Fake justice

By Artchil B. Fernandez

Administration of fakes, this is the most enduring hallmark of the Du30 administration.  This dark time of COVID-19 pandemic highlighted one of the fakes the Du30 administration has been promoting – fake justice. Fake justice is manifested in the double-standard of the current administration as shown by how it handles the deadly pandemic now ravaging the nation.

“Sumunod na lang kayo (just obey)!” is the mantra of the administration as it enforces rules an regulations governing the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). Yet, in practice two standards exist in the implementation of the rules and the law in general.  One standard is for ordinary citizens and another set of standard for the officials and supporters of the Du30 administration. The case of Elanel Egot Ordidor, a Pinay caregiver in Taiwan clearly illustrates the double-standard of the Du30 administration.

The Department of Labor (Dole) through Labor Attaché Fidel Macauyag demanded that Taiwan deports Ordidor for trying to “discredit and malign” the Du30 administration. She is accused of attempting to “destabilize” the government through “willful posting of nasty and malevolent materials against Duterte.” On her Facebook page, Ordidor posted a video expressing her frustration on how Du30 handles the COVID-19 pandemic. She accused Du30 of incompetence among other critical remarks.

In contrast, the Du30 administration through presidential spokesperson Harry Roque (on second lease) declared that the controversial video produced by the Chinese Embassy, Iisang Dagat is covered by free speech. The video is a Chinese propaganda portraying Filipinos expressing their gratefulness to the help extended by China to the Philippines as it grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic which originated in that country. Filipinos are outraged by the brazen attempt of China to gloss over the issue of its theft of Philippine territory and pushing the idea that it owns the West Philippine Sea. As of this writing the propaganda video generated 196,000 dislikes and a measly 3,400 likes indicating the depth of anger and fury of Filipinos on the Chinese action.

Instead of condemning China for peddling its lies through the propaganda video, the Du30 administration excused Chinese shameless action as covered by free speech. However, it views the video of Elanel Ordidor as “destabilizing” ignoring the Bill of Rights of Philippine Constitution which guarantees the right of Filipinos to express their grievances. Double standard is clear – a Chinese propaganda justifying the theft of Philippine territory is “free speech” while a video a Filipino citizen expressing her views on the government’s action on the pandemic is a threat.

The Taiwan government refused to act on DOLE deportation request. It instead rebuffed the Du30 administration’s action against a Filipino citizen. “Taiwan is a sovereign, independent country where foreign workers enjoy ‘citizen treatment,’ and their rights and interests are protected by relevant laws and regulations, including freedom of speech, which should be respected by governments of all countries,” the Taiwanese Foreign Ministry declared. It is incredible that a foreign country is protecting a Filipino citizen from the persecution of the Philippine government. How the Du30 administration treats the violators of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) rules also illustrates its fake justice or double standard. Former army soldier Winston Ragos was shot dead by police for violating quarantine rules despite the plea of his neighbors to the police team to leave him alone informing them he is suffering from mental illness due to war shock. Instead of disabling Ragos, the police shot him dead. A vendor was also beaten black and blue for not wearing a mask.

Contrast the treatment of administration officials who broke quarantine rules. Sen. Koko Pimentel was given compassion after going to a supermarket and hospital despite being a person under investigation (PUI).  His test result later showed he is positive of COVID-19 virus. Fake news queen Mocha Uson, who is an OWWA deputy administrator held a mass meeting of quarantined OFWs, an unmistakable flaunting of ECQ rules. No high official said anything about Uson’s violation. She is untouchable and can break any rules or laws. Being fake news queen, Uson is the main beneficiary of fake justice.

While a health worker was fined 5,000 pesos for back riding on her way to the hospital, policemen/women back riding on duty made headlines in social media. The people of Antique are still mad at BJMP-6 for allowing its personnel to travel to the province pending the result of their COVID-19 test. One of the personnel later tested positive of the virus.

These are just some of the examples but the list of violations of people in authority of ECQ rules is getting longer everyday. Yet the same people come hard on ordinary citizens who broke the rules, most of them forced to go out to look for food.

Mocha Uson supported the move to deport Ordinor while she also posted a video of her spewing dirty, foul and unprintable words against Vice President Leni Robredo. Uson’s video is not only below the belt attack, it is patently slanderous. Free speech again was invoked in Uson’s case but Ordinor is not entitled to it.

Justice is fake under the Du30 administration. Ordinary citizens are punished for violations of the law, particularly ECQ rules while officials can break the rules and get away with it. Free speech is only for praising Du30, slandering the opposition or promoting Chinese propaganda. Fake justice abounds in Hitler’s Nazi Germany and in today’s North Korea and China. Du30 it seems is determined to transform the Philippines into their mold.