"Of having Deep, Burning, National Concern"
(Inspired from the Encyclical "Mit Brennender Sorge")
Greetings.
At first, it is with deep anxiety that the people have faced this trial under the present administration. Far from the message of change that the administration brought some years ago, this turned out to be a false statement as instead lies the aggravation of state repression against the people, be it from the "drug war" to those of silencing his critics be it in the name of "anti-terrorism" to the pretentious of anti-oligarchy.
It is not surprising, for with the regime continues to consolidate its order, this change being presented is brought by fear and coercion, of blood and unjust accusation, of eschewing human rights and laws in favour of bastardised "political will" to favour his circle.
Recently, a tyrant has demonstrated how his new law will be used against the people. And this law, meant to expunge the revolutionary movement in the Philippines, may also include those from the opposition and even those who are truly concerned about their country especially in this time of pandemic crisis. That saying simply that he had declared to the Communist Party of the Philippines as a "terrorist group" to justify dissolving peace negotiations (and seriously addressing socioeconomic questions), to those of blaming the opposition for all the woes, altogether a stumbling block by the regime, would say that the arbitrariness with which the order made this law as a prelude to how will be likely be used against those who stood against their way-including those who seek truth from facts and thus exposing the society's inconveniences the order hath brought against.
Again it is unsurprising this order's want, that this controversial move shows utter disdain for freedom and justice, for democratic processes, for national sovereignty. In various comments an ever-increasing number of those who chose the truth over the order's cheap statements shows that they are willing to fight by any means regardless of the risks such as the provisions shown by the law. With their news articles, posts, and commentaries exposing the inconveniences and the expression of opposition they themselves bound "in spite of efforts to judge with moderation and in spite of their own patriotic love, to add reports of things hard and unpleasant." For like the encyclical "Mit Brennender Sorge", that after seeking and showing the truth from facts that brought them discontent, then perhaps, in grateful acknowledgment to God, exclaim with the Apostle of love: "I have no greater grace than this, to hear that my children walk in truth" (John 3:4)."
However, the order treated this seeking and exposing truth as a seditious act ranging from "destroying the fabric of morality" to those of "promoting dissent against the state". The politicised congressional proceedings against a known broadcasting company that led to its shutdown showed how this was carried down in accordance with the administration's orders that has long made clear his antipathy towards media practitioners and groups especially those who are critical towards the regime. For the administration this is a feat against the "oligarchs" as it has publicly abused them with charges of tax evasion, lopsided contracts and others without actually filing any charges. But, regardless of its refutations by some government officials, this proceeding brought about by the administration-majority congress is in fact a mere cover for the tyrant's arm-twisting tactics against some Manila-based big business to demand bigger shares in their profits the way many have been forced to give in to this tyrant and pay him tribute.
But with this "shutdown", will seeking and exposing the truth be stopped? For the administration and its supporters it doesn't matter having a broadcasting company be stripped out of frequency all because of technical reasons, reasons which in fact been refuted but still created an example that having truth not be told unless that "truth" happens to be against their rival in politics and those who stood against their way. In a time when inconsistencies swarm over media, of initial statements and sudden denials, people, regardless of risks, became muckrakers as they seek truth from facts, exposing the inconveniences and to assert an alternative to what percieved as an "organised mess".
The order may continue to remain stubborn in its stances. As shown by its recent statements, the arbitrariness such as brought by the administration's declaration is itself a prelude to possible actions-like the "Anti Terrorism Act" to be used against critics, to the treatment of this pandemic matter as "a peace and order" rather than "health" situation as it orders the police to conduct "house-to-house" hunts for individuals affected by the COVID19 pandemic. Expect its supporters either justify these or divert the reader to their favorite topics of "infrastructure"/or condeming political rivals and radicals for all their woes.
That even the Church also greatly affected by these situations the order brought over. For having the beneficent mission to save souls and uplift communities, of course, as any other concerned member of the folk also has a sincere with, hope to render a fellowman a service essential for their homeland's development and prosperity even in this days of disquet and rage. In every parish lies programs meant to support downtridden parishoners especially those whose programs from the government are rather given insufficient.
