Vicious noises back

The persistent critics can’t be denied, and pandemic or none, they will not let up on the demonization efforts against President Rody Duterte.

The long-sought Anti-Terrorism Law that seeks to strengthen the useless Human Security Act, which was watered down by yellow sympathizers of the communist movement, has become the protest centerpiece during the marking of Freedom Day.

Anti-administration lawyers who were idled by the quarantine period are provoking the mass actions seeing the opportunity of raising their public profile which will, in turn, be useful in acquiring big clients.

The left-wing National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) assured protesters that their members will represent those arrested during the Independence Day mobilizations on the pretext that the Bayanihan Act did not have any provision “making protest movements illegal.”

But the health precautions contained in the law, which law enforcers were ordered to strictly carry out, required the public to refrain from any mass gathering to halt the transmission of the disease.

The rally itself, called “Grand Mañanita,” was obviously meant to taunt since it referred to the celebration that placed National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas in hot water for breach of quarantine restrictions.

The Chief Executive gave emphasis to safeguarding the health of Filipinos in his message to mark the important chapter in the country’s history.

“Let us now move forward with courage, hope and optimism as we overcome this pandemic,” Duterte said.

“As we wage united battle against COVID-19, we now have the opportunity to demonstrate that we possess the same gallantry of spirit and the ability of character as the heroes of our past,” Duterte said.

While the government’s authority is challenged in the domestic front, a parallel campaign is launched overseas, which is typical of the periodic attacks against the President.

The foreign vilification campaign is anchored on the supposed threats to freedom featuring news site Rappler founder Maria Ressa.

The American Public Broadcasting System (PBS), which has previously aired productions critical of the war on drugs, previewed for its Frontline program a series called “A Thousand Cuts,” which will be all about Ressa, Rappler, ABS-CBN and the supposed threats to press freedom under President Duterte.

“‘A Thousand Cuts’ examines social media disinformation campaigns and the crackdown on the news media in the Philippines by Duterte — who has made Ressa one of his top targets,” according to the PBS teaser.

The parallel protest actions and the expensive anti-Duterte campaign in the United States happen in predictable intervals, which prove that these are organized and are being well-funded.

The accusation of violation of press freedom, for instance, is easy to sell to the gullible observers outside the country, since it merely takes the mention of the tough words coming from the President to prove their point.

Upon closer review, however, what were being alleged are total lies since the exchange between government and media, in some occasions vicious, continues and actions are taken as a result.

The restriction on mass actions, prior to the pandemic, was only that these do not affect the rights of other people as the President even encouraged peaceful assemblies to bring to him the complaints about his government.

Of course, the primary goal of all the current racket is to pull down public support for the President, which immensely failed in the country as the attacks merely fuel higher public ratings.

The perception of Filipinos of the President remains the key determinant of his success and in turn fuels his determination to continue on the path he has taken regardless the brickbats from his sanctimonious foes.

“Upon closer review, however, what were being alleged are total lies since the exchange between government and media… continues and actions are taken as a result.

“Antiadministration lawyers who were idled by the quarantine period are provoking the mass actions seeing the opportunity of raising their public profile.