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[av_heading heading=’BENEATH & BEYOND | The fighting president’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY SONIA D. DAQUILA
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Saturday, June 24, 2017
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SINCE the ratification of the Philippine Constitution 30 years ago, no one from among the Philippine presidents ever dared declare martial law in the entire Mindanao region.
No one had the temerity of naming in public high-ranking government and military officers involved in illegal drugs and corruption.
No one adopted the instant solution of police officers by shooting small-time drug users or pushers who “resisted arrests”, or for “self-defense.”
No one seriously banned smoking in public and illegal gambling.
No Filipino President ever dared mocked a USA diplomat by calling him gay, called the President of America a “son of a whore” and declared that we are not mendicants, and we can stand alone.
Only President Rodrigo Duterte has been bold enough. While Digong is cold to America, the pragmatic President offered friendship to Russia and China. Why not? We need friends. Foreigners view President Digong’s personality and language colorful. Despite criticisms, the gum-chewing and down-to-earth President has endeared himself to his people and he has remained popular.
President Duterte’s declaration of martial law is founded on the Constitution. This is the last recourse of the government when faced with crisis too hard to address, but a copy-cat of dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ martial law is frightening. Is there a semblance of Marcos’ governance if the Chief Executive of the state treats himself superior to the Supreme Court and the Congress?
Marcos dismantled Congress and lorded over the Supreme Court. There was violence and lawlessness all over the country brought about by the New People’s Army. Now, we have more. Added to it, we have the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the ISIS, the non-stop reports on the millions and billions worth of illegal drugs, the incessant reports on killings, the rising criminality, and many more to come. Is not martial law appropriate?
Marcos orchestrated the escalation of hostilities to justify the declaration of martial law, and he stayed in power for almost 20 years. Marcos alone had the exclusive power to determine when to lift martial law. President Duterte, too, said that when he eventually declares martial law in the entire country no one will know when it will end. No one will be consulted. Marcos, his family and his cronies then basked in power and squandered the people’s wealth while the nation wallowed in misery. Can not a copy-cat of Marcos’ martial law be the same?
Lately, two elderly men in Mindanao were shown on TV. One commented that declaring martial law in the entire Mindanao region spawns more hostilities. Another man shed tears while expressing sadness on the killings of young soldiers and so many lives and properties lost in Marawi.
History teaches us a lesson. Remember how the Filipino people spat on the picture of Imelda when they raided Malacañang? How the dictator fled from the wrath of his people?
Remember, too, how Adolf Hitler died an ignominious death when he and his wife committed suicide in his bunker rather than face defeat? How Italian Benito Mussolini betrayed his people and was in turn betrayed by his friend, Hitler?
Can you imagine Nero, the emperor who was playing his violin while Rome was burning?
Dictators are forewarned by this Latin phrase: Quos deus vult perdere prius dementat (Those whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make mad).
There is an ominous silence before the storm. (delsocorrodaquila@gmail.com/PN)
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