HOTSPOT
By TONYO CRUZ
Tonyo Cruz
Have you ever thought what would happen after Rodrigo Roa Duterte leaves the presidency in 2022 or, depending on circumstances, maybe earlier?
Regardless of one’s political belief, we would face a new opportunity. We could either continue what Duterte has been doing (or not doing), go back to past injustices and malpractices which Duterte capitalized on in order to win but never radically veered away from, or forge a new way forward.
How would we even start to heal the harsh rifts among us Filipinos? Is there really a way to solve the divisions Duterte and other politicians have opportunistically encouraged in the modern incarnation of the “divide-and-rule” tactic? Would the next regime declare that its “payback time,” perpetuate yet new divisions, attack the new opposition, and form its own troll army?
Would the “rule of law” be restored, or would the precedents set by and under Duterte be the new norm? Would there be another martial law even without actual invasion or rebellion, more quo warranto petitions against impeachable officials, more extrajudicial killings, and more hero’s burials for the likes of Ferdinand Marcos and the like?
Would destructive neoliberalism continue to be the norm in economics? I’m referring here to neoliberal projects from Endo and contractualization to low wages and higher taxes for the majority. From lower taxes for the rich and perks for foreign investors, to greater concentration of wealth in a few.
Would wars and expensive counter-insurgency programs continue? Would activists and alleged rebel sympathizers still be Red-tagged and then assassinated? Or would the next regime agree to talk peace with the National Democratic Front, solemnly sign substantive agreements, and initiate a genuine reconciliation based on justice?
Would the new regime respect the right of the people to dissent? Or would we have a new De Lima and a new Trillanes to be harassed with the full force of misused law?
There is also a concern that Duterte may have permanently changed the face of “Philippine democracy,” whatever such a phrase means. Sometimes I share such concern, but only insofar as ensuring that the government obeys and respects the Bill of Rights. But for others, like the mighty constitutional institutions and structures that supposedly safeguard those rights, I have lost nearly all my faith. No more faith either for the false gods and demigods of Philippine politics who have collectively brought only shame, disunity, frustration, and humiliation to our people.
As we inch closer to the midterm elections, there’s an opportunity to prepare for or speed up a post-Duterte scenario. A broad opposition alliance could contest and win as many Senate, House, and partylist seats, and also local government posts. There’s still time to make this happen, but only if the opposition leaders would come to their senses to build a broad unity of political forces, propose a common program of action, and discard personality politics.
Perhaps we should all consider that our national salvation does not rest in any of our politicians. I have said it before and I say it again: We may be the saviors we are long waiting for. The default political position of a Filipino citizen should stop being a mere supporter of a certain politician, to an advocate of clear political beliefs and programs. And that political parties cannot for so long be monopolized by the elites, and allow the formation of genuine, grassroots-based political movements.
Contrary to conventional wisdom (a.k.a. elite views), we Filipinos obey rules, study hard, work hard, wake up early, go home late, pay taxes, and contribute everything we can to improve the lot of our families, community, and country. The problems mostly begin once we go out of our house, in social settings, structures, and institutions. Those problems are many: high taxes or low salaries, the laws on corruption or national budgets, laws on K-to-12 or OFW protections, poor mass transport or slow Internet, inconvenient and unsafe banking or shortage of capital for entrepreneurs, corrupt judges or corrupt police, the closure of Lumad schools or the demonization of dissent.
We must realize that these social problems require social action. National problems demand national solutions. And the way to both social action and national solutions is through politics. Politics refers to the process of making decisions applicable to the barangay, municipality, city, province, region, and nation. It refers to achieving and exercising political power to enact decisions.
Today’s rule of misrule, of trolls and trolling, of corruption and the corrupt is a product of politics. The traditional political parties chose among themselves who would run, without our participation. They pardoned or forgave plunderers to enable them to run for them, and they made it hard for genuine progressive politicians to win. By the time we went to the polls, we were left with the final duty of choosing who among them would lead or represent us.
Advocates of activism and New Politics are often denounced for opposing all regimes, including this current one. National democrats and other progressives are often told to turn a blind eye at social and national problems. What they actually want activists to do is to join the government in robbing, deceiving, and oppressing the people. What they actually want the activists to do is to give up their radical critique that opens the eyes of Filipinos to the possibilities beyond the internecine conflict between politicians.
In 2019 and beyond, there’s another way. Politics based on programs and principles, not politics based on personalities. If only we would wear ourselves from the “hero worship” many have grown accustomed to as the only way to do politics.
What happens after? It depends on us, the risks we take, the politics we would cast our lot on. Continue with traditional politics or start a new brand of politics.
