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[av_heading heading=’PEOPLE POWWOW ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY HERBERT VEGO
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Sunday, November 26, 2017
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RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE, so the public believes, won on his promise of eradicating illegal drugs “in three to six months.” As President for almost a year and a half and in the wake of his “war on drugs” that has cost the lives of thousands of alleged pushers and users, he still boasts of fulfilling that promise.
“If I cannot control drugs, then maybe it is time for me to think about resignation,” said Duterte last Friday in San Miguel, Bulacan.
Does Duterte fit the “Machiavellian” image whose “altruism” stems from lust for power?
The adjective Machiavellian sprang from the name of a gentle 16th-century diplomat from Florence, Italy – Niccolo Machiavelli – who rose to fame after writing the book The Prince (1513), which is still considered the wily politicians’ guide book.
In his time, Machiavelli advised Italian rulers, “Might makes right,” and therefore should not hesitate to use cunning, cruelty and even dishonesty while wielding power.
Machiavelli intended The Prince to be read by only one person, Medici, the ruler of Florence whose passion was to unite Italians and restore their ancient glory.
But Medici, a devout Christian, not only turned him down but also condemned and imprisoned him as “spokesman for the Devil.”
It was not until the 19th century that Machiavelli’s book emerged as a “school of political thinking.”
The late Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, in declaring martial law in 1972 “to create the New Society,” was said to have repeatedly read The Prince.
In that book, Machiavelli specifically stressed that the rulers who had succeeded were those of sterner stuff, those who could cow the multitude into quiet obedience.
One of the jokes being whispered during the martial law years was that Marcos was a reincarnation of the abusive King Luis XVI who inherited the throne of France in 1776.
It is ironic that the Philippines, which is reputedly the only Christian nation in Asia, has repeatedly been governed by Machiavellian rulers who would do everything “for the people” to achieve their ambition.
One recalls an epochal event in history: the mad scramble for leadership of the revolutionary movement pitting Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Aguinaldo in the 1890s. The power struggle ended with the sudden death of Bonifacio (allegedly in the hands of Aguinaldo’s men) while Aguinaldo moved on to become first president of the Philippine Republic in 1897. Aguinaldo, of course, never admitted having masterminded the crime.
There is no need to explain why the Philippine Congress has the negative reputation of being home to “senatongs” and “representathieves.” Since their expected earnings would not even be sufficient to break even, they would have to deal under the table with contractors and suppliers for a share of “pork.”
The entry of P6.4 billion worth of shabu from China via the green lane of the Bureau of Customs has awakened hitherto Duterte admirers from their deep sleep. To this day, the President has done nothing to expose the perpetrators of the crime.
While promising to elevate the well-being of their constituents, most political leaders have personal aggrandizement in mind. By keeping their constituents poor, the latter stay supportive of them for survival crumbs.
The first president of the Philippine Senate, Jose Avelino, was quoted to have asked, “What are we in power for? We are not hypocrites. Why should we pretend to be saints when in reality we are not?”
Avelino died in 1986 at age 96, but the present politicians still listen to him speaking from the grave. (hvego31@gmail.com/PN)
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