Published by Bayan Metro Manila
Instead of deliberating the extension of the BAHO Law, Congress should spend its last session week by conducting an emergency probe on the bungled COVID-19 response of the government.
Congress should not simply accept the weekly reports of Malacanang without questioning its content.
But even if these reports are used as a basis to extend or even expand the emergency powers of the president, then Congress has more reasons to castigate the ineptitude of the government. The early reports were bereft of a detailed plan to fight COVID-19 while the succeeding ones exposed the slow distribution of relief and assistance to the vulnerable segments of the population. The reports also showed the slow roll-out of testing capacities across the country.
Duterte has enough powers as president to deal with the public health crisis. The BAHO law gave him a broader mandate to realign funds, expedite procurement, and mobilize the bureaucracy to strengthen the country’s preparedness in containing COVID-19.
But after two months of prolonged lockdown suffering, the country is nowhere near in flattening the coronavirus curve. Officials continue to provide conflicting views and data on mass testing, the delay and insufficient distribution of relief have exacerbated poverty and hunger levels, and lockdown-related human rights abuses have intensified.
Duterte has caused more confusion through his uninspiring and unscientific remarks during his late-night speeches. He directed state troops to attack lockdown ‘violators’. He blamed the opposition, activists, and the communist movement to downplay the shortcomings of his government.
The BAHO Law was weaponized to run after online critics of politicians.
Extending the BAHO Law is a nod of approval for the incompetence of the Duterte government. It is additional torture to citizens who remain blind and exposed to the COVID-19 threat because of the lack of mass testing programs and comprehensive medical response.
It is adding injury to those who lost a dear friend or family member because of lockdown restrictions and abuses. It is an insult to the poor who have yet to receive a cash subsidy from the government. It disregards the suffering of workers who had to contend with the government’s failure to properly plan how public transportation, local livelihood, and essential services will continue to be provided while mainland Luzon is under lockdown.
Congress should use its remaining sessions days to probe the extent of corruption after it handed out a lump sum amount to the office of the president. It should respond to the clamor of the public who are seeking accountability, transparency, and justice for the criminal negligence of the Duterte government.
Now is not the time to curry favors from Malacanang. Instead, legislators should listen to the suffering of their constituents and demand accountability from the Duterte government.
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