It may seem surprising that Vice President Leni Robredo should use the UN for attacks against her own country and government. On the contrary it was predictable.
For background read Stephen Kinzer’s book “Overthrow.” It was published in 2006 and gives a variety of examples on how America undermines and then overthrows foreign governments not to their liking under the guise of “protecting human rights.”
This US foreign policy on how to overthrow foreign governments began in the late 19th century and continues today.
“According to Kinzer, the first such instance was the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1893, and continuing to America-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. His examples include mini-histories of the US-supported or encouraged coups d'état in Hawaii, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Nicaragua, Honduras, Iran, Guatemala, South Vietnam, Chile, Grenada, Panama, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
Some examples used in the book refer to American support for local rebels against the existing national governments that lead to a change in power. For example, in 1898, the United States helped to overthrow the government of Cuba by supporting local rebels who were already fighting their government. In other circumstances, such as in Iran, Guatemala and Chile, Kinzer argues the United States initiated, planned and orchestrated the regime change.”
I liked best Kinzer’s metaphor for this policy when former American President George Bush took his oath. It was made in the McKinley Room of the White House under the shadow of a portrait of Ambassador McKinley who justified the colonization of the Philippines as “his duty to God” and that this was revealed to him after a night of prayer.
This God-ordained foreign policy is contained in an alleged blueprint made by US Ambassador Philip Goldberg on “how to undermine Duterte” which he submitted to the State Department. It was during his diplomatic term that the Philippines and the US drew further apart. He is perhaps trying to save his skin. Like McKinley he has to justify his country’s interference.
It may not have been bluntly stated but there are signs that this has been accepted by the State department in Washington. Leni Robredo’s tirade against Duterte in the United Nations is a clear sign that the oust Duterte strategy is now in full swing. What better justification to oust Duterte than to paint him black as killer and murderer because of his war on drugs and make the speech to the entire world through the United Nations?
We are back to 1896 with Mckinley on his knees and pretending it is God-ordained action. Given the situation, it is only us, the Filipino people, especially the 16.6 million who voted for Duterte that can stop the foreign policy perfidy. US interference in the Philippines can be thwarted if we close ranks and tell followers of McKinley to go to hell or in Duterte’s parlance “p***** **a ninyo.” Yes, why don’t we just say it like it is instead of being polite and abbreviating the curse it deserves. F*** **u. We are not taking this nonsense anymore.
There are enough of us who can continue the legacy of General Luna. But this time we will not break down. My colleagues in the Friends of Duterte are fighting back by organizing rallies. We have also distributed pamphlets on: How to be a Good Filipino and to reach as many as we can to to expose the “human rights” fraud being disseminated by some in the western press.
European lawmakers some of whom know little about the Philippines had the effrontery to demand the release of Leila de Lima, the drug protector who held office in the Bilibid Prison. They are the resurrected McKinleys. Many McKinleys who don’t even know where the Philippines is.
Judge Juanita Guerrero had to tell them De Lima was arrested on criminal, not political charges, and that she was being treated fairly in the court system. What is the matter? Don’t they read correct reports?
Duterte, who took office in the middle of last year, has overseen the campaign to eradicate illegal drugs that he says are threatening to turn the Philippines into a narco-state.
Duterte and his aides also insist security forces are not breaking any laws, and are not carrying out extrajudicial killings.
“We reiterate that the Duterte administration does not engage in so-called extrajudicial killings. It continues to follow due process and holds itself accountable for its actions,” Abella said.
De Lima defended the anti-Filipino statement saying “It’s not at all an interference with our country’s internal affairs but rather an aggregate assertion of the universal values of truth, justice and humanity,” she said.
This column is not alarmed about the differences between Secretary designate for the DENR Gina Lopez and Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez. Difference is the glue to a democracy. We are united in allowing differences but decide according to law and civil institutions. Even as members of the Cabinet, they can state their positions re mining. We have the safeguards of law to solve the problem. It is the Commission on Appointments that was mandated to vet the President’s appointees.
Someone whispered to me but Gina Lopez belongs to the Lopez empire which is feared because of their ownership of the ABS-CBN. Her appointment is headline news because her “dedication to environment” and by the way also the family business. I have already written that the family is the biggest geothermal energy producer in the Philippines and the second in the world. I am sure that the problem will be resolved in time, if we defer to the rule of law. These are high profile appointments that get in the news.
A friend says there are in the second tier which should get attention. Duterte has made some very good appointments in position that deal directly with the public.
One laudable appointment is that of PhilHealth president, Ramon Aristoza, a career executive who knows his work. He plans to involve the private sector more, seeing this as the solution to effectively expanding healthcare in the country. That’s one direction the PhilHealth surely needs to pursue.
Another appointment worthy of praise is that of Acmad Rizaldy Moti, who now heads the Pag-IBIG Fund. Moti, who hails from Mindanao, is also a career executive who recently led Pag-IBIG to its all time high in housing loan performance. Moti also was largely instrumental in improving the collection performance of Pag-IBIG, which means our money is safe. Talk about an officer who knows his organization, Moti also is an IT expert and was Pag-IBIG’s IT head for a number of years. Word is, people inside Pag-IBIG and housing developers heaved a sigh of relief when this guy was designated as OIC.
These are social security institutions that are part of each Filipinos daily lives. At least, this administration got it right in appointing the people to head these agencies. Kudos to the President!