So much for her bullshitry! (Only to have shit thrown back at it!)

So much for her bullshitry! 

(Only to have shit thrown back at it!)

Notes on the recent action of Lorraine Badoy-Partosa 

and how lawyers, academics, and concerned folks ganged up together against her hyseria

This note condemns a former government official and her threats against Judge Marlo Magdoza-Malagar and her husband, Atty. Chancellor of the University of the Philippines-Cebu, Leo Malagar. 

Because Lorraine Badoy-Partosa made the claim a few days ago on social media that political beliefs were to blame for the murder of a judge and the bombing of courthouses. The DOJ's petition was dismissed on September 21 by Magdoza-Malagar, presiding judge of Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 19, in a court judgment that the influencer disagrees with. Malagar contrasted between "terrorism" and "rebellion" in rejecting the DOJ's argument, pointing out that terrorism has a wider reach than revolt and that rebellion is merely one method of terrorism. Malagar distinguished between "rebellion" and "terrorism" in rejecting the DOJ's plea, pointing out that terrorism is broader in scope than rebellion, with rebellion being only one of the various means by which terrorism can be committed. 

For the apologist, Badoy's and her colleagues in the NTFELCAC "were about to cut the head of the serpent," as they've claimed, only to find themselves affecting the concerned, much less the innocent, all in the name of "anti-subversion" and "anti-terrorism." That their comments, whether justified as free speech whether posted on social media or spoken in a television program, rather degenerated into absurdity, especially in connecting certain people (including judge Magdoza-Malagar) to the communist party and therefore “face the consequences”. 

With words such as “So if I kill this judge and I do so out of my political belief that all allies of the CPP-NPA-NDF must be killed because there is no difference in my mind between a member of the CPP-NPA-NDF and their friends, then please be lenient with me,” the former government official posted a hypothetical question that is willing to do so in the name of her “anti-communist cause.” 

And this kind of question did occur in countries such as Latin America during the 1980s. Those who advocated for human rights, the rule of law, and even expressed concern were killed in the name of counterinsurgency, or anti-terrorism in today's parlance. Even clergymen like Bishop Romero was killed by the military just because he spoke against state terror! Will Badoy's words remain hypothetical in light of this example? This doesn't matter to the apologist; in fact, it justifies what amounts to an open public threat against a lawful official, what more a member of the bar. 

Furthermore, according to the statement from the “Free Legal Assistance Group”, that “Badoy's threat is not protected speech-it is a felony. Her red-tagging of the spouses Malagar violate their rights under international law and Philippine law. Her irresponsible posts against them and others clearly indicate that she will continue to act with impunity unless she is held accountable.”

Even the University of the Philippines College of Law condemn the threats and should not be allowed to remain unaddressed as red tagging violates the basic principles on the role of lawyers. “Both undermine the rule of law a s represent the continuing impunity which is key to the modus operandi of Ms. Badoy and her ilk.” According to the statement.

Thus, in this light, this note again deplores such action by Badoy et al. as reeks of hysteria, as it vilifies and endangers those who administers justice if not seeking truth from facts. By claiming to be defending “democracy” and “freedom” under this current order this turned out to be willing to set aside due process, rule of law for their distorted concept of order reminiscent of oplans “Tokhang” and “Double Barrel” of the past regime- and this may repeat again by claiming this as a necessary evil.

At present, the former government official may’ve “obeyed” the order brought from the courts as it sternly warns those who continue to incite violence which endangers the lives of judges and their families" shall “likewise be considered a contempt” of the tribunal and “will be dealt with accordingly.” 

But, does it mean she and her ilk will stop and give way to the decision? Or will still babble as if nothing happened? 

“So much for a Nation’s ‘Continuing Past’ while people fighting for a Future to win”

“So much for a Nation’s ‘Continuing Past’ 

while people fighting for a Future to win”

(Or “Thoughts after Bongbong Marcos’s visit to the United States 

While supporters still yearning for 20 per kilo of rice”)

It’s been few months since the second Marcos regime had started. Described as a thermidor or even a restoration (sorry France), this regime, despite opportunities to appear “anew” chose to continue that of its predecessor- albeit trying to be ‘lite’ and yet carrying the same baggage of controversies that lingers even today. 

This may sound strange- for as the 31 million voters still swayed by the promise of restoring that “glorious past” to that of a 20 peso per kilo of rice, this regime chose to remain as that of its predecessors: feudal-neocolonial in foundation and neoliberal in it’s perspective.

How come? As remnants of the landed gentry remains significant both political and economic, catering the interests of international capital particularly its overlords from Beijing and Wall St., and recent newly-passed laws further consolidate interests particularly that of claiming to be “for economic recovery”; that in turn means higher taxes and repressed working conditions for the working masses while tax cuts and perks for the privileged few. 

