Annus
Horribilis – a horrible year. A
bloody year. This is how Duterte’s first year in office
can be defined. Daily, the newspapers and TV are filled with images of those
killed in the streets, urban poor communities, prisons and those in the bombed
out city in Marawi and in some NPA base areas.
The War on Drugs has
resulted in over 10,000 deaths perpetrated by death squads – in uniform and out
of uniform. Even those that surrendered in the Tokhang campaign were not
spared by the death squads. There has been no investigation even as these cases
have been re-named DUI (deaths under investigation).
The Armed Conflict
between NPA and Govt’ forces continue
–with the peace negotiations stalled. NPA units have increased their tactical
offensive in various parts of the country. This
year also witnessed the emergence of
ISIS-affiliated Maute group which led to
the battle of Marawi and the imposition
of Martial Law in the entire Mindanao.
“In 3-6 months I will
end drugs, crime and corruption and I’m putting my honor on it. I will
immediately resign if I am not able to do this.” This was Duterte’s promise during the
campaign period. He has failed to fulfill this promise. After one year, illegal drugs continue to
proliferate, drug addiction has not stopped, drug lords get off scot-free ,
criminality has not abated. Many of those tasked to carry out the War on Drugs
are themselves involved in criminality, in drug distribution, extortion, kidnap
and murder.
Corruption is still around. To ensure a supermajority politicians
charged with corruption have become his allies in the senate and congress.
There has been no systematic campaign against corruption in the government
bureaucracy.
He promised to end “endo” – contractualization of labor-- but has failed to do
so.
He failed support the
confirmation of Gina Lopez as secretary of DENR whose priority to defend the environment undermined the
mining industry.
What is most worrisome for
this administration is the obsession on the War on Drugs. It is based on an
exaggerated claim that there are 4 million addicts (1.8 million users according
Dangerous Drugs Board whose chairman was fired for insisting on this figure).
It is also based on a faulty assessment of
the situation and problems of the country and a faulty strategy that
relies on the killing of suspected
addicts and pushers as the solution to the problem. The obsession on the War on
Drugs leads to a neglect in addressing the other major problems facing the
country such as poverty, corruption,
ecological destruction, the armed conflict, and the growing terrorist threat,
Peace remains elusive as Duterte failed to fulfill
his promise of achieving a peace agreement with the communists.
What is also worrisome is Duterte’s autocratic style
of leadership which a threat to democracy manifested not just in the
declaration of Martial Law but in other moves that undermine the rule of
the law such as Extra-Judicial Killings
(EJK), the failure to call for a joint
session of congress that will determine the validity of the factual basis for
declaring Martial Law in the whole of Mindanao. I fear for our country and
democracy as he consolidates and expands his autocratic rule, with a
subservient legislative branch and a judiciary that is being bullied to
submission. The system of check and balance has weakened. Congress has not
convened a joint session as mandated by the constitution to determine on the
validity of imposing Martial Law in the entire Mindanao when only Marawi City was attacked by
the Maute group. He keeps
talking about Martial law for the entire country and a revolutionary government
as a quick solution to the country’s problems and achieve change.
Yet Duterte’s ratings in poll surveys remain good. What does this
show? It could mean that many Filipinos
are either blind to the reality of the situation or their consciences have
become dulled that they are unable to
discern right from wrong, good from evil. Many of his supporters have come to
believe that there is nothing wrong with
whatever he says and does: whether extrajudicial killings, cursing the bishops and priests as hypocrites
and threatening to destroy the Church, or telling soldiers that he will cover them if they rape,
or defending policemen engaged in EKJ, or spreading false news, threatening to
behead human rights advocates. He could as well break all the commandments and he would
still come out good to many. He is their Messiah, their savior. This is
worrisome.
However, popularity rating is ephemeral. While
Duterte’s ratings is still
good, it has already gone down. Estrada was also very popular in 1999 but that
did not prevent him from being ousted in 2000.
After one year Duterte has already brought
serious damage and ruin to the country with his style of governance, his
incompetence and brutality.
If he continues to
govern like this in the next five years it will be a disaster and tragedy for
our country. The bodies will pile up and could reach 70,000 by the end of his
term. The democracy and rule of law would be undermined. There could be increasing terrorist attacks as
the Philippines become a magnet to extremists. There are factors that can lead
to economic crisis: the European Union suspension GSP + status on
Philippine goods entering Europe due to human rights concern, flight of foreign
capital due to unstable situation, debt servitude to China for high-interest
loans to fund infra-structure projects, etc.
The situation appears to be hopeless. It seems that
there is very little that can be done within the country. The possibility of
people power seems to remote. We can
continue speaking out but it will not make a big difference. One source of hope
is the complaint or information filed in the International Criminal Court will
progress and there will enough international pressure that can slow down or
minimize EJK.
His state of health
remains a mystery. He has been out of public view from 4-6 days several times fueling rumors or
speculation that he is terminally ill. He has not been transparent about this
although the public has a right to know. The question in many people’s mind:
will he be able to finish his term?
In this seemingly
hopeless situation, we can only rely in God’s help to deliver us from evil.
While continuing to struggle against evil, there comes a time when what is left
for us to do is to pray and cry out. God did not abandon his people in the
past. Miracles can still happen.
