Actress-singer Nikki Valdez posted a lengthy message dedicated to Pres. Rodrigo Duterte a day before the president’s Fifth SONA saying that she regrets voting for him way back in the 2016 elections.
She expressed her sentiments to social media regarding Duterte’s governance that accordingly ignored the country’s real problems.
The Kapamilya artist unveiled her own “SONA” as she used the hashtag “#ItoAngSONAKo”.
In her post, she admitted that she voted for then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte believing that he would become the voice of the marginalized. But now, she regrets doing so.
“Mula nang ako’y naging registered voter, sinigurado kong gamitin ang boto ko para magluklok ng mga pulitikong tingin ko ay makakabuti at gagawa ng mabuti para sa ating bansa. At noong 2016, oo binoto kita Pres. Duterte pati ang pamilya ko,” Nikki said.
“Sa paniniwalang magkakaboses ang maliliit na tao na sinasabi mo noon na dadamayan mo. Nakita namin ang kasimplehan mo na kahit Presidente ka ay abot na abot ka ng mga tao. Nakita namin ang political will mo,” she added.
She said that she saw the 75-year-old politician’s simplicity and had hoped that he would become someone whom people can relate to and reach out to. She even dismissed the president’s cursing saying that making a mistake is only a part of being human. No one is perfect that’s why she overlooked the president’s harsh words.
But four years into Duterte’s governance out of his 6-year term, Nikki has had a realization. She realized that she was wrong in believing in the president and even questioned his ways of leading the country.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDGjW3JH27A/?fbclid=IwAR3c6wzHQZp81HlH5CBnamXTZ1A7cZUP8GGddsxZTG_1NGW175dnBjPTIB0
“Pero makalipas ang 4 na taon ng pagsubaybay sa mga ninais mo para sa bansa, ano po ang nangyari?” she asked.
Nikki expressed her disbelief in the president’s actions on how he swore at Pope Francis. She said that the president has even lost his respect for women even though he has daughters of his own.
She stated that Duterte focused on fulfilling his personal desire and acts of revenge instead of his people who needs a president to lead them well.
“Ultimo ang Santo Papa, minura mo, pinagsalitaan ng kung ano ano, nawala ang respeto mo sa mga kababaihan kahit may mga anak kang babae, inuna mo ang personal na galit at paghihiganti kaya ganon na lamang ang kawalang bahala mo sa mga totoong pangangailangan at problema ng ating bayan…” she said.
In President Duterte’s term, he opened up the country’s doors for alliances for the United States, China, and Russia among others.
That’s why when the COVID-19 first threatened the country, Duterte still welcomed Chinese tourists into the country which made Nikki question his actions.
“Bakit di mo agad pinasara ang ating bansa sa China kahit alam mo nang sa kanila galing ang sakit na pumapatay sa libo libong tao ngayon? Bakit nasa China na ata ang katapatan mo? Bakit inuna mo ang Anti Terror Bill?” Nikki asked.
The Anti-Terrorism Law of 2020 or the Republic Act 11479 was approved on July 18, 2020, despite people’s objection to it because it violates human, civil, and political rights.
Nikki also stressed that before the president decided to shut down the ABS-CBN, he should have thought of all its employees whose livelihood and employment are at stake. She pointed out that the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) continues to be open while her home network was forced to stop its operations.
“Bakit mas inuna mo ang pagpapasara sa ABSCBN at pagkitil sa kabuhayan ng libo libong empleyado pero nanatili dito ang mga POGO? Ito ba talaga ang mga plano mo para sa Pilipinas?” said Nikki.
“Ano nanaman kaya ang sasabihin mo bukas? ‘Joke lang?'” she added.
Nikki is saddened by what is happening to her fellow kapamilyas. Earlier, she wrote an open letter to ABS-CBN employees on the verge of losing their jobs due to the failure of Congress to renew the media giant’s franchise.
On Instagram, she posted a picture of her hugging her husband Luis Garcia as he might be the next employee to lose his job in the coming days.
She also addressed the critics for saying that the Kapamilya people are just ‘overreacting’.
“Madali lang para sa inyo na sabihin na hindi lang naman sa amin nangyari o nangyayari ito. Na maghanap na lang kami ng ibang trabaho. Na huwag kami mag-over-react. Na kumpanya namin ang may kasalanan. Na buti nga sa ABS-CBN magsasara na. ‘Yung iba nga nagdidiwang pa,” she said.
“Sana kaya niyong sabihin ‘yan sa mga empleyadong sila lang ang inaasahan ng pamilya nila, na may mga sinusuportahan, pinag-aaral, ‘yung iba buntis pa at may pinapagamot na kamag-anak. Sana kaya niyo sagutin ang lahat ng gastusin nila at kinabukasan ng mga pamilya nila,” she added.
Nikki was not the only artist to regret supporting President Rodrigo Duterte. Kapamilya actress Angelica Panganiban and GMA-7 actor Jason Abalos also expressed their disappointment in supporting the president.
Angelica replied on a Twitter user about a comment about her being a fan of Duterte. She expressed her current opinion on an Instagram post in April 2016 where she declared that Duterte was her president.
“Yes. Nakakalungkot,” the actress replied. “Pero oo. Patawarin niyo ko,” Angelica said.
“[I]babad mo ng gasolina o diesel, putanginang COVID na ‘yan. Hindi uubra ‘yan diyan. Totoo. Kung wala kayo — if you want to disinfect, maghanap ka ng gasolina. Ibabad mo lang iyong kamay mo,” Duterte said.
Jason was enraged by Duterte’s approach to the virus and how he joked about it.
“Namatay ang kaibigan kong pediatric surgeon dahil sa covid, tapos may panahon pa kayong mag joke?? Pagbabago ang ginusto ko nong binoto kita hindi panggagago!” Jason wrote.
