Reflections of the Filipino: Cowardice and heroism
Part 2
Early last week, on Tuesday, November 5, a conumdrum was thrown in Vice President Leni Robredo’s way. The dilemma: whether to accept or turn down her appointment by President Rodrigo Duterte to be the co-chairperson of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD)), dated October 31.
The ICAD was organized under Executive Order No. 15 on March 6, 2017. EO No. 15 designates the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to head the ICAD in a coordinating role over 20 other government agencies coopted for President Duterte’s war on drugs. The appointment offered to Leni is a much watered down version of the powers she would have been able to exercise if the President had made good his invitation to make her the “Drug Czar”.
Before Leni made known her decision on this matter, speculation was rife that this was all political play on the part of the Duterte administration, and that the maneuver, with all its loud pronouncements, was nothing more than a trap to set Leni up for failure.
What gives rise to this concern is the apparent sudden turn-around in the government’s policy on its war on drugs! All of a sudden, the government seems to have minimized, and apparently demoted, its priority in addressing what it proclaimed was the country’s most serious and urgent problem. We vividly recall that during the Presidential campaign of 2016, the candidate Rodrigo Duterte, made the bold promise of solving our drug problem in 6 months.
In the aftermath of Duterte’s election, he famously declared a war on drug. A literal blood bath ensued, and this resulted in thousands of lives lost. Unfortunately, most of the casualties came from the poorer classes of our people. Many deaths were explained away as drug dealers, pushers, and users resisting arrest, or even directly engaging the authorities in a firefight. The other victims, including young children, were written off simply as collateral damage. Some of the killings were highly suspicious, bordering on the scandalous, which invited unwanted international attention and criticism for alleged human rights violations.
To say the least, the policy and strategy did not work. Too many lives were lost at too much cost to government resources. Worse, glaring gaps in policy implementation were exposed with reports of large drug shipments smuggled, confiscated, then mysteriously recycled back into the drug trade. There were even loud whispers and exposés of ninja cops tolerated or cuddled by police officials at the highest levels.
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Some sectors of the population sang high praises for the perceived improvement in peace and order in several neighborhoods. Still many lived through a reign of terror in the darkness ruled by the dreaded “tokhang” operatives.
The swelling cry from those who adhere to the rule of law is for due process to be respected and observed. The standard official response was there was no violation of any human right.
To be fair, none of this unorthodox, and “not so normal” approaches affected President Duterte’s popularity or even job approval rating even after 3 years in office.
However, as there is inherent decency in everyone even despots, and we all have a vanity which longs to be flattered – even the heartless and ruthless among us, the simmering unrest and insecurity among the people should still impose some semblance of conscience in them.
Thus, the numbers may say the leadership is right, but a still small voice will insistently suggest that success is not unqualified; that failure’s sneering face teeters on the other end of the precarious equilibrium.
It comes as no surprise then, that the leadership would appear to reconsider its strategy. Of course, we will never know the real agenda for the sudden turn-around resulting in LENI’S appointment as ICAD co-chair.
Perhaps, it is a white flag to acknowledge that the previous intimidation and strong – arm tactics will never work. If it is, it is a handwashing at the highest level of Pilate!
Or perhaps, it’s to position Lenny for a fall. Notice how Duterte’s loyalists declare that she should not digress, but continue the present violent approach to the problem. According to Senator Bato, ‘”Hindi ito pa-cue cute lang!” And Senator GO opines that Leni won’t make it, but he prays she will for the sake of the people. Say what?!!
If these public expressions of persons who represent the administration are to be taken seriously, then there goes sincerity flying out the window!
And then, again, why should they want Leni to fail? This would be to the great misery and expense of the people!
And then, again, who knows what sinister plot is cooking in Malacañang. For the life of me, the reason may be as lame as to discredit Leni so Bongbong Marcos gains better acceptability as a prelude to a “miracle” decision by the Presidential Electoral Board! No one can really know.
Despite all these fears and speculations, Vice President Leni has chosen to do the heroic and noble thing. Even if she may be walking into the Lion’s Den, she has chosen to faithfully walk the true and righteous path.
For the sake of putting order and chaos amidst extreme political division and polarization, for the hope of bringing together a nation in need of redemption, and for the possibility of achieving national unity.
Vice President Robredo has forsaken all self-interest, is risking failure, is extending the hand of cooperation across the political divide to serve as an example that the Filipino has value far greater than power, wealth, influence, and stature; that, indeed, the Filipino is worth serving and sacrificing for!
In the end, the outcome of Leni’s adventures (or misadventures) with the ICAD will not matter as much as her heroic example of saying YES ! for our sake. This is how history will judge her.
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Author’s email: [email protected]
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