Perfect storm

By Artchil B. Fernandez

“Those whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make mad.” This aptly describes the latest move of Du30. What madness has seized Du30 that in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic devastating the land he decided to shutdown ABS-CBN, the largest broadcasting network in the country?

Closing down ABS-CBN is one of Du30’s burning desires. The moment he assumed the presidency, he swore to end the existence of the giant network. In many of his public speeches, he castigated the network. At the end of last year (December 3, 2019) he vowed “I will see to it that you are out” and a few days later told the owners to sell the station since its franchise will not be renewed.

Thus Congress dominated by Du30’s allies sat on the eleven bills seeking to renew the franchise of ABS-CBN. Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said the renewal of the franchise is not a priority. The legislative mill only started to grind last February when protest actions were staged by various sectors calling for the renewal of the franchise. Finally, on March 10, 2020, the House held a hearing on the franchise of ABS-CBN.  In the same hearing, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) told the House that it will issue a provisional authority to ABS-CBN to operate while its franchise is being deliberated by Congress. The franchise expired on May 4, 2020.

The saga of ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal came to a tragic conclusion last May 5, 2020, at 7:52 pm when the television network along with its radio stations all over the country signed off. Instead of giving the provisional authority to operate as it promised Congress and the Senate (which also passed a resolution on the matter), the NTC instead issued a “cease and desist” order.  Du30 finally had his way. He is victorious but at what price?

A crisis is both a threat and an opportunity. The raging COVID-19 pandemic is a threat to the leadership of Du30 (if he fails to manage it) but it also provides him the opportunity to unite the nation and redeem his faltering and incompetent leadership. Du30’s move to shutdown ABS-CBN amidst a pandemic reveals he chose personal vendetta instead of uniting the nation. What an opportunity (which will not come again) Du30 not only missed but has thrown away.

From the very start, Du30 governed by dividing the nation. He weaponized the agencies of the state (court, Congress, and the bureaucracy) to persecute and hound his perceived enemies including the critical media. His foul and dirty mouth further fanned the flames of division, hostility, partisanship by verbally abusing those he hates (including the Catholic Church) and feeding his fanatics with a regular dose of the poison of hatred and enmity.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the limitations of management or governance by hatred.  In the time of crisis, the cooperation of the citizens is vital for the government to manage and handle the pandemic. Citizens’ cooperation is only possible when the leadership of the country an abundance of social capital – trust.

Instead of generating trust, Du30’s politics of hatred and division resulted in an erosion of whatever social capital he has. His vindictive decision to close ABS-CBN only widened the political divide in the country and sharpened the partisan division. Instead of winning over those on other side of the fence, the closure only hardens opposition to his leadership and strengthens their resolve to oppose his administration. Since the closure of the station affected many of its employees who are his supporters, this further reduced the already shrinking support base of Du30. He only earned additional opponents.

The hardening and widening opposition to Du30’s leadership produced by ABS-CBN closure converges with the destructive COVID-19 pandemic. Du30 only made it hard and difficult for him to manage the health crisis with the nation divided by hatred and bitterness. Complicating the situation is the impending shrinking of the country’s economy brought about by the crippling two-month lockdown.

Loss of social capital, stiffening opposition and hardening of political division, pandemic, and economic meltdown, this is a perfect recipe for a political disaster. Du30 created a perfect political storm by closing ABS-CBN in time of pandemic with a highly polarized political climate and looming economic crisis.

It will be interesting to see how the intermingling of various forces will play out as the country copes with the COVID-19 pandemic. Du30 could have used the largest network in the country to preach the gospel of unity to forge a united front against COVID-19 and weather the economic disaster it brought. Instead, he used ABS-CBN as a means to sow discord and antagonism further dividing the nation.

How will he ride out the perfect political storm he created? Will his troll army and dwindling fanatics save him from the storm? The perfect storm will compel Du30 to rely more and more on force and intimidation to handle the growing and widening opposition to his rule. To what extent and how far will the military go to support him as he becomes harsher in dealing with dissent in the political storm he stoked?

The words of Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray are the most appropriate commentary on the act of Du30 to close ABS-CBN. “By silencing voices we’re doing a disservice to our countrymen who need it most. At a time in our history, we should be remembered for how we all come together to serve each other. When we look back, what will be remembered instead?” When people look back, they will see how Du30 facilitated the destruction not only of the nation but that of his leadership as well. Insane indeed!