“Unity” no more
The two rallies held in Luneta and Davao last January 28 point to a worsening political crisis in the Philippines as we witness intense contradictions between erstwhile allies Marcos and Duterte. The gloves are off. The incendiary rhetoric will intensify from hereon in.
Make no mistake, both represent reactionary interests even as they stand opposed on different issues. Both factions should be held accountable for the sufferings they have imposed on the Filipino people. Both are subservient to imperialism, whether US, China or both. Both have records of human rights violations and abuse of power. Neither are opposed to imperialism, feudalism and bureaucrat capitalism.
At the end of the day, we cannot place our hopes in any of these factions given the reactionary interests they represent. It is important that the people continue to aspire and fight for genuine change, not the sham “Bagong Pilipinas” and definitely not a return to the previous regime.
As the reactionaries bicker over who controls the spoils, we will continue to fight against charter change and all efforts to perpetuate the current regime in power. We will continue to resist human rights violations and large-scale bureaucratic corruption. We likewise stand opposed to any suggestion of a Duterte restoration. We continue to fight the phase-out of jeepneys, the low wages for workers, and the landlessness afflicting our farmers. We will continue to hold Duterte accountable for the crimes against humanity during his reign of terror, as well as hold accountable the Marcoses for the atrocities of Martial Law as well as those under the present regime. Amid the intensifying contradictions of the ruling elite, the people must organize and develop their independent movement for change. It is only through the realization of the national and democratic aspirations of the Filipino people – land reform, national industrialization, respect for human rights, an independent foreign policy – can genuine change be achieved.
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