On May 28, 2020, another meeting of Duterte’s selected cabinet officials with former special assistant and now senator Bong Go is just a reiteration of a national policy of nationwide lockdown and the favorite mantra to the people to “just follow.”
His introduction “Nandito po kami para ipaalam sa inyo ‘yung mga polisiya na dapat nating sundin at direksyon natin kung saan tayo patungo” (We’re here to inform you of the policies we must follow and the direction we are headed) is followed by his assuming for responsibility for things government has done as if it is any consolation. And though he is not actually doing anything himself.
He just stated, “Lahat na ito po ay ginagawa namin (We do all this) believe me because the interest of the nation calls for it, demands for it actually. I have to be productive as President and in order to do that I have to go around and look for myself the situation all throughout the country. That is the job of the President seeing to it that the republic is well guarded and the welfare of the people it’s the highest concern.”
In reality, Duterte’s “highest concern” is his ambition to solve the country’s many problems (socio-economic and political concerns), including his problem with “armed conflict” that was side-tracked a bit by the COVID-19 pandemic. He seemed to want to hit two birds or more with one stone with the lockdown.
“That is the survival of the Republic of the Philippines. This is the — this is a country of Filipinos who obey the laws. If you do not obey the law, well that’s your problem. Bahala ka. Good kung makasibat ka. Kung hindi ka makasibat, eh pasensya ka (if you escape. If you can’t, sorry for you). And that goes for everybody. That should be made clear. Hindi kasi ano ng tao na they take for granted violating the law,” Duterte said.
At least after almost two and a half months of lockdown, Duterte’s undisclosed motives are slowly uncovered.
- Miltaristic lockdown meant to “keep peace and order,” but where are medical solutions? Duterte said, “Case of peace and order, magkagulo (there will be chaos), the state comes in. Iyong may (when there is) contagion and everybody’s dying, falling, kasali ‘yan (that’s included). Public interest is a — uncontrolled movement or maski ano (anything). People trying to seize other people’s property or things like just being into a state of anarchy, the state has the right to come in and kkrrkk — put a stop on it.”
He imposed a militaristic lockdown, like a dress rehearsal for martial law if not martial law itself, and is not addressing mainly the pandemic as a public health crisis as most funds went into lockdown and there is still no mass testing, effective contact tracing and isolation of contacts.
- More arrested and apprehended that those found to have COVID-19 due to low testing capacity. In relation to peace and order situation, DILG Sec Eduardo Ano reported that: “At sa ating mga violators naman po ng quarantine: 184,000 po; 467 ang nagkaroon ng mga violations at 54 percent po ay naaresto. Ang iba naman dito, katulad ng nine percent ay binigyan lang ng warning at ang 37 percent naman ay pinagmulta. Tuloy-tuloy rin po ang pagbabantay natin sa lahat ng peace and order.”
[About our quarantine violators: there are 184,000, 467 had violations and 54% were arrested. Others, like the 9% were given a warning, while 37% were fined. We continue to look out for all peace and order.]
As you can see, more were arrested than those who contracted COVID-19 . Those apprehended were more than 10 times than those who contracted COVID-19. The 184,000 for so long took over the number of individuals the government tested, until lately the testing capacity was raised and now has tested more than 304,000.
- Counterinsurgency and war activities intensified. Upon the declaration of lockdown in March, using the military and police forces, the counterinsurgency activities has been intensified. Combat operations, aerial bombardments in the mountainous parts of the country perceived as New People’s Army based and influenced continue. Leaders and members of people’s organizations and legal activists are assassinated. Red-tagging, vilification and harassment desperately increase. Even the relief operations of progressive organizations and party-lists for lockdown affected communities are charged as “anti-government” activities. Duterte urged his agents to capture or kill NPA commanders in exchange of P 2 million pesos as bounty, while in the same specch saying there is no more money for aid.
Kadamay Secretary General Karletz Badion’s body was found in Ormoc City on May 28. He is the latest activist killed during the lockdown. Activists killed during the lockdown included cultural worker Marlon Maldos in Bohol, peasant leader Nora Apique in Surigao del Sur, peasant leader John Farochilin in Iloilo, Bayan Muna founding member and relief volunteer Jory Porquia in Iloilo, and peasant leader Allan “Mano Boy” Aguilando in Northern Samar. All of them were constantly harassed and recently red-tagged or received death threats before their death and their groups point to police or military elements as responsible for their killing.
Meanwhile, five peasants were killed in what was dubbed as the Sorsogon Massacre, but the military reported it as a successful operation against the New People’s Army.
