"When disasters and calls for help
again includes lambasting incompetents"
Thoughts after the protests against Duterte's neglect and indifference
over the recent calamities
The recent actions brought by the students has triggered the order and its apologists.
Brought by the administration's display of utter disinterest, indifference to the plight of Filipinos affected by the recent typhoons that shook Luzon and other parts of the country over the past five weeks, the people witnessed firsthand how the government failed to show concern to the people while claiming that the people as resilient in that time of crisis.
Bluntly speaking, Duterte and his officials were practically non-existent while the folks faced the storm and floods. These folks did struggled on their own, even calling for help as no one in the government except those who seriously concerned as the vice president dare to take action. The severe impact of devastation brought by the storms and floods also meant slow growth for affected sectors especially agriculture; what more it was aggravated by the government’s inaction to coordinate its agencies and local government units, put in place preemptive measures, release much needed funds, mobilise men and equipment all for swift rescue/recovery efforts and assistance.
But to see Duterte himself complaining about Robredo acting on her behalf as Vice President, or blaming the victims for supposedly not heeding warnings showeth his indifference to the plight of these people affected by the recent storms. But this doesn't escape the fact that the regime has different priorities in terms of attention and funding such as those of counterinsurgency and corruption-ridden infrastructure projects, while its disaster agencies are incapable of extending even the barest necessary assistance to those especially calling for immediate aid in affected areas especially in the provinces swept by the typhoons and even Marikina city.
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Regarding the recent call for a "student strike" brought by Ateneo de Manila and supported by other schools like the University of the Philippines, it is expected that those who defend the order downplay the youth as naïve or "manipulated by subversive elements" because of their opposition to the regime especially after the latter's serious neglect in responding to health, economic, and even disasters. If being aware of realities and demanding an alternative is itself an act of subversion, then why not? Even democracy itself was once chided as subversion and chaos by those who favour a regimented social order. Wouldn't be surprised that those who detested these actions calling for accountability and justice also have that kind of disdain for human rights and rule of law. That for theirs supporting the president "right or wrong" as their priority no matter how snail-paced and barely sufficient that goddamn government aid people seriously needed.
Wouldn’t be surprised if they talk about the need for discipline with all their nostalgic memories, but how about the need for competent people willing to take the risk and brave the storms? For sure those who once voted for Duterte expressed dismay for seeing him way too far from his depiction as an “action man” who promised to defend his country’s sovereignty and to ensure the needs of the people.
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But regardless of these fanatics assailing on the recent concerns and protests, the reality that the regime's uselessness and negligence is what pushes the folk, be it the youth or the old, to stand up and get out of their workplaces, all regardless of the risks to voice out their angst against that incompetent leader.
With the past week’s following of strong typhoons saw the action of various groups and its relief operations, these also showeth how from these concerned individuals and groups truly value the nation by any means; but despite those actions of "giving and sharing" this doesn't mean giving up altogether their calls for immediate support from the government much more to expose and oppose those who serves as stumbling blocks to their need for immediate assistance as well as those of social justice. Apologists of the order may tend to deny that truth the way how they describe Duterte's actions as statesmanlike (despite doing an ocular visit while lambasting Robredo as "competing") After all, those concerned organisations behind the operations as well as calamity victims are trying to ensure that aid really goes to those really need rather than self-centred officials from defrauding them of what is theirs if not treating as political gimmicks.