Again, Seeking Truth from Facts,
and Exposing and Opposing their actions
amidst threat and chaos
To many observers during the first years of the Duterte regime would say that through his popularity and action comes the ability to fill the void that's once left almost empty since this void has been negated by the emergence of urbanism and cosmopolitanism. And from there he tried to create an atmosphere of inclusivity in order to appease all walks of life especially those neglected by the past regimes. That by claiming himself to be "socialist" he tried to appease the left, that with his promise to plant the flag at the disputed isles riding on a jetski he tried to claim himself as patriotic as the other candidates, his cabinet that's once an amalgamation of various views from left and right coexisting showed an attempt that he "taketh seriously" the view that's the desire for change.
Quite amazing though at first, for knowing his statements did appease people would say he deserves the seat and praise as a leader, regardless of his sworn oath to protect the order everyone knows as hindrance to nation building.
And to mention that hindrance, men like Lorenzana, Dominguez, Año, and others who happened to be refuse of past regimes would say they are hell bent in retaining the order that the commoners still dare to oppose their agenda.
But things turned contrary especially after a series of policies, of statements, and events that pulled the administration towards to the right. From its change driven tendency turns out to be a counterreaction, that from sidelining the concerned from the cabinet the regime becomes a camarilla of militarists loyal to him, and the ever continuing, actually existing vassalage of the republic to American and Chinese interests, with its unequal treaties existing.
For sure a loyalist would disagree with this, as they justify bloodied moves as if a necessary catharsis to restore justice. Operations like Tokhang, Double Barrel, Kapayapaan, and Kapanatagan attests to these actions which are pointing against the poor and to those who seek truth and expose the oppressive actions brought by the order; if not stubbornly claiming that Duterte is trying to exceed those of his predecessors in "promoting development", no matter some of which as posing a risk to its constituents.
Sounds ridiculous as one would say, but each and every event hath showed how Duterte and his ilk are having their hands itchy just to shed their democratic pretension all in favor of their orderist goals. That by the willingness to accuse the opposition for "various crimes", it seems that being a person seeking trutg from facts, what more of opposing them, is to be deemed terrorist in the eyes of the state, and therefore to face the nailed fist of the law.
***
This person wouldn't be surprised that Duterte and his economic camarilla tries to act like Henri de Man especially when it comes to government intervention and public works. For like the past administrations would again say that Duterte hath sworn to upheld the order regardless of its unjust as he benefited from it; and to think that despite assuming themselves for the commoners would say that their assuming is far from the truth such as continuing an ever growing consensus that privatisation, liberalised markets, deregulation, commercialisation, anything that benefited the order at the people's expense are the keys to economic revitalisation.
And to mention that former Belgian Socialist turned collaborator with the Nazis, Duterte wanted to "encourage" the private sector (or let's just say the compradores) by lessening it from certain obligation and by making it a "protector of free competition and individual initiative." The Rice Tarrification Law for instance was itself an example of that venture by making Rice Traders really engage in their professions by flooding them with imported rice and grains, whilst reducing the powers of the National Food Authority into an almost unknown existence other than storing rice in its granaries. Lobbyists yearning to have ...
Duterte may have tried to appeal to the working class, but his continuity of neoliberal capitalism diminishes his initiatives to uplift- that even his promises of take home pay for lower-income earners be rendered useless with the price increases brought about by the recent tax reform law.
Of course for Duterte these proceedings may used to support infrastructure projects, subsidised tuition and health care, and the likes although some if not most of which rather meant to pay loans from multinational moneylenders and foreign-based agencies; but reality goes something like seeing those reforms as being not a safety net of welfare and other benefits nor means to protect the vulnerable, but rather as an anti-democratic movement all invented by a man disillusioned with democracy and the working class. Wouldn't be surprised that with the even prodding of the neoliberals and feudalists guised as "technocrats", he would have removed political power from the workers, peasants, and students leaving them only the appearance of representation, and vested it all instead in those who upheld the order.
