IMPROVEMENT. Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma tells reporters after celebrating Mass at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral on Thursday (July 26, 2018) that he has seen an improvement in President Rodrigo Duterte's way of talking to the public during his latest SONA. (Photo by Bebie Jane Casipong/PNA)
CEBU CITY -- Cebu Archbishop José Serofia Palma on Thursday said President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has improved in the way he speaks in public during his 3rd State of the Nation Address (SONA).
"One good thing is that he stuck to the written speech. There was no ‘balikas’ (cursing), which is to me an improvement in the usual way he would talk before the public," Archbishop Palma told reporters.
Palma said the recent SONA of the President was just a rehash of the administration’s programs.
"In my observation, it was a rehash of his programs against drugs, corruption, and poverty," he said.
However, the Cebu archbishop is hoping that before Duterte's term ends, the President can implement all of his plans and campaigns in a way that it would be really effective.
Although the archbishop can still not say how much the President can do for the country, he wishes to see all of Duterte’s good programs implemented someday, especially the Chief Executive’s poverty alleviation campaign.
Meanwhile, Palma expressed sadness over the spate of killings happening in Cebu in the last few days.
"Our concern is the same. We feel sad. We sympathize with the family of those who have died whether because of the (government’s) campaign (against criminality) or otherwise," Palma said.
Archbishop Palma exhorted his Cebuano flock to pray for peace and for the killings to stop.
"We should all pray. We should also ask the agencies concerned to make an effort to stop the killings," Archbishop Palma said.
Last Tuesday, three bodies were found dumped in two different places in Cebu.
The bodies of 26-year-old call center agent Stephen del Corro and his 16-year-old girlfriend Jamie Marie Mata, both residents of Barangay Tisa this city, were found in Liloan town, some 18.8 kilometers north of Cebu City.
Police authorities are looking at two angles: love triangle and fraternity war.
The bullet-riddled body of Harry Lloren, 43, of Barangay Mambaling, was also found in Barangay Casili, Mandaue City. Policemen are still investigating and looking for a lead.
A decomposing body of a man was also found early Wednesday night in the City of Naga. Authorities, however, have yet to identify the victim.
On Friday last week, a barangay councilor and three inmates of the Talisay City Jail were killed in two separate ambush incidents in Talisay City.
Twenty-three-year-old Barangay Lagtang councilor Art Stephen Bas was ambushed by two gunmen while driving along the Cebu South Coastal Road around 8 a.m., while the three inmates were sprayed with bullets barely an hour later on board a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) vehicle in Barangay Linao on their way to a court hearing.
Police authorities are looking at all angles and following up clues to immediately solve and to learn the motive behind the crimes. (With Bebie Jane Casipong/PNA)
