Much ado about nothing

With the inconsequential number of participants in the observance of EDSA revolt, the message is clear that the event has lost its significance. The one bright shining moment in our history has lost its embers expunged by divisive politics and sectors who thought they have the title to that small piece of land at EDSA and an exclusive franchise of that once famous brand identified with Filipinos: People Power.

Blame it on the Catholic Bishops of the Philippines and the well-heeled aristocracy, who days before, defined the mode of celebration. They raised the decibels of its spiritual propaganda against the Duterte administration. The pipsqueak political opposition along with the cabal of insignificant others gathered in the EDSA Shrine. A small group of young celebrants identified with Duterte was spat at by an Australian Citizen.

His face became the icon of the event. Uncouth and uncivilized he succeeded only in underscoring the tragedy that indeed, the EDSA revolt which, upon its birth was a symbol of unity and Filipino courage, is nothing but one brief moment of glitter in our history and a victory of just another political regime.

Thank the Almighty their numbers are scarce and many are petrified mentally and physically.

But elsewhere, in Luneta, people from all walks of life converged. They are the unwanted in EDSA. They sang a different tune. They openly declared their support for Rodrigo Duterte. It would have been of greater and with more significant impact if the people who organized the assembly took charge of the event. Sadly some cabinet members commandeered the stage and acted like comedians.

What counsel should the President's men absorb? Disregard the blabbering Antonio Trillanes. Take the cue from Duterte's quip. 'Trillanes is too insignificant to be given importance'. Forget De Lima. It's too much ado about nothing. The Court will take care of her. Pursue the campaign against drugs. You have broken the backbone of the syndicate and demolished the marketing apparatus that operates in the heart of the national penitentiary.

Take hold of the numbers. The survey firms say Duterte has an unprecedented support of the people. This simply means that they approved of the President's all out war against drugs and campaign against corruption. There are slips here and there but many of these are vestiges of the past administration that nurtured criminality and institutionalized corruption. Do not be cowed by the sound bites coming from politicized pulpits. The liars among the witnesses should do their mea culpa inside the church confessional box not in the Senate or Congressional Hall. Stop the zarzuela we have an overdose of lies and contradictions.

The Duterte administration has a lot of achievements and unprecedented number of projects in the pipeline. This should not be jarred by intramurals among the President's men.

And if I have to advise the President himself, crack that party whip and remind everybody inside his corral that you are a team and no one should rise above anybody at the expense of another.

(Mr. Jun Ledesma is a community journalist who writes from Davao City and comments from the perspective of a Mindanaoan)