Paolo Duterte Criticizes Marcos' SONA for Insufficient Action on Corruption

Davao City First District Representative Paolo Duterte on Monday said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27, 2026, failed to adequately address long-standing corruption issues and allegations. Duterte stated that if Marcos truly wants to be recognized as the "President of the Philippines," he must demonstrate the political will to hold accountable those behind corruption allegations, regardless of their family name, position, or influence, rather than merely expressing sympathy for a relative's ordeal. "That statement would be better to hear if the same concern were shown toward the Filipino people. While he sympathizes with his cousin, when was the last time he showed compassion for the millions of Filipinos mired in poverty—those lamenting the ceaseless rise in food prices, exorbitant electricity bills, and the ever-shrinking value of their earnings?" Duterte questioned. President Marcos opened his SONA by highlighting ongoing investigations into flood control projects, announcing that legal action against those involved, including his cousin, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, would proceed. "We conducted an extensive and in-depth investigation, free from bias toward anyone. We meticulously examined and followed the trail where the evidence led. Initial charges have already been filed and arrests made, involving contractors, high-ranking DPWH officials, and even lawmakers," Marcos said. He added, "We have reached the point where, according to the Ombudsman, the filing of multiple cases against the former Speaker is imminent. Although this is painful for me, we must do what is right." However, Duterte asserted that the public is not asking for sympathy for those in power but is demanding truth, accountability, and justice. "As long as questions remain unanswered regarding the billions in funds spent on flood control, the PhilHealth funds controversy, and the Maharlika Fund, any SONA will remain inadequate in the eyes of Filipinos who continue to suffer," he stated. The lawmaker emphasized that the true state of the nation is not measured by applause within the Batasang Pambansa, but by the food on every family's table, the prices of commodities, the quality of government services, and the eroding public trust in government institutions. —GMA Regional TV News