"When sometimes Helping becomes another form of Resisting”
(Or: “thoughts after president Duterte’s
latest annoying tirades in front of the camera”)
Recent months showed how the president has becoming fearful of a growing people's power. Be it his tirades against the left to those of dismissing the vice president's immediate responses as "competing", the president's recent statements has becoming less of a concern about pressing issues and instead tantrums and rants that annoys the once-silent majority.
For as people waited from the television to those of social media for his nighttime statements, which's supposedly meant to address the situation brought by the pandemic, president Duterte, being visibly upset rather used it as an opportunity to vent his ire on those criticising his policies, if not threatening those against him even those who rather "doing their job" like in the case of the vice president who's simply helping the people especially after the recent calamities affecting parts of Luzon. For Duterte, what Robredo did was "competing against him" no matter how it appears non-political- or is it simply because she comes from the opposition and he, along with his allies and supporters tend to malign her and other oppositionists as such?
Not surprising that in a time people are in demand for solidarity what the order, through the present administration sees it as an action against their wishes, no matter how it appears itself as a patriotic duty to "help those in need". With their maligning towards those who help somehow exposes their own inability to help irrespective of their views, making those affected whether by this pandemic or calamities of various sorts (earthquakes, floods, etc.) run towards those Duterte and his supporters judged as against him.
Opposition still grows amidst various risks
The success of the growing opposition lies in the current situation and the order's inability to provide sound formulas other than mere "continuity" of past policies. That aside from the pandemic, the people has increasingly expressed concern if not condemnation over the order's perchance for threats and killings-especially with the president's statement condemning human rights for hindering his campaigns, of tolerating policemen's right to kill, or even pinpointing the media for broadcasting news critical to his agendas. "Justice" has been the theme of political appeals aside from "Freedom". For them, "Justice" is the call of those victimised by extrajudicial killings and slander, while "Freedom" is liberation both from the yokes of both domestic tyranny and from international finance capital and the local oligarchy. Wouldn't be surprised if those calls are also appeals for "revolution" as it was expressed in the streets and in the social media.
However, wishing for the collapse of the present order is not exactly the same as entusting it to Robredo and the liberal opposition with the execution of those ruins. Not that. For "Duterte's Diehard Supporters": she is being perceived as an illegitimate figure if not an usurper in the vice presidency, and dismissed for representing entrenched interests despite the fact that Duterte himself rubs elbows with oligarchs. Robredo, as the opposition represents the negation of what Duterte envisioned-hence an enemy.
It is not surprising, for basing on various comments in social media, the dismissive nature of the fanatic shows they, out of defending their idol and dismissing their rivals, justifying the oppressive policies and everything that surrounded the regime as willing to sacrifice freedom and democracy while at the same time claiming they are for those words they ditched in a shameful way. But come also to think that the liberal opposition who out there speculate on Duterte's inaction yet failing to offer sound alternatives other than continuing as it goes. These shows that in fact, there's no difference between Duterte and the liberals for being obedient to neoliberal capitalism that's favourable to both compradores and landlords wanting to "expand the pie" for themselves.
Still calling for a revolution (from above)
while detesting rebellion (from below)?
For sure his supporters will still continue to cling on Duterte being a "revolutionary" the way they called for a "revolutionary government." A year before the pandemic, there were small-scale demonstrations calling for a "revolutionary government" despite the fact that the president himself retreated from that kind of thought he initially toyed with. They, like their adversaries, cried for "Justice" and "Freedom" but the question is, what kind of "Justice" and "Freedom" will their idol Duterte bestow upon the country- when most Filipinos felt the yoke of domestic oppression? Recently, they changed the narrative, this time joining their idol in venting against the opposition-particularly the underground left for its armed struggle, but how come these fanatics are mum when it comes to the demands of the rebels such as those same words "Justice" and "Freedom"- especially when that same order killed peasants for their right to till and of those who demand for a just peace especially in this time of pandemic.
But wouldn't be surprised that their earlier calls be "fulfilled" especially when faced with the advance of the two opposition parties, that the Duterte administration, sworn to upheld the order from the very start, has no choice but to adopt dictatorial measures. No one will be able to deny the "sacrifices" that this once-praised Davao mayor makes to sustain the state. Yet, come to think that with the pandemic and other existing issues (particularly major ones), the economic crisis and social imbalance are advancing making popular disgust, if not rebellion really a matter the order can't control with. And not surprising that despite attempts to "recover" by the private sector if not the imposition of the "anti-terrorism act" by the authorities, that the socioeconomic crisis in countries like the Philippines, is a crisis that brings the total decline of the State. With this no wonder why the regime has that thought of using both police and the military so much that some personages from its task force meant to control the pandemic are the same personages from the task force meant to put an end to the rebellion!
With or without pandemic, the root causes continue to persist
And in speaking of those existing issues, that so long as the root causes persist, these conditions that pushes the people to revolt continues to ripen and thus cannot be controlled. With or without the pandemic, those major issues like the feudal oppression in the countryside, the corruption and self-interests brought by self-centric bureaucrats and compradores, altogether in connivance/dictated by big power interests (U.S.,China...) are themselves accountable for underdevelopment and poverty. The order may either deny this, if not blaming certain privileged sectors as it tries to preserve the status quo.
But regardless of the denials, the folk are becoming determined to go beyond the parameters in resisting, fighting back all for national and social liberation. Should they just content in those parameters when the very order is silencing them from the very start? Nope-the people can never accept suffering from that worsening chronic crisis brought by the ruling order and its escalating conditions of oppression and exploitation even amidst their "efforts" to silence by means of slander, arbitrary arrest, or even murder. For the order and its apologists this meant "defending democracy" when in fact these as being done to realise state terror and dictatorship especially with the "Anti-Terrorism Law."
Yet, such action actually provoked the folk to resist in various forms of struggle especially those who had enough of feudal injustices to those of interest-driven repression by both state and corporate authorities. That labor unions, mass media outlets venting critical information, human rights defenders, and other dissenters alike, have continued their action regardless of countless surveillance to those of harassments and prolonged detention with trumped-up charges. Come to think that their calls were simply "land for the landless", "wage increases", "press freedom and transparency", "suspension of land rent and debt forgiveness", "social subsidies for the needy", "support for frontliners" and even "free/or affordable distribution of COVID19 vaccines", among others- yet the system equates those of subversion and terrorism.
***
Perhaps, with all the events passed, the people are now asking themselves: until when the administration clings to its idealised paranoia brought by crime, drugs, the growing opposition against his bullshitry, and this pandemic? The annihilation, despite being shown by many, is not yet fully in sight, but the crisis already exists. For Duterte's supporters, their leader is "trying to do his best" even when in fact seeing him cursing during his fireside chats or depending on his circle of ex-military men and friends. Not surprising that by Duterte favouring his own circle of these men (Go, Lorenzana, Dominguez..)
this would be the denial of the change that the people yearned of in 2016.