IDIOTS in this context refer to the NPAs who are still willing to die in armed struggle for their ideology. Not all idiots though are half-wits or morons based on the 2009 famous Bollywood film “3 Idiots.” In fact, the three students in the movie even outsmarted their professor in many occasions.
In another case, Jose Maria Sison was the professor of these idiots, and President Duterte’s professor too during his ABPolScie days at the Lyceum of the Philippines. But Duterte is not among the idiots (NPA rebels), nor he is imbecile as many considers, because he is even enjoying an 85 percent approval ratings as of June 2019 from 1,200 respondents according to the Pulse Asia.
It was during the awarding ceremony of the 375 housing units granted to the rebel returnees that the president said “Tell the idiots there in the mountains to come down” to also enjoy what the surrenderers are enjoying now.
The new community named Freedom Residences is a housing project in Cuambogan, Tagum City that is originally designed for the military and the Police but was given later to qualified former rebels from Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, and Davao del Norte. Each unit costs P450,000. Others who already have their own domicile are granted P100,000 cash for renovation and repair. Aside from being decent and comfortable, the community will also be provided with basic government conveniences like public market, health center, daycare centers, police station and barangay hall.
Duterte is the only president I know since Marcos regime that knows the A to Z of Joma’s Communist Party of the Philippines so he is well-versed on how to deal insurgency. All presidents from Aquino the mother to Aquino the son have had launched programs to entice the rebels to come and lay down their arms but all efforts turned unavailing.
In the 80s, a score of anti-communist organizations were organized in all nooks and corners of the country to help eradicate communism. These organizations were receiving huge funding both local and abroad counterparts. The pocket-sized anti-communist groups also organized the National Alliance for Democracy (NAD) as an umbrella organization to siphon subsidy from the government, somehow could help the military in their civil relations. But the funding was exhausted untraceably and communism flourished.
Duterte has a different approach. From the 80s he regularly met the rebel group in the mountainous area until his last term as mayor of Davao city. Now that he is the president he still meets them, though no longer in the mountains but still in face to face behind the bullet proof glass. His commitment persists that his administration is working hard to have peace and stop the 53-year armed struggle. “Tell the idiots to come down” and the government has a springboard for their transition by giving them financial assistance, remuneration for the surrendered firearms (rickety or dysfunctional), education, livelihood and housing.
(abrigodann@gmail.com)