DESPITE a recent cordial encounter during the commencement exercises of the Philippine Military Academy Salaknib Class of 2017 in Baguio City last March 12, Pres. Rodrigo Duterte and Vice Pres. Leni Robredo find themselves at odds once again over the interests of the country.
On one side is the president who remains unshaken despite receiving a constant barrage of censure over his aggressive campaign against drugs and criminality. While he continues to vehemently fight the drug crisis and criminality in the country, many still refuse to see its success. Duterte knows it—that waging a punitive war on drugs has consequences. He even warned that his war on drugs will be bloody.
For his critics, the staggering numbers of people who have been killed during police operations and through extrajudicial killings cannot hide the growing level of violence and impunity in the country. It generates human rights abuses such as abusive and inhumane punishments. And as the number grows, so does the fear of the populace for their own lives.
On the other side is the vice president, a former volunteer labor and human rights lawyer, who believes that the current war on drugs compromises human rights in the country. Robredo insists that the bigger war the government must face is against poverty.
During the annual meeting of the 60th United Nations (UN) Commission on Narcotic Drugs last March 16, a controversial six-minute video message by Robredo was aired. Through the video, Robredo brought the world’s attention to the troubles in Duterte’s drug war, which she alleged has resulted in 7,000 people who died in summary executions, and flagrant human rights violations.
“We are heartened that the issue of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines today is being discussed in an event such as this. To know that the international community’s eyes are on us and to feel that human rights advocates are watching over our country gives us comfort, courage and hope,” she said.
Coincidentally, an impeachment complaint against the president was filed on the same day that Robredo’s video message to the UN was released. Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano filed the complaint about Duterte’s alleged betrayal of public trust and corruption.
Duterte has ruled out the Robredo is involved in any destabilization attempt against his government. However, his allies believe that the vice president is being used as a “political animal.”
“The release of her (Robredo’s) UN video message lambasting the administration’s war on drugs before an international audience and the filing of an impeachment complaint at the House of Representatives which happened on the same day, seems too neat to be written off as mere coincidence,” Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said.
Robredo might soon be facing impeachment of her own. House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said he is planning an impeachment complaint against Robredo for allegedly betraying the public’s trust. He accused the vice president that Robredo’s “inaccurate” video message to the UN has put the Philippines in a bad light and may result in serious economic consequences.
While political mudslinging may seem typical in a democratic setting, the constant bickering attracts scaremongers, ones who are pushing into this emotionally polarized atmosphere to convince people on their side rather than ignite political aspirations and ideals.
If this narrative continues, the ones who will lose are the Filipinos. (AJPress)
