The Easter for the opposition
SINCE the assumption of Rodrigo Roa Duterte of the Philippine presidency, we have witnessed the decimation of the opposition. While Philippine politics has witnessed the cyclical shifts of politicians to the party in power, enough have remained in their original parties to serve as check and balance to the party in power. Today, we note that the Duterte administration has resulted in making the opposition an almost non-entity in the political landscape on both the national and local levels.
In the legislature, the Duterte juggernaut led by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez who was just one of three-party men of Duterte in Congress but now presides over a Duterte allies-dominated chamber has led to the passage of bills that would not have moved at all in the past like the divorce bill, the conduct of congressional hearings notable for the browbeating of resource persons, and the arrogant governance that unseats committee chairmen who do not toe the line.
In the Senate, except for Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Senator Leila de Lima (still in detention), the rest of the minority have opted to remain silent abdicating to the small but vocal minority congressmen the traditional role of speaking for the opposition. I do not think it is in the lack of issues to confront the administration with, for they are legion – killing of drug suspects, tepid defense of Philippine sovereignty in the South China Sea, fake news emanating from government sources, corruption in government agencies where investigations stop at the undersecretary levels – but fear to confront a President who does not hesitate to fire back and who continues to have the overwhelming support of the citizenry.
At the local government level, President Duterte struck fear in the hearts of the local government executives by early on producing his list of drug trade protectors. It was no loss to his party as most of them were not members of his diminutive group, that is until the mass oathtaking proceeded. The nuance was that inclusion in the list was not solely based on being in cahoots with drug dealers but also included those who “tolerated” the drug problem to fester in their areas (which meant almost all the provinces, cities, and municipalities of the country). Adding to the fear was the “salvaging” of drug personalities even of one within a prison; that those who could have defended themselves in court decided to flee to safer shores. With elections approaching, the barangay officials are being subjected to the same scrutiny and it will not be long before all will swear allegiance to the Duterte party, not just for the spoils but also for the safety.
The business sector has been cowed to silence with a President determined to get back at his perceived critics and those who in the past crossed his path. President Duterte has castigated them in public, forced them to hand over assets to the government, and terminated contracts of their businesses with government entities. President Duterte has reaped a harvest of benefits for the country (free air passage home for OFWs in hot spots, generous support for families of fallen military and police in the Marawi campaign, business expansion especially in his home city), earning him greater admiration from a mass base who have always envied the successful businessmen.
With May, 2019, elections just, a year or so away, will the Philippine opposition sit back and allow the administration Senate slate with the likes of Mocha Uson, Harry Roque, and Bong Go dominate the Philippine Senate where Claro M. Recto, Gil J. Puyat, and Lorenzo Tañada once stood? Will the opposition let the Congress be populated by the yes men of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez? Will the opposition give up the local government positions to the lackeys of the Duterte administration who go along with the killings of suspects? Will the opposition let the barangay administration be used as a tool tag drug users and dissidents for “disposal”?
It is time for the opposition to have the courage and the conviction to oppose the excesses of the Duterte administration while it supports the good that it is doing. It is time for the opposition to rebuild its ranks and recruit fresh faces who while never been in politics are willing to stand up for justice, truth, decency, and good governance.
Easter is the best time to start.