President Rodrigo Duterte used the commemoration of the martyrdom of national hero Jose Rizal to emphasize the importance of his war on illegal drugs.
“As in his time, the country is still fighting for independence,” he said, noting that in the present day, the country fights for freedom from the bondage of illegal drugs, among others.
These, he said, were the modern invaders that subjugate the people’s hearts, minds and spirits. In battling these, people needed to be willing heroes like Rizal—patriotic, faithful, and loyal to our motherland, the President said.
It is interesting to hear Mr. Duterte acknowledge that we are now at a significant phase in growth and development. That this is his priority is not apparent. What we see is his unbridled zeal in going after those in the drug trade—never mind that it clearly takes a toll on his record for respecting basic rights, and that it has attracted the attention of the international community in a less-than-flattering way.
Heroism and martyrdom are also dangerous terms to invoke. Rizal lost his life 120 years ago under extremely different circumstances, condemned by foreign conquerors for daring expose their ills and inciting the people to resist them.
These days, there is much question—indignation—over those who are martyred in the name of the fight against illegal drugs. We are led to believe that the menace is an evil so much bigger than the individual and sometimes innocent lives that get snuffed out as collateral damage. A recent survey says most Filipinos live in fear that they, or somebody they know, could fall prey to those claiming to be waging the President’s war.
And since Mr. Duterte’s speech may be taken to mean just about anything, it can be argued that he is asking Filipinos to open themselves up to heroism by blindly accepting that there must be a human cost, unreasonable as it is, in this war. This, we resist. We will never be willing.
Rizal died hoping that one day his countrymen would live their days in independence. We also look forward to the day the Philippines would be free of the drug menace—without the ultimate sacrifice of our lives, or our desensitization to the inhumane manner the campaign is carried out.