By Chelsea David
For the first time in an online setup, the De La Salle University-Dasmariñas (DLSU-D) Green FM hosted a student-led roundtable discussion on the legacy of President Rodrigo Duterte.
The roundtable discussion titled, “Sa Luntiang Lente (On Green Lenses)” showcased student leaders and student journalists from Heraldo Filipino (HF), the university’s official publication, Green FM, the university’s campus radio, and the DLSU-D University Student Government (USG) as they evaluated the past six years under the Duterte Administration.
The panelists argued that Duterte’s administration has remarkably downplayed freedom of speech and human rights.
“[It is] a disrespect to our constitutionally guaranteed freedom… Anti-Terrorism Law, ABS-CBN shutdown, killing of activists, and red-tagging… if you’d compare in the previous presidents, they have their faults… pero mas malaya ‘yung paggawa mo [dati] ng diskurso… ngayon, mas lalo tayong natakot,” HF Associate Editor and News in Charge Lance Mejico said.
He further mentioned that Duterte needs to listen more to the plea of the citizens instead of attacking the critics. “As a president, you have to listen to your people… hindi ka lang dapat nakikinig sa mga tao mo kung ‘di sa masa na pinagsisilbihan mo,” he reiterated.
HF Editor-in-chief Leanjane Pantorilla reminded the participants to vote for leaders who respect the importance and role of the media in a democratic country.
“The press is what drives deeper on the conversations sa mga tao. Walang nagsasalita, sino magsisimula?… ang basehan natin ng katapangan, hindi dapat sa dami ng tao na kaya mong patayin… (kung ‘di) sa kung ano kaya mong harapin,” she added.
The panelists also slammed the current administration’s extrajudicial killings during the War on Drugs campaign.
Green FM Senior Director for Programming and External Affairs Zeus Legaspi emphasized that the Philippines is a nation of laws on which the accused is subject to due process.
“Masyado tayo[ng] nalulunod sa statistics [ng extrajudicial killings]… pero bawat number na ‘yan, may kamag-anak, may anak, may binubuhay… [kapag] hindi napapatunayan sa korte na guilty, they are [still] innocent,” he stressed.
The discussion’s panelists rated Duterte’s administration as ‘poor’ as they enumerated countless human rights violations, inefficiencies, and misplaced priorities.
President Duterte is slated to leave Malacañang on June 30, 2022.
