Instigation

Ben Contreras

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s steady popularity will make it very difficult for any destabilization move to succeed. Altough it is now common knowledge that wealth/money from a certain sector is seen flowing into the hands of the exploited to make the din for them, the latter is seen to be willing souls on the side of PRRD just in case things reach a point where nobody would love to be in. For them, like it is for those who use their dirty money, it’s just business, plain business.

Although we cannot discount the possibility of an outside/foreign intervention but should an ugly confrontation happen, bloodshed will be on the hands of those who instigated it. Worse, they themselves or their families could also be among the casualties unless they all fly out of the country before things happen.

Are there other options? Of course, there are. Federalism is not palatable for the elite or the so-called “Imperial Manila.” I hate this term. But because many things are vested in Manila, that any approval of any important undertaking has to be made in Manila which make it difficult and expensive for the citizens from the provinces, coupled with the red tape in the bureaucracy, the exasperation make these unnecessarily burdened people label Manila as “imperial.” Thus, Imperial Manila is unwittingly stoking the flames for federalism. And federalism is just a breath away to Mindanao independence.

Destabilization would be counter-productive. Apparently, people now know better as evidenced by the failure of the Edsa celebration which didn’t draw the expected or desired crowd. But if they insist on pursuing their goal and result in a physical confrontation, I am almost certain that the very same political figures and their elite allies won’t be at the frontlines to lead the exploited. The exploited always become the first victims.

I cannot imagine Imperial Manila fighting their own war in their own territory while Mindanao celebrates her independence.

The cooler heads would certainly register their opposition to any destabilization move. Who would ever want to see a dismembered nation? Besides, the plotters need to consider the Duterte die-hards, majority of them are from the lower echelons of our society, and they are legions.

Let me ask this question in their language: Ano kaya ang hitsura nila kung namatayan na ng kapamilya? Would they also really allow foreigners to make a Syria of our country?

We’ve been laughed at by foreigners for our lack of love for our country, our having no sense of patriotism. Isn’t it time to stand up and proudly say, “I am a Filipino and I love my country, the Philippines”?

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The widening of two bridges in Opol is taking too long to finish and has become an irritant to the motorists and the public in general. The absence of a perspective drawing makes people wonder what DPWH is constructing. With a perspective drawing for the public to see makes it worth waiting for and may subdue people’s anger during a traffic jam.

As it is now, motorists are unnecessarily inconvenienced when the flow of traffic comes to a snail pace. You see their guides signaling motorists to move faster forgetting that the surface of the unfinished bridge is not even but rough and rugged. Not only that, for those on motorcycles, they have to eat dust if they’re not wearing helmets.

So, what’s delaying it? Is it the funding or the release of it? It can’t be inefficiency of the contractor because the contractor has enough heavy equipment to do the job fast.

In most cases, project delays are caused by lack of funds. Sigh!