Pirates and ‘black shirts’

With thousands upon thousands protesting in Luneta and EDSA, who would have imagined that a small group of approximately 500 “boys” and men would end up grabbing everybody’s attention, including local and international media.

They were noticed for two things in particular – their violence and their symbolic outfits. Small in numbers, their choice of black shirts, black balaclavas (ski masks) and their black Jolly Roger pirate flags mixed with reckless courage and anger, certainly forced us to watch!

How do you ignore such outfits that bring up images of Hamas and ISIS fighters and, for the Boomer Filipinos, the “Black Shirts” of the early 1970s, a Muslim defense group that waged a bloody and bitter war against Ilagas.

But more importantly, that flag, the toothy pirate flag that was prominent in the Indonesian protest marches, carried by many in the Nepalese uprising, is now seen in protest marches in the Philippines and France.

You can’t be blamed if you were thinking of the Pirates of the Caribbean or the Houthi rebels in the Straits of Hormuz. But why did that pirate’s flag seem comical, grinning more than menacing?

With a few Google clicks and AI assist, we are introduced to the world of “Gen Z Warriors.” The pirate flag referred to in all the conflicts has an unlikely origin. It begins in the Manga world created in Japan.

It is part of an anime or Japanese animation series entitled “One Piece” that came out in 1999 and has set or broken records in publishing, even garnering a broadcast slot on Netflix with millions of devoted followers, most of whom are Gen Z.

Written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda, “One Piece” follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy and his crew the Straw Hat Pirates in search of the mythical treasure known as the “One Piece” to become the next king of the pirates.

Through its run, the series established the Straw Hat Pirates as vehemently opposed to corruption, injustice and strongly anti-authority, waging their fight against a corrupt “World Government.”

Many of today’s Gen Z grew up reading and watching “One Piece” and following the Straw Hat Pirates. While the adult world branded many of them as entitled, soft or unmotivated, long running series such as “One Piece” served as imaginary model for aspiration.

The Jolly Rogers Flag of the Straw Hat Pirates may smile and grin but be forewarned – it has also become the flag that symbolizes defiance and freedom for many Gen Zs around the world.

In terms of optics, whoever came up with the idea of black masks, black shirts and the pirate flag clearly understood the art of media engagement, either a political strategist or PR expert.

By tapping into a global body of people who relate to the Straw Hat Pirates, ISIS and Hamas, complete with “I support Palestine” placards, they certainly got everybody’s attention, especially the international media.

But now they also have so many critics and enemies. For starters, the violence they unleashed on the police was not aligned with the peaceful protests and seen as an attempt to hijack the legitimate protest.

The police exhibited maximum tolerance not only as ordered but possibly as their tacit recognition of people’s grievances. Because of that, the black shirts fearlessly subjected the police to activist brutality.

We always call upon the police and the military to support the people, but we do nothing or say nothing to condemn the violent troublemakers masquerading as activists.

Last Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, a message on Facebook popped up on some chat groups claiming:

“Police brutalities are starting, always stay safe. It has become prevalent in the following areas: Recto, P. Noval, University Tower, basically any areas near UST.

“Additionally, police are permitted to shoot civilians up until midnight. Most police are also in disguise, as to trick or to fool people.”

The above message is a clear example of destabilization, agitation, if not sedition.

As a result of last Sunday’s violence, many sectors including the media have called on DOJ Secretary Boying Remulla to apply the full force of the law, especially the NBI, to identify who the pirates are that attempted to hijack the peaceful protest of Sept. 21, 2025.

Any group that publicly, frontally and fearlessly attack members of the uniformed services must be arrested and charged. To the credit of Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and the DOJ, at least 100 adults are now facing criminal charges.

Were the pirates just a “fraternity of hooligans” or were they “hoodlums for hire” paid to agitate the police into attacking the protesters with a plan of creating negative content and videos for online propaganda?

Apparently so, after some of the people arrested confessed that they were paid P3,000 to create chaos in the streets and attempt to siege Malacañang.

Lest we forget or you just didn’t know, Malacañang was attacked before Martial Law was declared. My father Louie Beltran and his best friend Jimmy Barbers recounted how they were caught between the mob and the gates and escaped a close call!

That attack on the Palace gates is why Mendiola bridge was shut down and has been a no man’s zone ever since. Regardless of political color or affiliation, our country should have no room for anarchists or acts of violence.

Art used to imitate life, now we see life imitating art. The big difference is in art nobody gets hurt, nobody gets killed. In life people die! Let us speak out against violence as we speak out against corruption.

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