Check the pattern, get the picture
My maternal grandfather used to give me the fun page of the daily newspaper. I loved connecting the dots and checking the pattern… a flower, a bunny, a house and other configurations that are most interesting to a child.
In investigative work, the same is applied: Connect the dots and check the pattern. Now, as a columnist, I analyze events or situations by what I perceived as a child was most interesting.
In checking how our government is doing in relation to public service, we cannot afford to be ambivalent. Ambivalence was a trait of the past administration and it got us nowhere in terms of maintaining law and order, eradicating corruption, alleviating the plight of the poor and advancing the rights of our country’s work force.
After connecting the dots, the pattern must be consistent, either consistently bad or consistently good, then the Filipino people will know how to react to the prevalent pattern.
President Rodrigo Duterte before the end of the first year in his six-year term declared martial law for Mindanao. The declaration came amid the Marawi crisis.
Were Filipinos surprised upon the imposition of military rule in any part of the archipelago? Since Duterte assumed office, there were about 10 statements either in a form of a threat, insinuation or possible scenarios that will eventually prompt him to declare martial law. Given the country’s vulnerability, it was just a matter of time.
Duterte’s fight against illegal drugs was consistent. What could be more consistent than dead bodies after police operation and the “nanlaban” statement? Problems within the ranks of our police forces gave us also a consistent pattern. Internal cleansing within the ranks of the Philippine National Police became imperative.
Latest developments showcase an all- out war against homegrown terrorists that pose a threat to our national security. Some elected officials believed it was a case of failure of intelligence. It got me thinking. Whose intelligence failed? In his SunStar Cebu column, Bong Wenceslao called upon the citizenry to verify before posting anything in social media. The marching orders were: Implement law and order with Duterte’s iron fist. Government transactions were quicker and more efficient.
Huge infrastructure projects are underway. Will social services be sacrificed? Continue to connect the dots and check the pattern. You will get the picture.