If Duterte becomes president (part 2)
In my column last week I portrayed presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte as a man of action, one who can solve the many problems of this country. I even said that he could be our knight in a shining armor.
How wrong I was! After that speech of Duterte last week in which he spewed out gutter language left and right my advocacy of him crumbled. Not that he was my idol of a candidate. But I was hoping that at least he would be better than the others. Now that hope has been dashed to pieces and worse, these pieces have metamorphosed into a specter of fear.
Fear that what we have exalted as a possible savior of this country will actually become its tormentor, a leader whose ruthlessness would shame the abuses of the dictator we have had. That dictator was said to have caused the "liquidation" of people who opposed his regime. But he never bragged about it, perhaps deep down he knew it was wrong. But this fellow from Davao talks about killing people as though it is a personal accomplishment.
The same dictator had had alleged affairs with some beauteous celebrities but he tried to keep it all a secret, perhaps aware as he was that immorality is never a thing to crow about. But this Davao guy delights in disclosing his machismo even to the point of insinuating that he is proud about it.
And this is the very goblin of our fear. Every individual is expected to observe the moral standard of society, whether that standard is cultural or legal or both. Deviation is frowned upon because it results in social disequilibrium. That's why laws are enacted to ensure compliance and non-compliance is punishable.
What happens if society tolerates violation of its rules of conduct? There would be anarchy, mayhem, and if this happening is massive and uncontrolled group life ceases to be functional.
Duterte says that given the executive authority, he would kill the social misfits such as corrupt officials. But killing is a criminal act. Would he get rid of criminals by being a criminal himself? Could one fight fire with fire?
The president of our country is the number one champion of our Constitution. That's why in his oath of office there's a line about defending and protecting the fundamental law of the land. And this law contains empathic prescriptions about protecting the rights of every individual citizen, including the right to "life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness." How can Duterte serve as champion of the Constitution if he disregards its provisions on human rights?
Given his repeated boasts of annihilating the enemies of the state, his only alternative is to declare martial law and reconstruct the Constitution to suit his twisted whims and desires. In other words, do a rewind of the Marcos era and dismantle existing institutions. Padlock Congress and reconfigure the justice system into one supportive of an autocratic regime.
Stockades would be reconstructed to house arrested oppositionists, and heads would start rolling among the most vocal of these. Control of the press would be tightened and radio, television and print media would be converted into the dictator's propaganda machine.
As for the Catholic Church and other religions groups, why, Duterte would dismantle these too, especially the former, for was he not (as he confessed) a victim of child abuse committed by a man of the cloak? With his apparent hatred of the Christian faith, its possible Duterte would set up a religion of his own, something similar to what's happening in communist countries. When this happens he will have "out-Marcos" the Ilocano dictator because the latter during his "reign" kept a high regard and respect for all the religious denominations in the country.
Those of us who are rooting for Duterte's candidacy should think twice before plunging ourselves into the sinkhole of our own making. If we value our freedom we have to be very careful in our choice of a president.
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