Punchline
Prayers, not vigilant collaboration
By Ermin Garcia Jr.
THE recent tirade of President-elect Rody Duterte against Catholic clergy, specifically the bishops, did not really come as a surprise to many.
After all, Mayor Rody, the candidate, then, was always at the receiving end of incessant name-calling for his “unprecedented” rudeness and “unpresidential” remarks throughout the campaign period. He was visibly ultra careful not to go on a full counter-offensive to respond to the series of criticisms leveled by the bishops against his candidacy during the campaign. He learned his lesson since making the mistake of cursing the Pope for being the cause of days of gridlock in Metro-Manila.
The best he could do then was to chide the bishops and to “warn” the catholic voters that they are risking the fires of hell if they vote for him. It was only vintage Duterte’s sarcasm that hit back even as he was raring to vent his anger and rage.
Mayor Duterte held back until he was in his comfort zone, and already as the presumptive president.
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SILENT MAJORITY VOTED. While the bishops are profuse with explanations defending their critical statements during the campaign period, some even weakly reiterating that there was no mention of Mayor Duterte in any of the pastoral letters issued by the CBCP, it cannot be denied that they provoked an adversarial relationship with him.
It was all too clear that the bishops wanted it unmistakably clear that a person like Mr. Duterte was not fit to become president. It was an unprecedented political statement from the Church’s leaders. Not even the outspoken Jaime Cardinal Sin dared to go that far with then President Ferdinand Marcos in the 80s. He left it to the anti-Marcos political groups to translate his thoughts into action.
Perhaps the bishops were confident that they, too, like Cardinal Sin would be listened to and obeyed, and their political statements would be justified. A case of the end justifying the means? But as destiny would have it, the majority of Catholic voters rallied behind Mr. Duterte, not the bishops.
That response of the Church’s silent majority was enough to prompt Mr. Duterte to finally say what he kept to himself the whole time.
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VOX POPULI. On hindsight, I don’t believe Mr. Duterte would have taken his adversarial tact if only the Church leaders had simply proceeded as true spiritual leaders – praying for sinners’ enlightenment and the voters’ discernment for God’s guidance, without painting a picture of the sinner with the face of Mr. Duterte on it.
But evidently, our bishops were completely blinded by the persona of Mr. Duterte that they forgot the oft-repeated phrase coined in 1709 – Vox populi, Vox Dei, (The voice of the people is voice of God). How can they refute that today?
Worse, the bishops thought wrong when they felt they could shape political affairs without repercussion from a man who tells it like it is with no compunction.
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NO COLLABORATION NEEDED. While I don’t believe an apology from the bishops is forthcoming as it is not even necessary, they did not and are not helping the situation by responding with their “vigilant collaboration” statement.
The bishops still don’t get it! Their cooperation is not being asked of them. See Mr. Duterte’s body language that says: I don’t need your cooperation!
What he and the 16 million people who voted for him (and millions more of the Catholic laity, if you please) are asking from them is simply to join them in their ardent prayers for a peaceful nation, for majority of families to be lifted from their impoverished state, for real reforms in the political system!
In fact, I don’t think Mr. Duterte is even asking for prayers for his salvation. His sarcasm says it all – Join his Iglesia ni Duterte!
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CHANCE FOR REDEMPTION. “Here we go again! When is the next deadline?”
I’m certain Mayor Belen Fernandez herself can almost hear these sarcastic remarks from her constituents as she endeavors to move again against the illegal fish pen operators.
There’s nothing she can already add to her oft-repeated brave pronouncements to clear the city’s rivers of hundreds of illegal fish pens because the fact remains she has failed the city on this pledge.
In fact, most of the residents that I have talked to about her unfinished business on the illegal fish pens said they no longer care if she does anything about it. They are tired of being promised “an uncompromising stand.” Most have given up on the hope of seeing a clean and clear river in the city leading some even to conclude that she and other city officials are already maintaining their own illegal fish pens with dummies fronting for them.
The frustration is palpable for they can see the continuous pollution of the rivers notwithstanding the passage of the ordinance that clearly bans illegal fish pens in the city. Also, there have been too many grace periods extended in the past 3 years, only to see the numbers of illegal fish pens increasing each month. The recent report of the Bantay Ilog Task Force that they managed to demolish only less than 10 pens a month is as dismal as it can get.
If the continued operations of fish pens are to be blamed on the City Agriculturist Emma Molina, then why wasn’t she fired early on, they ask. Again, I share that question myself. Is somebody else in charge?
At any rate, Mayor Belen has won another mandate handily, another chance to prove her mettle further as CEO or in the case of the fish pens, to redeem herself.
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RESULTS NOT EFFORTS. Incoming Gov. Pogi Espino may not have taken stock of his victory at the polls but being a governor under the Duterte administration can find himself sailing brightly as CEO of the province or will be run roughshod over by the steam roller of the Mayor of the Philippines for the next 3 years.
And I am referring alone to Mr. Espino’s expected role and responsibility as No. 1 Drugbuster in the province. When Mr. Duterte promised the nation a drug-free country, little did the candidates for the local government positions realize that the burden lies with them!
So if he hasn’t learned what it takes to act on sheer political will, then his first 100 days will expectedly be hell for him. He will be made to account for the failure of the mayors and barangay officials to stop the illegal drug trade in 3 months!
The way I see it, Mayor Duterte will hit the ground running and the governors like him will not even have time to savor their major political triumphs, not even time to individually thank all his supporters. Ditto for the mayors who will be working alongside Mr. Espino in the war vs. illegal drugs.
With just 30 days before Mr. Duterte starts cracking the whip, Mr. Espino should already begin to strategize and plot a short-term plan of action with Sr. Supt. Edgar Allan Okubo or be caught inutile when crunch time comes.
From the little that I’ve been told about Mr. Duterte’s management style, he goes by results not by efforts. He will not take chances so if Mr. Espino is deemed ineffectual, he could face possible suspension to allow the vice governor to do the job.
(For your comments and reactions, please email to: punch.sunday@gmail.com)
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