Twists and Turns

So many recent developments are raising concerns for our country and intensifying the prevailing culture of fear nurtured by and in this present regime.

First, critics and nationalists are sounding the alarm about China’s increasing presence, control, and financial invasion of the Philippines. However, Du30 and his cronies assure Filipinos that China’s presence in Philippine territory is friendly, not threatening or alarming.

Hence, Du30 did not raise any protest when the Chinese were clearly building structures in Philippine territory. What about now with reports of Chinese maritime militia in Pag-asa Island and a Chinese dredging vessel spotted in Batangas?

Former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales and former Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario have taken China to the International Criminal Court for “committing crimes against humanity in connection with Beijing's activities to gain control over most of the resource-rich South China Sea.” Many Filipinos have signified their support and are praying for a positive outcome related to this move.

Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio warned that if the Philippines defaults on its payment of the $62-million Chinese loan for the Chico River Irrigation Loan Agreement, our country may lose the rich deposits in Reed or Recto Bank (reported to hold up to 5.4 billion barrels of oil and 55.1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas).

Carpio called on Filipinos to carefully review the loan agreements with China and protest and rescind onerous agreements and terms like those indicated in the Chico River Agreement governed by Chinese law and with dispute arbitration to be held in Bejing using the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission rules!

Despite international reports about the adverse effects of Chinese loans, why did DU30 and this administration endanger our country and our resources? Who reaped the benefits of these unfair loans with China and for how much?

Definitely, not the Filipino people, not our indigenous peoples who stand to lose their ancestral lands if the Chinese Chico Dam project, which was resisted strongly under Marcos dictatorship, is allowed under Du30.

On another unexpected incident, public outcry continues for justice and truth to be revealed related to the death of 14 farmers killed by police operatives last April 1. Now dubbed as the Negros Massacre, police insist their side fired back because the farmers, allegedly members and sympathizers of communist rebels, fought back. Critics, on the other hand, condemned the killing of defenseless farmers asserting their rights to land.

Their statement that “President Duterte is attacking his critics including people fighting for their rights” is shared by religious critics who have reported receiving death threats and by supporters and defenders of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa who has been slapped with several arrest warrants these past weeks.

Critics lament the threats to freedom of speech and truth. They also raise the double standard of law and justice under DU30 with the likes of Imelda Marcos and those found guilty for abusing public funds not arrested at all!

The assertion of Acierto, a former senior police official, that he submitted an intelligence report to the PNP, PDEA , to Senator Richard Gordon and other Malacañang officials about the alleged involvement of Yang, a close friend of Du30, in the illegal drug trade has been branded as election-related. Malacañang labeled the latest video expose about Du30 and his son Paolo’s alleged involvement in the drug trade in this country as black propaganda.

What other twists and turns will take place next?

Will truth be revealed about the Chinese presence and control, about the Negros Massacre, and the drug expose involving the Du30s?

Stay vigilant, everyone!