In every democratic country, it is a valued privilege of every citizen to evaluate the competence of his/her government, so is the Philippines empowering the importance of check and balance not only among the three branches of the government but also with the masses as it is expected to uphold freedom of expression and of assembly in hopes of establishing meaningful discourse towards achieving progress. But what happens when the administration itself tells you to stop criticizing its actions and intimidates you from pushing through your argument on how it should handle the crisis because you’re no match of the state itself.
Being like a political rival of team Duterte
The Duterte administration is somewhat picturing out its critics as a politically driven act of destruction to its actions towards addressing the pandemic disease that await any possible chance to grab the place of power. Anchored by fanaticism, the Duterte Die-hard Supporters or DDS are full-time online to shift it out by public shaming whoever is seen showing disagreement to the regime with the common thoughts that these critics have nothing to prove for them to throw words against the administration. Further, supporters seem to debunk the fact that their viewed enemies are taxpayers and are paying the salaries of each of statesmen, which is supposed to give them more the credits to do so, regardless of the fact that every citizen already arms a constitutional duty even just to pay attention to every motion of the government. This is, indeed, already more than enough evidence of serving the country. However, the DDS don’t seem to understand this at all. They look at public service as a literal curfew-ing of streets or as accompanying the medical frontliners at the hospitals. While this is a valid presumption, this is not the only action that materializes social contribution in combating this pandemic disease.
Being cyber-bullied as crooked public figure
People with names and titles did not escape from troll attacks. Several celebrities and human rights lawyers who denounced the government’s lack of attention to its constituents especially the poor sector were barricaded with hate speeches and defamation on different social media platforms. These DDS have gone far enough from what is supposed to be addressed here: the problem of COVID-19. While the critics were pointing out the problem systematically, they acted as robots with the mere function of defaming them in any means. They even activated dummy accounts on Twitter and Facebook only for such purpose.
Another one by Duterte himself
While many vocal celebrities and social media influencers are no different from this, the case of professor and human rights lawyer Chel Diokno is much more disgusting to be thought of. Not the DDS but Duterte himself mocked the lawyer for telling how big his teeth are and for calling him as a “lousy lawyer” and a “professional liar.” Anyone with a healthy mental condition would not imagine this as just something to be passed by when a very respected individual who only defended an individual who was summoned by the NBI for allegedly spreading misinformation on social media became a target of ad hominem. What’s worst was that Atty. Diokno was compared to a janitor (something dehumanizing on the part of janitors who happen to be also one of the frontliners of today’s battle over COVID-19). The people wouldn’t worry much if it came from the fanatic DDS.
As much as how our frontline heroes give the most intensive effort in their field, the rest, under the very limited space for initiative due to the strict implementation of social distancing and home quarantine, feel obliged to utilize what’s available to make sure this whole process of ending the virus goes uninterrupted and that is disallowing the government to manipulate information and monopolize resources intended for the peoples’ needs to survive amid the lockdown. The people feel the need to be the eye that monitors every possible corruption and lack of support for the virus fighters and the masses affected by the job freeze.
The problem of COVID-19 doesn’t have to be worked out alone by the state. It needs to realize that regardless of political colors, people can come as one in battling the pandemic that affects us all. Just think of an election where the government cannot be filled with elected leaders if without the votes of the people, so is the government that cannot function well without the feedback and assessment first by the people. A wiser decision is to listen to the critics about what they can say and put this into consensus where everyone, especially the poorest of the poor, benefits. Isn’t that what democracy is for?
It is hoped that the Duterte supporters will not see the critics as enemies of the state because this is not a political campaign period, nor election. This is a CRISIS.
If you are a critic of the Duterte administration, share with us your own experiences in expressing your political views to your friends by commenting down below.
(Photo Credit: Bulatlat for the photo shown above.)
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