"A continuous desire and struggle for national and social change"
Ramblings after an administration's message of "change"
getting hijacked by interests
Ramblings after an administration's message of "change"
getting hijacked by interests
"The first six months showed a tendency already that the Duterte administration is a populist administration pushing for neoliberal policies under a smokescreen of war on drugs, national rhetoric and leftist façade,”
- Sonny Africa
Its been a observation that change has been hijacked by interests, especially those who afforded to rally on the present administration and its "profound messages."
Ranging from neoliberals to militarists, these bureaucrats, supported by landlords and compradores had tried much to dilute people's aspirations to those of theirs, popularising neoliberalism to those of glorifying extralegal acts as a form of catharsis "against a bigger problem" such as illegal drugs and various crimes, killing innocents as necessary "all for the sake of attaining justice".
Sounds too much isn't it? But basing on news reports, on various comments favouring or not the bullshit brought about by the order, this person sought how an order tries to retain by pretending, to the extent of a frustrated "sacrifice" just to show that they are "on the side of change"; while at the same time trying to retain power and prestige as in the past administrations.
And in it sounds more of a continuous thermidor than what they're trying to say continuing a revolutionary legacy such as 1986; and whatever they say, neither the two (Both Duterte or Robredo) and its hordes will afford to free a goddamned third world country from its squalor, for both of them, regardless of its populist appeal and its supposed program of actions, has nothing to do with social emancipation and genuine concord amongst sectors. But rather it has to do with the consolidation of the still continuing social order that people wishes to dismantle.
And to call it as making changes, of a continuing the revolution, or any other phrase is but a valueless phrase meant to sneer people through the ears. Marcos did that in his "revolution from the center" only to find it as a farce.
How come? Amidst the showcase called change, of accommodating both the left and the right in the spirit of social concord, the clear and present tensions didn't wither, especially that there are still stubborn segments who still clinging in its interests; that in case of landlords who end "transforming" agricultural land to agrocommercial ones "just to escape agrarian reform" to those of compradores insisting contractualisation as a temporary measure, the word "change" is but any other term as "development", yet in fact it is but a retention of old order and its privileges.
Preaching justice yet seeing injustice
Preaching justice yet seeing injustice
As one could hear or even see Oligarchs preaching justice while keeping firm in its coffers? Of Bureaucrats taking pride in various infrastructures yet benefited from its corruption? Of neoliberalism and globalisation diluting nationalism and negating emancipation? The nonsense brought about interest-seeking Oligarchs and corrupt Bureaucrats includes trying to curry working class support with some bread and circuses abound; yet with the fact that corruption, repression, and various forms of injustices thrive, then their populism in its frustrated from is likely to met with skepticism and even an assertion of just calls those from the order care not to deal if not less talk about.
One example is the Hacienda Luisita issue, wherein farmworkers continue to struggle for land and justice amidst tragic events in 1987 and in 2004, if not hearing reports of farmworkers having "stocks" only to be called as a "poorest stockholder" since their wage is those of 9.50. And because of these, the assertion for both land and justice is still ongoing with the progressives within Duterte's cabinet seriously insist the justness of having the controversial hacienda be under land reform; yet the Cojuangcos remain stubbornly defiant in controlling the contested land.
But on the other side of that change, bullshits remain that even in today's "anti-yellow" regime there are numerous cases of harassments brought upon by these stubborn landlords against those who are also stubborn in claiming their land under the "agrarian reform program".
In a statement from the peasant group "Ugnayan ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura", it stated how Cojuangcos insist their "control" over the contested land amidst government's plan to be redistributed:
“The Cojuangco-Aquinos still reign in Hacienda Luisita. With this incident, Bgy. Captain Edison Diaz and his thugs are openly defying the Department of Agrarian Reform’s status quo order issued by DAR Sec. Rafael Mariano on July 8,” said Ramos. Sec. Mariano’s order was made in response to the destruction of Catalan’s crops on orders of known Cojuangco people, Buena Timbol of the Luisita Estate Management (LEM) and Villamor Lagunero, Chief Security officer of TADECO, on July 1, the first day of President Duterte in office.