- Decongesting metro without rural development. Along the way, Duterte approved and immediately launched the old metro population control program “Balik-Probinsya Program” as if it’s a new brainchild of Senator Bong Go, a program for Metro Manila dwellers to go home to their provinces. This program is basically government monitored, controlled and directed transfer of people to ensure for their usefulness in the government’s counterinsurgency program. This is also despite the continued underdevelopment and lack of genuine land reform in rural areas that pushed people to go to the metro in the first place. This is a perpetual and cyclical problem that would remain a problem for as long as there is no genuine agrarian reform and rural development.
- Jeepney phaseout found a way through the pandemic. As NCR will shift to GCQ on June 1, movement of people will still be limited as buses and mass rail transits operations have always been limited and will further be limited to allow physical distancing The old program of the Duterte administration to phase-out the jeepneys in Metro Manila and the no entry of provincial buses will be pursued during GCQ. DOTR Secretary Arthur Tugade just mentioned “modernized jeepney” when he presented the plan for transportation under GCQ, among others. Government would finally make happen their plan to phaseout traditional jeepneys. There are 270,000 jeepney units in the country, 75,000 in Metro Manila alone and there are more drivers than that number since they work in shifts to service the lack of mass transport system in the country. These are the number who will be affected with the continued ban of jeepneys during the lockdown, but their replacement modernized jeepneys will be allowed despite still not fixing the route plan in all of the metro or the country.
- Glossing over overpricing and corruption allegations. As the meeting was about to end, Duterte tells a story about corruption in relation to the bidding of health materials and equipment’s. He said: “Alam mo as you see — if you listen very carefully sa mga pinag-usapan namin dito, it’s all geared towards a governance na to take care of the citizens, republic. Lahat ho namin ginagawa.”
Duterte repeatedly says they are doing all things to solve the country’s problems. But he does this because he is bothered with what the people are saying. He is worried about what his critics are asking.
He said: “At ngayon ‘yung matapos na, ‘yon ang nagrereklamo offering a lower price hoping that we would ignore the bidding and go for their price. Ito ‘yung mga g*** na ito, when they were first approached, mahal. Ngayon may bidding, hindi sila sumali, then suddenly after that — and may I inform Senator Drilon and Ping Lacson and everybody — ganun ang nangyari.”
“Itong si Senator Drilon sabi niya, ‘I want to know where the money went.’ Well, you will have the explanation and better believe it because ‘yon ang totoo. Hindi naman kami nambobola,” he said as the meeting was about to end.
- COVID-19 cases continue to rise. DOH Sec Francisco Duque III gave an update on COVID-19 related cases with 15,588 total number of cases. Duque said that overall, cases rose again but 90% are mild cases, 7.3% are asymptomatic and less than 2% are severe to critical cases.
“At ibig ko rin pong bigyang-diin na sa kasalukuyan po ang ating health systems capacity ay sapat. In fact, we have around mga 60 plus percent reserve capacity in terms of available mechanical ventilators, available intensive care units, and also our isolation beds ano po,” Duque reported.
Before the lockdown, there were 52 cases, 3 deaths and over 1,000 tested. Now there are more than 23,000 positive cases (while DOH announces the lower number of confirmed/validated cases at 15,000+, meaning 7,000 positives not yet validated). Are not we worse off after the lockdown? No mass testing, but there are mass arrests, mass hunger and mass unemployment.
- The eradication of the disease is left to a miracle or China. Varying modes of quarantine or lockdown will continue until the vaccine is found or until China finds one and Duterte hoped his “ally” would prioritize selling them to the Philippines. Duterte said, “…just pray – everybody has a God – just pray that the vaccine – ang target nila is November — ah September. September I think China will be able to distribute if I’m not mistaken. And the other countries are catching up. Every — everybody is at it so they are really trying their very best.”
He maintains his admiration of China. “Kaya lang itong China hindi ito hambog. Wala itong ere. But they – they you know, they work and I’m very sure that they will be the first one – one of the countries that would be able to come up with a vaccine,” as he mentioned this while he discussed the rentals of spaces inside the malls.
The meeting did not address the urgent calls of the people for “mass testing now” and “aid for all.” Medical solutions, not military solutions to the pandemic – still the people’s call after 77 days of lockdown
Duterte is worried about his leadership in solving the country’s main problem (which is the health crisis) and being looked at as a failure, but he goes on, keeps on fighting the people instead of the virus.
Duterte’s order to the people to follow has a limit. As he implements more anti-people policies, he will be exposed as one who is ambitious, vicious and fascist, the worst president of all.
