CebuDailyNews.Inquirer.net
My column on the Ateneo bullying incidentdrew complaints from readers who were upset over what they felt were subtle, indirect criticisms of Duterte.
“Talagang inisiksik yung sa President e. Pilit na pilit,” read one comment.
“Please leave politics out of this,” another said.
My essay was mainly about the brave young man who stood up to a bully. The bully has been dismissed from the Ateneo. So now we can fully turn the spotlight on the bigger picture beyond that horrifying attack inside an Ateneo High School bathroom.
Apparently, what I wrote led to a bit of misunderstanding, even confusion. I guess I should apologize. For we have enough confusion in our world today. It is not a time for any misunderstanding, for vague, fuzzy, ambiguous or even subtle pronouncements.
***
Sapagkat bulag lang or nagbubulagan ang hindi nakauunawa ng mga ito.
Na sa ilalim ni Duterte laganap, matindi, garapal ang pambubutangero.
Sa ilalim ni Duterte, na pinagmalaki noong isang araw kung paano niya pinagsamantalahan ang kasambahay noong bata siya, na sinabihan ang mga sundalong okay lang ang mang-rape, na humirit na pinauna sana siya ng mga presong sa pag-rape sa isang misyonaryong Australyana, karaniwan na lang, hindi nakakabigla ang walang pakundangang kawalanghiyaan.
Sa ilalim ni Duterte, ang presidenteng nag-udyok sa mga pulis at mga karaniwang mamamayan na patayin ang kahit sinong pinaghihinalaang pusher at adik, kahit walang ebidensya, kahit walang imbestigasyon, kahit walang due process, nangangahas ang mga balasubas na mang-abuso ng kapwa Pilipino.
Sa ilalim ni Duterte, ang lider na mahilig magmura at mambastos sa kahit sinong tumutol o kumalaban sa kanya, naeengganyong mambastos at manalbahe ang mga tarantado sa bawat antas ng lipunan.
Sa ilalim ni Duterte, ang pinunong naging inspirasyon sa isang malawakang patayan, nagkakalakas ng loob ang mga masasamang loob na manakit, mambusabos, pumatay ng kapwa.
****
Bullies have been around for a long time. Duterte did not create them. But with his rise to power, they were unleashed. They were set loose. They’ve felt emboldened to harass, to abuse — to kill.
In the age of Duterte, bullying is bloody, deadly, merciless.
More than 4,000 dead. Another 22,000 deaths under investigation, suspected to be inked to the so-called war on drugs.
This is according to police themselves. Human rights groups believe the death toll is higher.
No due process. No investigations. No trial. These were suspects. But they had to be killed. After all, police say, they resisted. They fought back.
***
Nanlaban.
Sa panahon ni Duterte, walang awa ang butangero.
Nanlaban.
Ganoon daw ang ginawa ni Kian delos Santos. Nanlaban.
Pero sa CCTV footage, iba ang istorya. Sa isang madilim na sulok, kinaladkad ang teenager. Nagmamakaawa: “Tama na po. May test pa ako bukas.”
Sa mababagsik na butangero, walang saysay ang awa. Hindi na pinapili si Kian: Bugbog o dignidad? Hindi na siya hinayaang mabuhay.
****
In the Duterte years, bullying is routine.
It was another PNP sideshow, when a suspected criminal, rebel or rogue cop would be presented to media and then berated, and even humiliated by a PNP or military big shot in front of the TV cameras.
That day Police Chief Guillermo Eleazar was supposed to be the star. The designated villain was Edgardo Officer Valencia. He allegedly raped the teenage daughter of a couple accused of being drug pushers. He allegedly told the couple that they could go free if he could have the girl.
Eleazar, the police chief, was looking tough, scolded the policeman with a stern face. But then something went wrong. But the cop, the designated kontrabida, went off script.
“Sir hindi na po bago sa ating mga operatiba yan pag may nahuhuli tayong drug pusher.”
This is nothing new, sir, he said. Raping, abusing a suspect, even a child, in exchange for better treatment, sir, that’s nothing new.
What’s the problem, sir. That’s routine. That’s the way it is.
****
Sa panahon ni Duterte, ang butangero nagiging praktikal.
Pwede rin kasing pagkakitaan ang pambubully. Hindi nakakagulat ang pulis na nangongotong ng mga mamamayan, lalo na mga mahihirap.
Alam ito ng matandang babaeng kasama sa mga ikinulong na parang hayop sa nakatagong sulok ng isang police station sa Tondo.
“Iyong anak ko po naiwan,” umiiyak niyang sabinoong palabasin sila sa wakas ng mga miyembro ng Commission on Human Rights.
Hinuli daw sila dahil mga pusher at durugista sila. Pero binigyan sila ng pagkakataong pumili.
Bugbog o dignidad? Aba hindi. Kwarta o kulungan?
Bayad ng P1000,000 o kahit 30,000, laya na kayo.
***
“Bugbog o dignidad” sabi ng bully sa Ateneo.
Sa panahon ni Duterte, balewala iyan.
Sa panahon ni Duterte, mas nanduduro, mas nakamamatay kung manindak ang butangero.
Sa panahon ni Duterte, ang bully walang awa.
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