Rumors of revolutionary government and martial law

To many Filipinos, it is quite disconcerting to be waiting for Christmas amid some rumors of a possible revolutionary government or martial law in the entire nation. But the hard realities on the ground should tell us that we are living in dangerous times. And whatever it takes for the head of state and head of government to save the nation and to protect the people, we should open ourselves to all possibilities. It is not easy to be president of a republic with no less than 110 million citizens, more than two-thirds of whom are living below poverty line. It is not a joke to be mandated to protect a country with more than 7,000 islands. It is a heavy burden and a grave responsibility indeed, to preserve our national sovereignty, while, at the same time, safeguarding the basic freedoms and the fundamental human rights of our people.

Thus, the people should understand that our leader should be given all the leeway to take any and all measures, that he may deem necessary to keep our national integrity intact and preserve the lives of citizens from threats of both external aggression, global terrorism and internal subversion, treason, sedition, insurrection and rebellion. Today, the country is facing serious threats from a deranged North Korean dictator who may launch a nuclear attack pointed at the Philippines, as a known US satellite. We are also facing the continuing dangers of Chinese incursions into our territory. The global terror attacks being perpetrated by ISIS and other extremist groups, including the Maute and the Abu Sayyaf continue to pose imminent and grave danger to our people.

The CPP/NPA/NDF’s continuing and protracted warfare and guerilla attacks against our armed forces and police, as well as civilian authorities make our efforts for development in the countryside more difficult. These terrorists bomb buildings and farms, burn establishments, sabotage our business operations, ambush our law enforcers, kidnap tourists and civilians for ransom, and force business firms to pay revolutionary taxes under threat of murder and kidnapping. The crime and drug syndicates continue to inflict damage on the people. Drug killings are blamed on government even when rival drug lords are the ones killing each other over business rivalries and revenge. When government authorities are blamed for summary executions and extra-judicial killings, the people’s trust in government is undermined.

In the face of all these challenges, we, the masses, should not take away from the president the option to declare a revolutionary government, or even place the entire country under a regime of martial law, or to declare a revolutionary government. Of course, the traditional politicians will oppose it because their corrupt practices shall have no place in it. The businessmen will oppose it because their unabated profiteering, their tax evasions, smuggling, and their violations of labor laws shall then become abated. The left shall also oppose it because they can be arrested, jailed, and be restrained for being enemies of the state and of the people. The Church might oppose it because its properties may be taxed and their unrestrained attacks against the government may be restrained and neutralized.

These rumors about revgov and martial law may even save the republic and protect the people from the abuses of the right and from the chaos abetted by the left.