BEYOND ELECTIONS

27 August 2024

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Beyond Elections

By Norberto Gonzales 

August 17, 2024

It is easy to dismiss the ongoing discord within the body politic as mere squabbles among scheming family dynasties. But the incompetence and excesses of the incumbent regime cannot also be hidden for long. As a consequence, protest groups revolving on varied issues are rising. Old political formations are revitalizing their constituencies. A fresh spectrum of both ideological and nonideological forces is forming and rapidly expanding. Amid the frenzied government expansion of its own political base, a clearer line of division between those for and those against the present government establishment has been drawn.

During the People Power revolution of 1986, Cory Aquino, the widow of the martyred Ninoy Aquino, provided the face of the struggle against the Marcos family dictatorship. In 2001, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo the then-vice president, served a similar role in the ouster of President Erap Estrada. Today's incumbent Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, deducing from her recent pronouncements, may already be favoring the emerging extra-constitutional push for early regime change. This is significant. The coming of a clear and viable leadership is an essential ingredient to the successful ouster of an undeserving regime.

Spectrum of forces

The faith community, specifically some leaders of non-Catholic Christian denominations, have been reaching out to their Catholic counterparts to jointly address the worsening national condition. The decision of some Catholic bishops and priests to openly go partisan during the last electoral exercise caused divisive discussions within influential Catholic circles. This is one reason why the decision of Catholic hierarchy members to actively join hands with their non-Catholic counterparts appears slow if not hesitant. But the slow reaction seemed deliberate. Catholics will need to re-clarify among themselves the distinctions and limits of hierarchical intervention over matters that are generally viewed as exclusive domains of their lay followers.

The surprising but largely welcomed development in the opposition scene, is the surfacing of associations and similar formations of retired senior officials of the armed forces. They have joined the growing protest action carrying issues against corruption, political dynasties, and electoral fraud. Their more important role, however, at this point, is in shielding the military institution from the largely undisguised campaign to weaken the moral fiber of active officers occupying top positions in the chain of command. Close attention should be given to the billion-size funding programs being dangled by the leadership of the Lower House to some division-level commanders.

The communists have yet to show the true color of their political positioning publicly. They distanced themselves from the EDSA People Power revolution of 1986. They made attempts to breach the political cordon created by some nongovernmental organization-backed political formations around the Gloria Arroyo camp during the ouster of President Erap Estrada. Today, united front elements of the communists are seen aligned and under the support umbrella of the Malacañang-sponsored House speaker. Some of their senior cadres in the meantime continue to remain within the political ambit of the old Duterte circle.

It is no secret that the Muslim people of the south can be quite fierce to the point of voluntarily putting their own lives on the line when matters to be fought for are fundamental to them. Religious freedom, self-determination and the free practice of inherited traditions are examples of concern that Muslims are willing to die for. The problem lies when known pillars of Muslim society go unreasonably pragmatic. Political factions of Muslims today are turned between repaying social debts to one party of the ongoing inter-dynasty conflict or to stay loyal to their newfound partners in the national government. A sizable percentage of national subsidies to the Muslim autonomous region are expected to be returned back as laundered cash for crony officials facilitating the allocation and release of these funds. The local share from these laundered government money is still enormous enough to bribe and politically control many of those once brave and heroic Bangsamoro leaders.

The social democrats are reintroducing the concept of transition governance to the body politic. The easier route in the aftermath of regime change is to adopt a business-as-usual mode. This will however not bring about the fundamental change needed to bring the nation forward to something better. A bolder, revolutionary program needs public elucidation. The social democrats are aiming in the immediate term to accomplish two major objectives: the engagement of organized masses in the campaign for regime change; and that the underlying theme of the struggle goes far beyond the mere changing of personalities. The campaign to change the current political establishment will not be following the usual traditional practice of politics as we know it. What the nation needs is nothing less than a true people's revolution.

Conclusion

The People Power revolution of February 1986 toppled the heavily entrenched Marcos family dictatorship. This chapter of the nation's history is one lesson those in authority should heed. They should not mistake the nation's patience as subservience. Philippine society can always rise again and clear a path for authentic change.

Betrayal of public trust is a grave political blunder. Public officials, especially those in the highest level of power, may be viewing the wrong side of history. They freely misuse and plunder the nation's finances. They even legalize these acts by abusing the national budgetary process and the pork barrel system. They take pleasure in misleading the weak. They conveniently forget what happened to those who exceeded the limits of public trust.

A definitive momentum for early regime change has started. It can only be slowed, but is nearly impossible to reverse. It is of real importance that this political bonanza to shift the direction of the future be handled with utmost consideration of the more important tasks ahead.

The author is a former national security adviser and defense secretary. He is also the chairman of the Philippine Democratic Socialist Party and a vice president of Socialist International.

https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/08/17/opinion/contributors/beyond-elections/1964590