertising contract at the Department of Tourism? Why is the Solicitor General allowed to keep his security agency that has contracts with the government even as it smacks of conflict of interest? What happened to the corruption allegations in the SSS, the NFA, the NIA, among others?

The people cannot live on promises.