Follow me on Twitter @tonyocruz and check out my blog tonyocruz.com
Tonyo Cruz
Have you ever thought what would happen after Rodrigo Roa Duterte leaves the presidency in 2022 or, depending on circumstances, maybe earlier?
Regardless of one’s political belief, we would face a new opportunity. We could either continue what Duterte has been doing (or not doing), go back to past injustices and malpractices which Duterte capitalized on in order to win but never radically veered away from, or forge a new way forward.
How would we even start to heal the harsh rifts among us Filipinos? Is there really a way to solve the divisions Duterte and other politicians have opportunistically encouraged in the modern incarnation of the “divide-and-rule” tactic? Would the next regime declare that its “payback time,” perpetuate yet new divisions, attack the new opposition, and form its own troll army?
Would the “rule of law” be restored, or would the precedents set by and under Duterte be the new norm? Would there be another martial law even without actual invasion or rebellion, more quo warranto petitions against impeachable officials, more extrajudicial killings, and more hero’s burials for the likes of Ferdinand Marcos and the like?
Would destructive neoliberalism continue to be the norm in economics? I’m referring here to neoliberal projects from Endo and contractualization to low wages and higher taxes for the majority. From lower taxes for the rich and perks for foreign investors, to greater concentration of wealth in a few.
Would wars and expensive counter-insurgency programs continue? Would activists and alleged rebel sympathizers still be Red-tagged and then assassinated? Or would the next regime agree to talk peace with the National Democratic Front, solemnly sign substantive agreements, and initiate a genuine reconciliation based on justice?
Would the new regime respect the right of the people to dissent? Or would we have a new De Lima and a new Trillanes to be harassed with the full force of misused law?
There is also a concern that Duterte may have permanently changed the face of “Philippine democracy,” whatever such a phrase means. Sometimes I share such concern, but only insofar as ensuring that the government obeys and respects the Bill of Rights. But for others, like the mighty constitutional institutions and structures that supposedly safeguard those rights, I have lost nearly all my faith. No more faith either for the false gods and demigods of Philippine politics who have collectively brought only shame, disunity, frustration, and humiliation to our people.
As we inch closer to the midterm elections, there’s an opportunity to prepare for or speed up a post-Duterte scenario. A broad opposition alliance could contest and win as many Senate, House, and partylist seats, and also local government posts. There’s still time to make this happen, but only if the opposition leaders would come to their senses to build a broad unity of political forces, propose a common program of action, and discard personality politics.
Perhaps we should all consider that our national salvation does not rest in any of our politicians. I have said it before and I say it again: We may be the saviors we are long waiting for. The default political position of a Filipino citizen should stop being a mere supporter of a certain politician, to an advocate of clear political beliefs and programs. And that political parties cannot for so long be monopolized by the elites, and allow the formation of genuine, grassroots-based political movements.
Contrary to conventional wisdom (a.k.a. elite views), we Filipinos obey rules, study hard, work hard, wake up early, go home late, pay taxes, and contribute everything we can to improve the lot of our families, community, and country. The problems mostly begin once we go out of our house, in social settings, structures, and institutions. Those problems are many: high taxes or low salaries, the laws on corruption or national budgets, laws on K-to-12 or OFW protections, poor mass transport or slow Internet, inconvenient and unsafe banking or shortage of capital for entrepreneurs, corrupt judges or corrupt police, the closure of Lumad schools or the demonization of dissent.
We must realize that these social problems require social action. National problems demand national solutions. And the way to both social action and national solutions is through politics. Politics refers to the process of making decisions applicable to the barangay, municipality, city, province, region, and nation. It refers to achieving and exercising political power to enact decisions.
Today’s rule of misrule, of trolls and trolling, of corruption and the corrupt is a product of politics. The traditional political parties chose among themselves who would run, without our participation. They pardoned or forgave plunderers to enable them to run for them, and they made it hard for genuine progressive politicians to win. By the time we went to the polls, we were left with the final duty of choosing who among them would lead or represent us.
Advocates of activism and New Politics are often denounced for opposing all regimes, including this current one. National democrats and other progressives are often told to turn a blind eye at social and national problems. What they actually want activists to do is to join the government in robbing, deceiving, and oppressing the people. What they actually want the activists to do is to give up their radical critique that opens the eyes of Filipinos to the possibilities beyond the internecine conflict between politicians.
In 2019 and beyond, there’s another way. Politics based on programs and principles, not politics based on personalities. If only we would wear ourselves from the “hero worship” many have grown accustomed to as the only way to do politics.
What happens after? It depends on us, the risks we take, the politics we would cast our lot on. Continue with traditional politics or start a new brand of politics.
Follow me on Twitter @tonyocruz and check out my blog tonyocruz.com