And yet these 31 million voters still yearning for a 20 per kilo of rice. Teachers were even promised salary increase from that once-standard bearer claiming to be for ‘unity’ and yet these rather fell on deaf ears if not hearing VP Duterte as Education Secretary telling that “raising teacher’s salaries in public schools puts pressure on private schools”, so why on earth have to promise what they perceive as impossible? Is it to snare people for votes? So much for the bullshitry especially after the Education and Agriculture departments having confidential and intelligence funds (150 million for DepED, 4.5 billion for DA)- claiming national security for a reason. 

So much for the continuing past especially with Marcos along with Duterte restored to power. By claiming the need to restore order and greatness it is all but continuity of repression and corruption as everyone faced and felt. Profiteers continue to profit to and fro silently while its propagandists blaming the opposition for all the woes yet failing to look at their backyard! Apologists would still cling to their narrative, and yet failed to win hearts and minds of concerned folks who just wanted freedom, peace, land, bread, and justice.

***

Speaking of Wall St., Recently, president Bongbong visited the United States in an attempt to curry favour with the Biden regime for investments and businesses to set up shop in the country. 

Like a vassal to its lord, he affirmed the country’s subservience called “friendship”, a step back from Duterte’s pretending aggressiveness towards that country. This affirmation would include maintaining existing “unequal” agreements, from economic to military. 

However, from that same visit includes drawbacks- protests demanding accountability for the regime’s antipeople policies and actions, and the few presence of the members of the United Nations during his address in its general assembly showed disapproval despite apologists’ belittling. 

In that case people knows that the regime will always be riddled with corruption, repression, or injustice. In fact, the Marcoses still face a US$353 million contempt judgement against him in a US court, arising from the ill-gotten wealth amassed during the reign of Marcos sr.., and to think that president Bongbong enjoys his “diplomatic immunity” this doesn’t escape people’s demand for accountability especially when liabilities arising from that case and its decision. 

But obviously Marcos jr. and his apologists will still deny the accusations brought against his family and the 21-year regime of his father that committed gross human rights violations and large-scale plunder; while insisting that same reign as a ‘golden age’ that’s whitewashed of its horrible truths.  

***

As the concerned saw everything as but continuity of the past, attempts to dispel truth became part of the order’s agenda- and this becomes more than just “fear mongering” but also churning falsehoods and distortions all meant to ‘rally’ people into their banner- that video streaming sites, social media, are heavily “invested” by the administration and its apologists whether to whitewash the atrocities of the regime to that of putting the blame, shame into the opposition for all the woes and yet they themselves apologists failed to address the basic problems that pushes people to revolt against the very order they’re defending. 

In an instance, these apologists blame the Cojuangco/Aquino family for the tragic events such as “Mendiola” and “Hacienda Luisita” massacres, and yet they failed to assert agrarian reform to uplift the lives of the landless peasants nor implicate former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (currently an ally of the regime) for tacitly supporting the armed forces and the police to disperse violently the struggling peasants in Hacienda Luisita, what more to persecute them as insurgents. 

Even the dispute in the west Philippine sea these apologists blame the Aquino administration for failing to defend Scarborough and Spratlys against the Chinese, all despite the damage brought by the Americans in the Tubbataha reef. And yet they’re mum on Duterte’s, what more of Marcos’s overtures with the Chinese! 

The Pork Barrel Scam last 2016 doesn’t even limit to that of then-administration party and its allies but also that of personalities like Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada, and Ramon Revilla jr. who altogether end supporting the Marcoses! Even Marcos jr. himself then a senator did gain from that scam worth 10 million pesos!  Will these apologists who claiming to “side with the truth” able to criticise their masters? Not even. 

Such bullshitries would say that the current regime, as in the past rather disregard defending national sovereignty or realising the aspirations of many in favour of upholding interests of the privileged few even it includes concessions with Beijing and Wall St. while oppressing its own people. From these would say people still wanted a future to win than forcing to content in its ever-continuing past. Every walk of life somehow felt the wonders of today’s setting as the glass-clad skyscrapers of Makati but to think that decades, if not centuries-old problems remain, what more of seeing the order upholding it, would make one think or say that the country is still in it’s continuing past- and it is the task of the folk to take back the future that’s envisioned by its forefathers.

“The folk will never forget.”

“The folk will never forget.”

(A message for the 50th year of commemorating

 Martial Law in the Philippines)

By Kat Ulrike

Despite messages urging people to move on, this attempt to belittle memory is a mockery of one’s desire for justice and freedom, especially in this 50th year of commemoration. 

For whether it was dubbed as “constitutional authoritarianism” to that of “revolution from the center”,  Martial Law will always be remembered as that of failed promises and bloodied truths, of false pride and impunity all in the name of discipline and “development” that is, appeasing foreign masters, banksters, and the cronies. 