“The local DAR officials in Tarlac and Central Luzon are also so obviously beholden to the Cojuangco-Aquinos. The same officials who committed atrocities against farmers under the BS Aquino regime are still in power in Tarlac,”
That incident shows that as in the past, the peasant question remains unresolved in spite of the programs and actions the government afforded to undertook. And despite Mariano's actions as Agrarian Reform secretary did made to stress DAR (as well as the government's side) as on the side of the peasants, does it mean the system in which the Cojuangcos part of be willing to give up its stubbornness in defending Luisita in favour of the landless?
Also to think about the actions Bgy. Captain Edison Diaz did, is he disregarding the order of the executive such as from DAR in favour of Cojuangco-Aquinos? Seems that he forgot that he is a public official who has to obey the law including the decision of the courts.
Another issue is how the system said to its subjects about "suspension of police and military operations" and yet there are cases of military operations in the provinces. There the system's troops that continue to encamp, go in and out of barrios, especially "rebel-controlled" areas under the guise of implementing “peace and development outreach programs”, supposedly providing armed security for "government-sponsored projects", as well as implementing the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.
In a statement released from the Communist Party (whose New Peoples Army adheres to its suspension of operations), it stated that:
"Duterte has allowed the AFP to continue its armed operations in the countryside under Oplan Bayanihan. Not only do these trample on the spirit of the reciprocal ceasefire declarations, these have also brought about rampant cases of human rights abuses. These is also widespread condemnation of police and vigilante killings instigated by Duterte in his “war against drugs.”
There is bound to be much uncertainty regarding the prospects of an alliance between the revolutionary movement and the Duterte government. There will be increasing instances of sharp differences and struggle as the people become increasingly restive over their worsening socio-economic plight. They are fully-justified in advancing the national democratic struggle and demanding an end to the pro-imperialist, anti-people and anti-democratic policies."
The situation seemed to be contrary to its message such as serious adherence to cease fire. Some units of the New Peoples Army are even willing to suspend their cease fires so as to maintain security in its liberated zones. Worse, with the present regime failed to heed the people's call of releasing political prisoners and instead be treated as a "deck of cards" in exchange for a system-ordered "surrender", what more of having killings and harassments towards activists by these armed thugs in uniform, then of what is having a cease fire what more of having a negotiation in pursuit of peace?
Such nonsense brought about by a system and its frustrated "populism" has rather made its country foolish. As in the past regimes it failed to resolve issues like poverty and social injustice in spite of numerous statements on "national development" to those of "reform"; only to found out that its stubborn clinging to interests as landed gentries and as keepers of the old order rather dilutes the idea of reconstructing a country "according to its supposed principles", of making "change" that is according to the will of its people.
Choosing to be indifferent if not making laws unlawful
Worse, with all the bullshits happening all over, the system rather chose to be indifferent if not apathetic, and has urged its subjects to close their hearts to pity and treat the entire tragedy as any other show to amuse with; yet ironically, there are those who forgot to close its windows and help those who beg for mercy. The series of unjust killings and various forms of repression has becoming far from "rule of law" as supposed to be imposed by the state.
Worse, apologists and apathetics alike failed to see the truth that despite what they see as "change" is rather far from it, instead they chose to run a country like hell the way they are babbling that is, pseudo-Machiavellian.
And if so, then that "change" everyone believe today is all but a farce, the system used that word "change" just to sneer people through the ears from the realities the system also did. On the first place, why everyone hear from the president defending the actions of the police and the military no matter how thuggish they are in confronting the people? Even the "National-Democrats" within his cabinet felt irritated knowing that the president's stand is contrary to their principles, yet they have to work "all for the well-being of the people" in case of Taguiwalo and her immediate response to calamities as social welfare secretary and Mariano's serious adherence to agrarian reform amidst the order's stubbornness to keep firm in its interests.
Again, whatever they say in their press releases, neither from Duterte nor the Yellows like Robredo can truly make change as they represent the order that has to be dismantled. For both Duterte himself and Robredo knows that kind of fact the way they swore to protect the law, to maintain order, and at the same time babbling words like "ensuring the peoples well-being" to those of "accommodating those of others in the name of reform."
