The works of Clausewitz, On War and Sun Tzu, The Art Of War, are the two leading books found in military institutions throughout the world. These are must reading for students. Clausewitz embodied the western thought and Sun Tzu the Oriental philosophy. I got this information from a former student of the Philippine Military Academy while I was in law school. Intrigued by his claim, I bought copies of these works and every time I felt drowsy reading my law books I would browse over either Clausewitz or Sun Tzu and their treatment on propaganda would keep me awake.
President Rodrigo Duterte is himself a class act in so far as propaganda is concerned. It is not difficult to believe that he must have mastered the combined western and eastern philosophies of Clausewitz and Sun Tzu in his political wars. Take for instance his announced hesitation to run for the presidency. It was Sun Tzu cunning to project that he had second thoughts on aiming for Malacañang while his lieutenants were busy building his army. To overcome his “hesitation” we then riveted our attention to him and millions converged to prod him to run for the highest elective position. Here is another classic. Duterte declared that he would ride on a jet ski towards the Paracel and drive all Chinese illegally occupying our territory. We likened him to El Cid propped on his horse as he galloped through enemy lines. It was a third propaganda when Duterte promised to put an end to illegal drug trade within three months of his administration. We then adored him as the Mongols saw and loved Genghis Khan crushing all foes.
The most dramatic propaganda raised by Duterte was his supposed commitment to rid our country of corruption. Actually, to fight the grafters and the corrupt in the government was not new. Many politicians ahead of him mouthed the same slogan. This issue would always recur every election period. No candidate would go up the campaign stage without promising to lead a corrupt-free administration. But when Duterte said words like he would do it even if he would “lose his life, his honor and even the presidency” not only did he coat his language with heavy emotional attachment, he sounded a seemingly sincere commitment. What a propaganda spiel!
The other day Duterte admitted that corruption permeated all levels of government. If we were to paraphrase the president, he said that government officials, except Duque and Villar, are dishonest. But instead of a simple admission that his campaign promise to stop corruption is a total failure, he invented a new propaganda out of the situation. That is how I see his announcement of creating a mega body to fight corruption - a mere propaganda ploy Clausewitz and Sun Tzu could probably invent. My observation is magnified by an accompanying news story that this planned anti-corruption super task force group will work into 2022 because that year is election time. The timing is, to me, more evident than suspect. What scheme lies behind this propaganda?