By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) yesterday drew generally positive responses from city officials; however, there were different interpretations to his tone.
Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia called the speech a “typical President Duterte show,” describing it as “clear, forceful, authoritative, witty, comprehensive, and more.”
The response was echoed by Bacolod Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya and City Councilors Caesar Distrito and Wilson Gamboa, Jr.; although, Distrito took issue with the president’s attack on certain media outlets, calling it “an attack to democracy.”
The city councilor added, the president should not “bad mouth” Americans and Europeans, particularly when they were present in the chamber.
“It is un-Filipino,” he said.
Gamboa, conversely, called it “usual Duterte style of rhetoric.”
“Duterte was sincere and straightforward,” he explained. “He was also brutally frank.”
Gamboa added, the president’s statements will only “endear him more to the people.”
Meanwhile, the mayor went on to call Duterte “a picture of authority and defender of the nation.”
He credited his stance on Martial Law in Mindanao, his defense of the nation, and the attention paid to the welfare of the military and police.
Leonardia also pointed out the president discussing the environment and mining, pointing out the contributions of the mining sector, while also seeking protections to the environment and those who are negatively affected, especially the poor.
Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Stephen Paduano also indicated the subject piqued his interest, adding he is very interested in revitalization of a domestic steel industry./WDJ