And in speaking of the word "law", with the fact that as time goes by, of 99% interpretations from the judges and legislators, and 1% of its literal, decreed message meant for a nation to obey, it seems that rule of law the system has afforded to babble and take proud of is all but a codified rule of men.
Worse, some of those who made laws are actually those who made its flaws, and thus it will justify the wrongs the way it tends to reinterpret the message that is, right. They circumvent the agrarian reform code to protect their interests as landed gentries, they even transform a law concerning "cybercrimes" to those stressing "libel" and hence pointing against critics using social media and the internet, what more of attempting to create "right of reply" in pursuit of harassing government critics? What a bullshit lawmaking is then by these corrupted fools assuming to be righteous!
And if they afford to say that the law is harsh, yes it is; but to disregard the reason that laws are also for the well being of a nation and instead insist its harshness if its punishments, then perhaps let's start by forgetting the loving god the new testament talks about and go back to the one who is called jealous that is, from the old. Let's also start from looking at the interpretations of Draco and of those who saidth that man as evil in nature (and in it as if that evilness drives societies to progress).
Also by the way, ever since the system talks about might is right and the rule of law as all about punishments, then is the society enjoyed being tied and whipped at the amusement of others? No wonder Lu Xun was right.
Clearly, those inconvenient facts within a "semi-feudal, semi-colonial" order makes the Filipino masses, mainly the working class and peasantry to actively, if not eager to involve in seizing political power in order to place the society and its economy on the path to genuine national development.
One example is the Hacienda Luisita issue, wherein farmworkers continue to struggle for land and justice amidst tragic events in 1987 and in 2004, if not hearing reports of farmworkers having "stocks" only to be called as a "poorest stockholder" since their wage is those of 9.50. And because of these, the assertion for both land and justice is still ongoing with the progressives within Duterte's cabinet seriously insist the justness of having the controversial hacienda be under land reform; yet the Cojuangcos remain stubbornly defiant in controlling the contested land.But on the other side of that change, bullshits remain that even in today's "anti-yellow" regime there are numerous cases of harassments brought upon by these stubborn landlords against those who are also stubborn in claiming their land under the "agrarian reform program".
In a statement from the peasant group "Ugnayan ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura", it stated how Cojuangcos insist their "control" over the contested land amidst government's plan to be redistributed:
“The Cojuangco-Aquinos still reign in Hacienda Luisita. With this incident, Bgy. Captain Edison Diaz and his thugs are openly defying the Department of Agrarian Reform’s status quo order issued by DAR Sec. Rafael Mariano on July 8,” said Ramos. Sec. Mariano’s order was made in response to the destruction of Catalan’s crops on orders of known Cojuangco people, Buena Timbol of the Luisita Estate Management (LEM) and Villamor Lagunero, Chief Security officer of TADECO, on July 1, the first day of President Duterte in office.
“The local DAR officials in Tarlac and Central Luzon are also so obviously beholden to the Cojuangco-Aquinos. The same officials who committed atrocities against farmers under the BS Aquino regime are still in power in Tarlac,”
That incident shows that as in the past, the peasant question remains unresolved in spite of the programs and actions the government afforded to undertook. And despite Mariano's actions as Agrarian Reform secretary did made to stress DAR (as well as the government's side) as on the side of the peasants, does it mean the system in which the Cojuangcos part of be willing to give up its stubbornness in defending Luisita in favour of the landless?
Also to think about the actions Bgy. Captain Edison Diaz did, is he disregarding the order of the executive such as from DAR in favour of Cojuangco-Aquinos? Seems that he forgot that he is a public official who has to obey the law including the decision of the courts.
In a statement released from the Communist Party (whose New Peoples Army adheres to its suspension of operations), it stated that:
"Duterte has allowed the AFP to continue its armed operations in the countryside under Oplan Bayanihan. Not only do these trample on the spirit of the reciprocal ceasefire declarations, these have also brought about rampant cases of human rights abuses. These is also widespread condemnation of police and vigilante killings instigated by Duterte in his “war against drugs.”
