Velez: Revolutions and wars of Duterte

ONE thing you will notice about Duterte is that his is a government that needs to be in a state of war.

But the problem in waging many wars, if we follow the scholar Sun Tzu, is that many wars will exhaust the state.

Political activist and writer Raymond Palatino noted that Duterte has waged three wars: There's his war on drugs, the war in Marawi, and the war against the communist movement. I may also had his verbal war against the opposition and the international community.

It's interesting to note that last October, two of this wars ended. Duterte declared Marawi as "liberated" from the Mautes and Isis. Oplan Tokhang was suspended amid strong criticism for the killing of innocent minors and the image of police officers. There are mixed messages on the handling of the Reds, as Duterte wanted peace talks to resume, but the generals wanted to pursue the end of the communist movement.

One wonders what now for Duterte? As the country welcomes the Asean summit mid-November, perhaps the end of the two wars is to save the president from embarrassment.

The wars may have stopped, but the problems remain. Bombs and gunfights are silent in Marawi, but the problems of peace in the Bangsamoro is still pressing. Oplan Tokhang is suspended but the problem of poverty, drugs and crime persists.

But what is interesting is that at the same time of October, Duterte is talking about putting up a revolutionary government to silent the threats against him.

One wonders what kind of revolution the president is talking about. Are these like the revolutions of the past that rouse an angry mass against oligarchy and oppressors? We had ours against Spanish rule.

Interestingly, October is filled with revolutions. China had it not just once, but twice, to wipe out feudal monarchy, landlords and warlords. Russia also had theirs in 1917, which was a hundred years ago, that executed the czar and his family, and built one of the biggest socialist country in the 20th century before things turned around.

But October is past, there's no Duterte revolution. Analysts note that his pitch of a revolutionary government might be his option for him to quicken the passage of the federalism bill and the Bangsamoro Basic Law, which may meet opposition in Congress.

But revolutions that need to take place need the support and the rousing of the public. Yes, Duterte has his DDS, he has his 16 million votes. The army that Duterte had created is one that shows up only in social media, and is more divisive rather than unifying, more bashing than allowing discourse. Is this enough to mass up some sort of change?

His movement also needs a party, but when the Tapang at Malasakit movement is joined by the likes of past presidents and families linked to corruption, one wonders if this is legitimate enough to lead the charge.

Actually, when his Cabinet before had an environmentalist stopping destructive mining, and leftists implementing agrarian reform to help thousands of farmers and implementing also social welfare and relief with no trace of corruption, that was revolutionary. It showed change could happen. But that stopped when the elite Congress rejected their appointments.

So much for revolutions, and wars real and imaginary. If change is to happen, it's up to the president.

"No revolution maybe someone somewhere else, could show you something new about you and your inner song" - Tears for Fears

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