For sure everyone doesn't wanted their homeland to remain in poverty and repression, and that the people wanted is to live with peace that's based in justice- but under this ever-continuing order? Even the most concerned government official would ridicule the "peace and development" the order has brought upon to its people.
If then, in this ever-continuing past, that peace has not brought fourth its fruit, which in the interest of the people would enjoy. The "peace" as wanted by this order through the administration is not the peace of the Lord, but a peace rooted on tyranny, an order based on fear and coercion, a development based on interest. The experience brought by the statements and actions of this present administration laid bare intrigues, which from the outset only aimed at having bloodshed and slander against the folk, particularly the poor and downtrodden who wished land and bread. The folk sowed seeds of sincere peace that's based on justice, but the other, rooted on interest, sowed hatred and hostility against those who truly concerned including the media and the church. Silent or vociferous, they are responsible for the string of atrocities, darkening the skies with fear than creating a sunshine of hope.
But despite these, it cannot cease the concerned folk to be the forgers and tillers of the nation's destiny. From the negotiating tables between those who revolt and the government to the halls of the legislature asserting socioeconomic reforms, having done everything to defend the sacred pledge of the given word of honor against actions, which it officially endorsed, that would wreck every faith in agreements make every signature worthless. The order, by thinking such agreements as detrimental to their actions, chose to scrap altogether and instead persecute those who struggle for peace, land, bread, justice, freedom against foreign imperialism and its domestic stooges. Worse, this persecution extended to those who expressed disgust on the administration's inconveniences such as in this pandemic-driven matter, or the ever-continuing extrajudicial acts supporters described as "justice". These and more would say has trampled the law in the name of "stability"- with the tyrant himself justifying by claming these as his own act. Few concerned officials would trieth themselves to be faithful to the agreements, trying to save the need for a "just and lasting peace" against hawks who wished to spoil in the name of "stability and discipline". This shall continue without failing, to stand before this order as defender of violated rights, and in obedience to one's Conscience, whether successful or not, to oppose such policies which seeks, by open or secret means, to strangle rights that's guaranteed by law.
For sure everyone doesn't wanted their homeland to remain in poverty and repression, and that the people wanted is to live with peace that's based in justice- but under this ever-continuing order? Even the most concerned government official would ridicule the "peace and development" the order has brought upon to its people.
If then, in this ever-continuing past, that peace has not brought fourth its fruit, which in the interest of the people would enjoy. The "peace" as wanted by this order through the administration is not the peace of the Lord, but a peace rooted on tyranny, an order based on fear and coercion, a development based on interest. The experience brought by the statements and actions of this present administration laid bare intrigues, which from the outset only aimed at having bloodshed and slander against the folk, particularly the poor and downtrodden who wished land and bread. The folk sowed seeds of sincere peace that's based on justice, but the other, rooted on interest, sowed hatred and hostility against those who truly concerned including the media and the church. Silent or vociferous, they are responsible for the string of atrocities, darkening the skies with fear than creating a sunshine of hope.
But despite these, it cannot cease the concerned folk to be the forgers and tillers of the nation's destiny. From the negotiating tables between those who revolt and the government to the halls of the legislature asserting socioeconomic reforms, having done everything to defend the sacred pledge of the given word of honor against actions, which it officially endorsed, that would wreck every faith in agreements make every signature worthless. The order, by thinking such agreements as detrimental to their actions, chose to scrap altogether and instead persecute those who struggle for peace, land, bread, justice, freedom against foreign imperialism and its domestic stooges. Worse, this persecution extended to those who expressed disgust on the administration's inconveniences such as in this pandemic-driven matter, or the ever-continuing extrajudicial acts supporters described as "justice". These and more would say has trampled the law in the name of "stability"- with the tyrant himself justifying by claming these as his own act. Few concerned officials would trieth themselves to be faithful to the agreements, trying to save the need for a "just and lasting peace" against hawks who wished to spoil in the name of "stability and discipline". This shall continue without failing, to stand before this order as defender of violated rights, and in obedience to one's Conscience, whether successful or not, to oppose such policies which seeks, by open or secret means, to strangle rights that's guaranteed by law.
Given at Manila, 17.07.2020