There is bound to be much uncertainty regarding the prospects of an alliance between the revolutionary movement and the Duterte government. There will be increasing instances of sharp differences and struggle as the people become increasingly restive over their worsening socio-economic plight. They are fully-justified in advancing the national democratic struggle and demanding an end to the pro-imperialist, anti-people and anti-democratic policies."
The situation seemed to be contrary to its message such as serious adherence to cease fire. Some units of the New Peoples Army are even willing to suspend their cease fires so as to maintain security in its liberated zones. Worse, with the present regime failed to heed the people's call of releasing political prisoners and instead be treated as a "deck of cards" in exchange for a system-ordered "surrender", what more of having killings and harassments towards activists by these armed thugs in uniform, then of what is having a cease fire what more of having a negotiation in pursuit of peace?
Such nonsense brought about by a system and its frustrated "populism" has rather made its country foolish. As in the past regimes it failed to resolve issues like poverty and social injustice in spite of numerous statements on "national development" to those of "reform"; only to found out that its stubborn clinging to interests as landed gentries and as keepers of the old order rather dilutes the idea of reconstructing a country "according to its supposed principles", of making "change" that is according to the will of its people.
Choosing to be indifferent if not making laws unlawful
Worse, with all the bullshits happening all over, the system rather chose to be indifferent if not apathetic, and has urged its subjects to close their hearts to pity and treat the entire tragedy as any other show to amuse with; yet ironically, there are those who forgot to close its windows and help those who beg for mercy. The series of unjust killings and various forms of repression has becoming far from "rule of law" as supposed to be imposed by the state.
Worse, apologists and apathetics alike failed to see the truth that despite what they see as "change" is rather far from it, instead they chose to run a country like hell the way they are babbling that is, pseudo-Machiavellian.
And if so, then that "change" everyone believe today is all but a farce, the system used that word "change" just to sneer people through the ears from the realities the system also did. On the first place, why everyone hear from the president defending the actions of the police and the military no matter how thuggish they are in confronting the people? Even the "National-Democrats" within his cabinet felt irritated knowing that the president's stand is contrary to their principles, yet they have to work "all for the well-being of the people" in case of Taguiwalo and her immediate response to calamities as social welfare secretary and Mariano's serious adherence to agrarian reform amidst the order's stubbornness to keep firm in its interests.
Again, whatever they say in their press releases, neither from Duterte nor the Yellows like Robredo can truly make change as they represent the order that has to be dismantled. For both Duterte himself and Robredo knows that kind of fact the way they swore to protect the law, to maintain order, and at the same time babbling words like "ensuring the peoples well-being" to those of "accommodating those of others in the name of reform."
And in speaking of the word "law", with the fact that as time goes by, of 99% interpretations from the judges and legislators, and 1% of its literal, decreed message meant for a nation to obey, it seems that rule of law the system has afforded to babble and take proud of is all but a codified rule of men.
Worse, some of those who made laws are actually those who made its flaws, and thus it will justify the wrongs the way it tends to reinterpret the message that is, right. They circumvent the agrarian reform code to protect their interests as landed gentries, they even transform a law concerning "cybercrimes" to those stressing "libel" and hence pointing against critics using social media and the internet, what more of attempting to create "right of reply" in pursuit of harassing government critics? What a bullshit lawmaking is then by these corrupted fools assuming to be righteous!
And if they afford to say that the law is harsh, yes it is; but to disregard the reason that laws are also for the well being of a nation and instead insist its harshness if its punishments, then perhaps let's start by forgetting the loving god the new testament talks about and go back to the one who is called jealous that is, from the old. Let's also start from looking at the interpretations of Draco and of those who saidth that man as evil in nature (and in it as if that evilness drives societies to progress).
Also by the way, ever since the system talks about might is right and the rule of law as all about punishments, then is the society enjoyed being tied and whipped at the amusement of others? No wonder Lu Xun was right.
Clearly, those inconvenient facts within a "semi-feudal, semi-colonial" order makes the Filipino masses, mainly the working class and peasantry to actively, if not eager to involve in seizing political power in order to place the society and its economy on the path to genuine national development.