It has been deleted from the official site, but many were able to save the video released Wednesday by the Presidential Communications Operation Office exhorting the people to support President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao. Martial law is a way to fight extremist [sic], the video said.
The controversial message was delivered haphazardly using bad cartoons and baffling language. “In the free society, there are groups who don’t want to give independence. They are adamant on detaining peaceful spirits. They are distressing feelings with fears. Let us not allow them to terrify us. We will all fight in unity. Martial law should be the rule of the land. Martial law. Now.”
It’s an utter waste of taxpayer’s money. Even the presidential spokesman has distanced himself from the video and has pointed to the communication secretary who has been committing so many gaffes it is a marvel he still has a job.
Such blunders are unacceptable, per se, but even more so during uncertain times like this. Many are at a loss on what is truly happening in Marawi City, for instance, and it is easy to give in to confusion, fear, speculation—even hysteria.
And these do not just happen in places remote from the capital.
Friday morning’s incident at Resorts World Manila, a stone’s throw away from the international airport and a showcase of the country’s tourism, hospitality and gaming industry, showed us that wrong information could be just as bad as no information. In Friday’s early hours when hardly any details were yet available, social media was flooded with theories and speculation about what was happening and what will yet occur. The acrimonious exchange of views among influencers, impassioned social media users and trolls also did not help.
We must also see past the hype. These things occur because they have root causes. They are symptoms of a bigger problem, which will continue long after we become weary talking about them. Getting carried away by the tide or making this all about politics will not do us any good. Instead, we have to look into the causes, break them down into their components, and address them, squarely and without fanfare.
These are challenging times for the Philippines. Now, more than ever, everybody from the leader of the land to the most ordinary citizens need a level head on his or her shoulders.