The government's multiple "Ides of March"
The phrase "Ides of March" was a literary creation of William Shakespeare, from the history of Rome and the biography of its leader, Julius Caesar. This was a warning by a soothsayer that Caesar's political enemies in the Roman Senate, led by his friends Brutus and Cassius, were plotting to overthrow him, or assassinate him. But Caesar laughed it off, and so he was slain in the Senate stairs where, before he died, he whispered his utter disillusionment: "Et tu, Brute?" or in English: "And also you, Brutus ?'' We are not saying that President Rody Duterte would say this to Speaker Bebot Alvarez: "Hasta Ikaw ba Bebot?"
I believe Inday Sarah Duterte-Carpio when she said that Alvarez was quoted as saying: "He is only the President. I am the Speaker. I can have him impeached." If this was true, then there is trouble in the administration party. I don't think that Inday Sarah's formation of the "Hugpong Ng Pagbabago" was without the approval of Manong Digong. Hugpong is his Plan B in the event that Alvarez becomes too unwieldy and PDP Laban would self-destruct because, locally, there shall be in-fighting for survival and supremacy. Duterte is a master political player who knows how to move his cards in the right place at the right time. He is not like Julius Caesar who did not know what hit him because he refused to read the handwritings on the wall.
"Ides of March," if referred to the current government, is not only about political survival, supremacy, assassination or party betrayals. The prognosis is worse and the enemies are many.This government is facing many multi-headed hydra, and it must be alert and decisive in the defense of the nation and the people. The lingering presence of global terrorists, led by ISIS and Jamiya Islamiya, acting through Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups, and exacerbated by the resumption of hostilities between the military and the CPP/NPA/NDF.
Moreover, China continues to intrude into our economic zones in the South China Sea, and even towards the Pacific from the Benham Rise. The nation's unity shall be tested by many earth-shaking events: push for federal government; proposed Bangsa Moro autonomous state; looming impeachment of the Chief Justice and the Ombudsman; Dengvaxia imbroglio; plot to postpone the Barangay and SK elections; the No-El plan for 2019; and many more divisive initiatives.
We just have to brace ourselves for a stormy summer.Up in the horizon are dark clouds indicating that we must protect ourselves from the many "Ides of March."
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