The anti-narcotics campaign and the fight against corruption in government will remain relentless, Malacañang assured the public on Wednesday.
The assurance came after some minority lawmakers said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s first State of the Nation Address (SONA) lacked specific plans for the country.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III, along with Senator Risa Hontiveros, said Marcos failed to present plans to address corruption.
Pimentel also noted Marcos’ failure to discuss the war on illegal drugs waged by former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Sought for reaction, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said Marcos’ first SONA highlights his administration’s priorities.
“You know, the President has laid out his priorities,” she said in a Palace press briefing. “It doesn’t mean that he is not going to pay attention to other concerns. This is just the roadmap for his administration.”
Cruz-Angeles ensured that the campaign against illegal drugs and corruption will be continued under the Marcos administration.
“But the day-to-day and ongoing activities are considered still part of the program, particularly those related to continuity. So, just because it wasn’t mentioned, doesn’t mean it isn’t in there,” Cruz-Angeles said.
In his first SONA delivered Monday, Marcos unveiled his administration’s foreign policy, as well as plans for economic revitalization and development of the agriculture, agrarian, health, education, infrastructure, and energy sectors.
Marcos also discussed his government’s initiatives to defeat the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, fight climate change, and protect the welfare of the overseas Filipino workers.
Marcos likewise presented his 19 priority legislative measures, which include rightsizing of the national government, budget modernization and tax reform packages.