And to mention that former Belgian Socialist turned collaborator with the Nazis, Duterte wanted to "encourage" the private sector (or let's just say the compradores) by lessening it from certain obligation and by making it a "protector of free competition and individual initiative." The Rice Tarrification Law for instance was itself an example of that venture by making Rice Traders really engage in their professions by flooding them with imported rice and grains, whilst reducing the powers of the National Food Authority into an almost unknown existence other than storing rice in its granaries. Lobbyists yearning to have ...
Duterte may have tried to appeal to the working class, but his continuity of neoliberal capitalism diminishes his initiatives to uplift- that even his promises of take home pay for lower-income earners be rendered useless with the price increases brought about by the recent tax reform law.
Of course for Duterte these proceedings may used to support infrastructure projects, subsidised tuition and health care, and the likes although some if not most of which rather meant to pay loans from multinational moneylenders and foreign-based agencies; but reality goes something like seeing those reforms as being not a safety net of welfare and other benefits nor means to protect the vulnerable, but rather as an anti-democratic movement all invented by a man disillusioned with democracy and the working class. Wouldn't be surprised that with the even prodding of the neoliberals and feudalists guised as "technocrats", he would have removed political power from the workers, peasants, and students leaving them only the appearance of representation, and vested it all instead in those who upheld the order.
***
In this note would say that the regime is just making a continuity regardless of their supports claiming having changes. As any other regime, it tries to create a legacy that sometimes be classified as a form of political patronage, especially if it is in a form of an infrastructure project, law being passed, or a policy been set upon, most of which rather carryovers from past administrations the regime opted to continue.
And by opposing this "agenda" would say that this be tantamount to subversion, and if opposing be done in a direct action be tantamount to terrorism. From this somehow would think and say that with the ever growing opposition to this continuity of neoliberal capitalism and domestic feudalism entwined, what more of its fascistic tendencies been taken through, be it in a form of its attack dogs, or its apologists claiming there is order under Duterte.
They would claim that there's freedom of speech and expression, that the press been churning two and fro in various mediums and outlets, although they themselves also speak about the need for strong censorship and blaming intellectuals for bringing "fake news" or "subverting the youth" as they, from their efforts in seeking truth from facts expressed, if not represent a mass rejection of the political and economic establishment, brutality by the police force and its alleged collusion with organised crime.
It may sound ridiculous tho for one would say if Duterte really talked about change and hope in his regime, then how come he continued those from Aquino and his earlier predecessors? Then there is no difference between the two in having continuing most of the carryovers. Unsurprising, For Duterte et al. is just making a continuity contrary to their word that's change. The oligarchs whom they detested are still in their fields, that the despotic landlords remain at their fiefs, unequal agreements been retained regardless of its controversial nature or its popular opposition, what more of those who demand to consolidate further by masking their interests with both middle-class and populist rhetoric. One of them even claiming that people should accept "unpopular policies" as part of statesmanship.
"Many of us, Filipinos only accepts government policies that are for us popular even if some of them are detrimental for the country in the long-run while we cannot accept government policies that are unpopular but would be good for the country in short and long-term."
And these unpopular policies been actually affected most of the folk, particularly the poor with price hikes brought by "tax reform laws", famers with cheap/or smuggled rice abroad using "rice tarrification" as its basis, and unjust competitions between smallholders and multinationals with "leveling the playing field" as its alibi. Hence, "good for the country"? or Good for entrenched interests at the expense of the folk?
***
Anyway, the order will still try to outwit the law, to do a pseudo-führerprinzip, or exploit their supporters' "feelings" (if there is) all to justify their actions. Ranging from distorting/diluting laws and its provisions, of silencing dissent such as by blaming the opposition for their woes, all these would meant opportunity for the order to advance their orderist agenda. Of course they will say they are saving the republic and to replicate Marcos's New Society by making Marcosian measures adopted in the 21st century- and wouldn't be surprised that the "Davao Death Squad" may become a "Department of Domestic Security" to create a legal basis for their atrocities, replicating Argentina with its "Theory of Two Demons" for their justification, etc.
Perhaps, this marks a time for renewing efforts in seeking truth from facts. The order may disapprove what the opposition speaks, but with their adherence to upheld the old order then there is a just reason to expose and oppose them.