Creeping authoritarianism

The silent acquiescence of Filipinos to the creeping authoritarian streak in this Aquino administration is worrisome. Just as people who keep to themselves and seldom talk can hide a dangerous personality, so can a nation that chooses to bear a burden until something snaps.

I would have preferred Filipinos to raise a howl now about the manner in which President Aquino and his henchmen are slowly but surely removing all its enemies by every means fair and foul, but mostly foul, than for them to grin and bear it until they can bear no more.

First there was Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Nobody raised a howl because at the time Aquino went after her, she has already become one of the most unpopular officials in the land. But the end (putting her away) still did not justify the means (taking legal shortcuts), at least to me.

The same with Renato Corona. Things may have turned out eventually to his own undoing by his own hand, but the way there was paved with the same legal shortcuts that everybody, as in the Arroyo case, turned a blind eye to because Corona was a dead man already by the time Aquino won.

Then there was Gwen Garcia, whose suspension has long been approved but whose eventual implementation was manipulated to ensure that she gets shackled during the campaign. Again, the raw deal was ignored because the campaign to vilify her was already in motion at the time.

Now here comes Isko Moreno and some of his councilors, arrested by police for an alleged offense that is clearly not an offense -- bingo is a parlor game under the law, not an illegal gambling game, especially if no bets are involved.

 And while fund raisers are banned during the campaign period, the campaign period for local officials (Vice Mayor Moreno is running for reelection in Manila) has yet to start on March 29. In the eyes of the Comelec, no one is yet a local candidate and can do as one pleases.

 So why was Moreno and some of his councilors arrested? Because just like Arroyo, Corona and Garcia, he belongs to the opposition and is therefore a mortal enemy of Aquino. Even if Aquino himself did not give the order, no one would dare if they didn't know the mind of Aquino.

 Aquino has dictatorial tendencies, the mark of someone with emotional incompleteness. If you are his enemy, you will be removed eventually. If you cannot be removed legally, there are shortcuts conveniently found along the way, especially if you are the president.

Aquino does not even leave things to chance in an election, even if he has the entire resources of government to tap for the campaign of his team. In the case of Garcia, and now Moreno, it is far easier to remove enemies than wait for what tidings the ballot may bring.

But my worry is only half about Aquino. I am just as worried about the seeming quiet that has greeted all these abuses and arrogations. I am afraid that, just like Pinatubo, whose fury no one ever had an inkling about for hundreds of years, this nation might just suddenly break.

With each transgression of basic rights that Aquino perpetuates against his enemies, he is painting himself into a corner, in a manner more pernicious than if he was just an out and out dictator. But he is not. He pretends to be a saint. That is the unforgiveable salt on the wound.

Right now I have recovered the list of people whose names I have listed down, people who once upon a time, and in fact even to this day, continue to propose the ridiculous idea that Aquino is truly what he says he is -- a saint who could do no wrong and is out to save our world.

I am glad that some of those in my list are beginning to doubt Aquino and have come out openly about their doubts. Someday, I will gently remind those in my list about the things they once said about Aquino and ask them, still gently, whether their views of him remain the same.