Using the Marcos playbook to stay in power

In the news item “More netizens join call for Duterte’s resignation” (4/20/21), more than 60,000 signatures—and still counting—are said to be supporting the call for President Duterte to step down due to his administration’s dismal performance vis-à-vis the pandemic and China’s almost total invasion of the West Philippine Sea, which now seems irreversible because of his own declaration to the whole world that he is “inutil” to do anything about it.

While that number may seem too insignificant to raise any alarm, there is no gainsaying the fact that this administration has really messed up its handling of COVID-19 and China’s continued occupation of the West Philippine Sea. Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s constant praise of this administration’s “excellent” job in any aspect of governance is making people think the blabbermouth now badly needs “professional help” for seeing things only he can see.

And in response to the so-called “fake news” that “some military men… planned to withdraw their support” (“Duterte says he’s willing to step down if military, police no longer support him,” 4/20/21), Mr. Duterte has made it clear that he really doesn’t give a hoot about what the “netizens” or the Filipino people think as long as he has the military and the police under his total control, not to mention the supposed assurance of his “beloved friend” (Chinese President Xi Jinping) that he’s got his back.

During his first years as president, Mr. Duterte’s focus seemed mainly on how to keep himself in power. He did what any two-bit dictator would do: doubling or tripling the salaries of military and police personnel—the ones with the big guns. And after their retirement, he kept them happy with lucrative jobs under his continued control. It’s no wonder their loyalty is to him, rather than to the country.

This is exactly the same playbook the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos had used to stay in power beyond his legitimate term. But Mr. Duterte should realize that despite Marcos’ pampering of and iron grip on the military and the police throughout martial law, Edsa 1 happened.

Dino M. Capistrano,

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