Commentary: Pinoys have only two choices in 2022

DESPITE all the names that are being mentioned as running for president in next year’s presidential elections as if to give the semblance of a healthy Philippine democracy, Filipinos, actually have only two choices: a president who would put the Philippines’ interests first and a president who would want a return to “old-style” Philippine politics of patronage and privilege.

The first centers on the administration ticket that would be fielded, with the dominant figure dominated by Davao City mayor and presidential daughter, Sara Duterte, whom Filipinos largely expect to continue the policies of his father, Pres. Duterte.

Whatever the final combination would be—Duterte-Duterte; Duterte-Marcos; Duterte-Teodoro; or, even Duterte-Go, the country is assured of continuity, especially of the government’s independent foreign policy, war on corruption and war on illegal drugs.

On the other side of the political fence, whoever gets to be the opposition standard bearer, it would be a return to the Liberal Party brand of politics that has hampered the country’s growth and development and intensified class and social conflicts for the past 30 years.

A return to old-style politics would also mean the government compromising once again with the communists, the Communist Party of the Philippines, which has already thrown its support behind the other political personalities and parties except of course, the administration.

The same goes true for other candidates aspiring to run as “alternative candidates” for next year’s election—Sen. Grace Poe, Sen. Nancy Binay, Sen. Richard Gordon, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, Manila mayor Isko Moreno and, Sen. Manny Pacquiao.

Although Sen. Pacquiao is not beholden or compromised by association with the country’s oligarchs as the other names have been, all of them are not expected to resist American pressure for a return to the status quo where the US government has the final call on the country’s economic and foreign policies while the country’s oligarchs lord it over our domestic economy. Indeed, most of them are notorious “tutas” of Uncle Sam, individuals who always equate US imperial interests as also fit for Filipinos. It would be another Noynoy Aquino presidency, albeit with a different degree of puppetry, all over again.

We should again be ready to disrespect ourselves before the eyes of the world.

With any of these people at the helms, expect the return of US military bases, our reliance on their war junks for our military needs and the immediate rupturing of our already warm and close relationship with China.

If this happens, no “economic takeoff” for the country would be possible once China shies away from us against the backdrop of a miserable US economic landscape that cannot replace, even if it wants to, the market for Philippine-made goods.

In the runup to next year’s elections, it should be sobering to remember that since last year and up to the first quarter of this year, it is only China’s market and financial support that have enabled the country to survive the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A return to old-style politics would also mean the government compromising once again with the communists, the Communist Party of the Philippines, which has already thrown its support behind the other political personalities and parties except of course, the administration.

It is well to remember too that right now the CPP is the not-so-hidden puppet of the Americans in our midst, raising all kinds of issues not only to destabilize the country for its own end but also, push us towards the American foreign policy goal of engaging us in a war with China (for only under a chaotic and violent environment can the CPP expects to gain power, as other communist “revolutions” have shown).

Having ingratiated themselves with the long line of those ambitioning to occupy Malacañang after Pres. Duterte, we should not be surprised but rather, expect the next administration to most likely, castrate first the effectiveness of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NT-ELCAC) and subsequently, to dump it altogether.

After all, the task force is just a creation of Pres. Duterte’s pen and it would only take another presidential pen to put it to rest.

The “finish line” in the campaign to rid the country of the communist menace may already be visible by now but it surely will disappear once an administration of another mind assumes power.

Thus, despite the excitement next year’s elections may stir among us, despite the smoke and mirrors that usually accompany every Philippine election, it is best to remember that we only have two choices before us: to move forward by continuing the Duterte legacy or, to go back in time—and be punished for it for next 30 years.