Its quite chaotic and somehow ironic on how the President make people believed this and that…
By: Gene Albert Coles
Tags: Philippine Killings, Human Rights, Presidentduterte, Beagoodhuman, Justice System

Its quite chaotic and somehow ironic on how the President make people believed this and that despite him being equivocal on his statements.

He's a man who create loopholes on loopholes, experienced lawyer, and politicians. Grounded on his guts, a strong-willed stateman with various positive and negative labels Filipinos and international standpoints generated towards him. Theres a sense of wonder why he's not shattered or even terrified of the threats against him?

Thats maybe because, he knows POLITICS very well.

With the lens of realistic perspective and sense of objectivity, breaking down his statement can somehow tell us reasons why he can always scape and his words wont be used against him.

First:

"I will protect you. I will not allow one policeman or one military go to jail."

(2016 public address to uniform personnel involved in "war on drugs")

This statement is equivocal and is doubled-edged. He can always say whatever he wants, and based on Machiavelian realist perspective, such kind of strategy and emphasis of authority is necessary in order to enforce order. Nonetheless, in our justice system; mere statement is baseless without 'proof of the act' or shall we say 'if a person has been an accessory to the crime' or an proven accomplice. Though, we can somehow interpret his statement as a way to 'encourage', but, it is not sufficient. He can always find ways to justify his intention or even evade allegations that will make his name involved.

Second:

"My orders are sa police pati sa military, pati mga barangay pagka ginulo at nagkaroon ng okasyon na lumaban at buhay niyo ay nalagay sa alanganin, shoot them dead. Naintindihan niyo? Patay!"

(2020 address in the onslaught of covid-19 hike, and implementation of quarantine protocols)

His statement, at first view, is hostile and serious. But, there is discretion that requires some caution on its, again, 'equivocal' orientation.

The statement 'pagka ginulo at nagkaroon ng okasyon na lumaban at buhay niyo ay nalagay sa alanganin' implicitly imply the need for 'assessment' on the situation of the attendant at field upon experiencing conflict. In here, his words, again can be baseless as he could always find loopholes. For example, let us as assume that there really is a 'killing' that had happened on sight of

quarantine checkpoints. When eople condemn the act, he can always go back to his 'cautions' i cited on the first line of the second sentence above and use it for his own hand-cleansing. Thus, making him safe and evasive from any accountability.

He might sound 'encouraging' but his statement is not 'A proclamation' nor 'Law’, thus, it will not necessarily take away the observance of legal and ethical measures in handling conflict, as there still exist 'maximum tolerance' and 'due process' to be abided, hence, it lies upon the attendants, whether he or she will follow the words, but, neither the two will legally make the President involved on any course of action, hence, there is still a need to follow moral obligations on the side of those authorities executing their duties.

Third:

"Look, it can never be a crime to say 'I will kill you if you Destroy my Country."

(2016 statement as defense on killing criminals)

This is a tricky statement. Well, he's got a point. He knew it by fact that a 'mere statement' can never be a crime, the implication of democracy applies to all citizens despite their political and social positions, though in some point, the essence of democracy can somehow be gate-kept or even shunned, but, naturally, like how constitution says it, he's entitled with 'freedom of expression', and by law 'his statements can be used against him'. Nonetheless, before a statement be treated as valid, he still need to be caught-on-the act, doing or organizing killings, and without proof, he will still remain safe. Though, not in most times the same protection applies to all levels, but, its what it should be ( all citizen should enjoy impartiality and same level of protection by law, void of this, is a different story).

But then again, his mere statement can somehow be encouraging, however, he's in a 'playsafe' position. The discretion is on the people who will create meaning and interpretation of what he said, but, he's got a point to lay claim that SAYING "I will kill you." can never be a crime. Furthermore, even if there really exist killings, he can easily evade accountability to that occurences, because, he can always reason out that "he never killed anybody" (if he really did not) and he "never do the action". His words does not terminate the effects of laws that encourages moral obligation and provisions to uphold legalities in any means.

Therefore, the bottomline of this, our dear public servants, peace-keepers, and uniform personnels:

The President really knows the rules of the game. He have as more reasons and ways of escape as there exist number of impending charges against him. In the eyes of people, he might be a fascist, dictator, a killer, an enabler, intolerant but in law he's not yet proven of any guilt. So the bottomline of this is: the most affected ones are those who listen on his words, the confidence that were fueled by the President statements himself mislead and make way to the executioner's own sufferings.

Hence, my plead to those law enforcers who still wear pride and integrity on their uniforms, the discretion lies upon your conscience and personal judgements. Yes, it is your civic obligation as citizen to follow the order of the state, but, that does not vanish the fact that it is your moral obligation as 'human' to respect human, life, justice, and liberty.

SOMETIMES, NOT EVERYTHING THAT MAKES YOU A 'GOOD CITIZEN' THROUGH YOUR LOYALTY AND ALLEGIANCE OF THE STATE WILL ALSO MAKE YOU A 'GOOD HUMAN' BEING.

You have an independent mindset, faculty, principle, faith, and standpoint. You are just part of the system, hence, dont think that you are the system.

When time comes that things to get out of hand, you always have the choice to go out of it.

At the end of the day, if human justice wont reprimand and sanction or reward you of your good and bad deeds on land. The fair trial of God's court will sanction you with the cost and incentive that you deserve.

#BeAGoodHuman