That by claiming that the country was facing an “oligarch-led coup”, a “communist rebellion” and a “Moro separatist movement”, Marcos sr’s thesis of “constitutional authoritarianism”, coupled with the trend of authoritarianism in Asian countries (Indonesia under Soeharto, South Korea under Park Chung Hee), and the provisions of the 1935 constitution as the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, Martial Law, despite its “achievements”, was a narrow justification to establish a civilian-military dictatorship, whose real aim was to monopolize political power, suppress all forms of dissent and opposition, and camouflage their reign of plunder and corruption. 

Its apologists, as in the past, will try their “best” to justify Martial Law as the golden age- that the “revolution from the center” meant a showcase of infrastructure development to that of the nutribun and imported milk in a time people had to queue in lines for a mixed corn-rice. One cannot forget how Marcos, claiming to be “liberal”, used Martial Law to counter a Jacobin threat- only to unravel its truths that fan the flames of resistance for nationalism and democracy. True that the infrastructures brought by the regime did benefit, but, these were not motivated by improving peoples lives- let alone seeing a regime and its apologists bragging and justifying political patronage. 

Decades after that self-proclaimed “revolution” attempts to silence calls for justice continues- this time by the state that ironically promised to respect human rights and civil liberties. Apologists continue to deny these inconvenient truths if not to justify the atrocities as necessary to stem the tide of subversion even willing to eschew human rights and civil liberties for their distorted view of discipline and order. It is not surprising that with their penchance for Martial Law and its “correct” terms (“Constitutional Authoritarianism”, “Revolution from the Center”) shows being paranoid as tyrants do- fear of a growing knowing populace that’s able to seek truth from facts, and all despite established facts and court decisions, both Philippines and abroad, that Marcos Sr. and his wife, nor any one of his officers, was ever punished for the crimes made in the name of “national security”.

What more to demand the folk to “move on” from the past that shows insisting a country to self-deny this part of history, while at the same time seeing the brutal tactics of Martial Law being applied to suppress the people’s civil and political rights and eliminate all forms of resistance and opposition. 

 But regardless of these attempts, the folk will never yield. As in the past, those who take the bitter cup of resistance will make various moves to counter that of the establishment’s, as well as that of its apologists who rather mum on the sufferings of many- from widespread unemployment, low wages and salaries, lack of income, landlessness, disenfranchisement, violation of civil liberties, and the likes. With these truths meant for the folk not just to say “never again” and “never forget”, but to “fight on” and “fight back” as it vigorously reject and denounce the abuses of political, economic and military power that continue to this day.

More than just “Never Again” or “Never Forget”. “Struggle! Rage against the dying of the light!”

More than just “Never Again” nor “Never Forget”.

“Struggle! Rage against the dying of the light!”

It is true that president Ferdinand Marcos jr. is no different from his late father. For as he justified the latter’s actions during his 21 year rule including that of its atrocities, this seems to be whitewashing the blood-soiled realities by equating Martial Law with “development”- in which apologists takes pride of it.

With that would say that the regime is trying to “restore” the way once was- and this is more than just a thermidor as first observed in this post-EDSA setting: that with Sara Duterte as vice president, and promising to continue the programs and policies of his predecessor, the country’s future under Bongbong seems uncertain let alone to hear words like “moving on”, “development”, and others. 

And in speaking of “moving on” and “development”, will people move on while feeling the same effects of 1972? Books are being banned, media outlets are being censored or shut down, activists and concerned folks being harassed or arrested, communities are militarised, ‘projects’ being tainted with corruption or undertaken without consultation from the very people affected by such ‘aggression’, these and more would say will people simply “move on” from a bloodied and oppressive past?

Regardless of denials or justifications brought by its apologists, the social, economic, and political basis for a dictatorship remains. The crisis such as poverty, landlessness, corruption, injustice, remains basis for a growing need for resistance no matter how agencies like the NTFELCAC to that of a social media apologist will try or downplay such basis as just “acts of terror”. For sure these apologists reminds of Hitler or Mussolini’s populism that end rallied by the well-offs, the “oligarchs” who claimed to be as “nationalist” as that of the commoners- for they’re scared of a growing people’s tremor against them!

But don’t lose hope as one may say. For the pushback against attempts to restore that “was” remains strong. For as people becoming concerned after seeking truth from facts, it is not surprising that the revolt of the poor continues- and this becomes more than just “Never Again” nor “Never Forget”, but instead “Struggle”, “Rage against the dying of the light”. For it is not enough to remember the sacrifices brought by those who fought and died, but also to relieve the action, not just in upholding freedom and democracy alone but to assert justice, peace, and solidarity as a fighting nation.