Kamakailan, humarap sa pagdinig ng Senado tungkol sa war on drugs si dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. Sa hearing, may ilang pag-amin ang dating pangulo sa naging madugong kampanya kontra iligal na droga.
Bukod pa rito, kabi-kabila rin ang naging hearing sa iba pang isyu ng bayan. Ano ang implikasyon nito sa nalalapit na Eleksyon 2025? Sasagutin iyan ng political scientist na si Prof. Aries Arugay sa buong panayam ng #TheMangahasInterviews.
Bukod pa rito, kabi-kabila rin ang naging hearing sa iba pang isyu ng bayan. Ano ang implikasyon nito sa nalalapit na Eleksyon 2025? Sasagutin iyan ng political scientist na si Prof. Aries Arugay sa buong panayam ng #TheMangahasInterviews.
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NewsTranscript
00:00:00What is the current state of affairs in the country, including issues and policies?
00:00:11What is the view of Professor Aris Arugay, Chairperson of the UP Political Science Department?
00:00:18Good day, Prof. Aris.
00:00:20Good day, Malu. Thank you very much again for the invitation to your program.
00:00:27Prof. Aris is a Doctor of Political Science from Georgia State University.
00:00:33He was a Fulbright Scholar and graduated from the University of the Philippines.
00:00:38He only received his Bachelor of Arts degree and Master's degree.
00:00:44Prof. Aris, please explain to us how to look at the issues that are happening.
00:00:51The most recent is the Senate hearing.
00:00:53How do you solve a problem like Duterte?
00:00:56What is the real situation in the hearings that he attended?
00:01:01Malu, we saw the political drama that unfolded in the Senate hearing.
00:01:11But we also know that these hearings have been going on for quite some time.
00:01:16The House has a version, the Senate has a version.
00:01:20I think this is related to the upcoming election.
00:01:28We know that the Congressional investigation in aid of supposedly legislation,
00:01:37because it is stated in the Constitution that the chambers of our Congress have the power to do this.
00:01:44But in practice, sometimes it becomes in aid of re-election more than legislation.
00:01:51But regardless of that, regardless of the motivation of our various politicians,
00:01:57the atmosphere changed regarding the appreciation of the legacies of the Duterte administration.
00:02:06We know that former President Duterte is perhaps the only president who stepped down from power
00:02:15with higher approval ratings compared to before he assumed power.
00:02:19He was just the president.
00:02:22And because of this, the appreciation of his leadership was really high.
00:02:30In fact, this was promoted by Bongbong Marcos' campaign and by the UNITEAM.
00:02:35And it definitely became a factor in their victory.
00:02:38Now, in the leadership of our political elites in Congress,
00:02:43it looks like they are looking at the Duterte legacy.
00:02:49And primarily, of course, the cornerstone of the Duterte legacy is the war on illegal drugs.
00:02:55So this is what was highlighted in the investigations until now.
00:02:59Prof. Aris, they say that when reporters look at the issue, there are two courts,
00:03:04the Court of Public Opinion and the Court of Law.
00:03:07In the Senate hearing, President Duterte accepted his legal, moral accountability by himself, all of it.
00:03:15But in the Court of Public Opinion, the people are divided.
00:03:18How should the issues be looked at as a political science professor?
00:03:22It's different.
00:03:24Yes.
00:03:25We heard, especially in the Senate, the excuse of other pro-Duterte senators,
00:03:32why they were not convicted.
00:03:34And we also know the allies of former President Duterte,
00:03:39that some are hiding now, they don't want to show themselves in the investigations
00:03:43because they think that Congress has no supposed legal and binding authority to investigate.
00:03:51Especially if the issues are related to violating the law.
00:03:57But the Philippines is not just legal and law.
00:04:05There is politics.
00:04:06And that politics has a broader scope than the law.
00:04:10So even if, let's say, when it comes to the Court of Public Opinion,
00:04:17it's still divided.
00:04:18Because we all know that the war on illegal drugs of former President Duterte
00:04:24is very popular.
00:04:26The approval rating is very high.
00:04:27But compared to other countries that launched this bloody war on illegal drugs,
00:04:33in Latin America like Mexico, Colombia, the approval rating is also high.
00:04:38I don't think there is a war on illegal drugs that is this violent,
00:04:44that the approval rating is not high.
00:04:46Because our analysis on the policy is that the effect is very clear.
00:04:52The fear factor, the deterrent effect,
00:04:56that you are afraid because of your acquaintance,
00:04:59or the acquaintance of your acquaintance who was stabbed or EJKed.
00:05:03And you think that, wow, because people were afraid, the problem was solved.
00:05:10And therefore, in my opinion, in the Court of Public Opinion,
00:05:13while it continues to be divided, we should ask ourselves,
00:05:18what are we as a society?
00:05:21That we have an acceptance that it's okay to die,
00:05:28it's okay for a criminal to commit a crime,
00:05:31and because he is a criminal, he has no right,
00:05:34that he did not go through the right process, the due process in court.
00:05:39What does it say to us as a society if we have such strong opinions,
00:05:44as we see on social media?
00:05:47Okay, but Prof. Aris, I think those public opinion polls are a bit nuanced.
00:05:52People support the war on drugs because there is peace in the communities,
00:05:58but there are people who are afraid that they should be killed,
00:06:02or that they should not kill the suspected users and pushers.
00:06:06What do you see there?
00:06:07It seems like there is a different picture there.
00:06:10People just don't want peace.
00:06:13The war on illegal drugs because there is peace,
00:06:17it's okay for people.
00:06:19In my opinion, in public opinion, this is a bit technical
00:06:24because sometimes when you ask in a survey,
00:06:27there is an order of questions,
00:06:31and according to our psychologists, our brains don't like contradiction.
00:06:36So sometimes, the question of whether you are approved for the drug war,
00:06:42if that is the first question, you will say yes.
00:06:45But if you are asked if it's okay to be shot, or to be EJKed, or to be killed,
00:06:50most of the Filipinos will say, no, you should not.
00:06:53Okay.
00:06:54You should be killed.
00:06:55But I am approved in the law enforcement approach to illegal drugs.
00:07:00In policy, sometimes the order of questions affects people's brains.
00:07:05So sometimes they will say, maybe it's okay to be killed
00:07:08because for me, it's important to have peace.
00:07:12But if you ask first if it's okay to be killed just to have security and order,
00:07:19we will see a high level of disapproval on that
00:07:23because it's so contradictory.
00:07:26The best way for you to save lives is to undermine the lives of others.
00:07:32What if you get arrested?
00:07:35In our justice system, those who are in jail now,
00:07:39according to studies, there are a lot of them who are innocent.
00:07:43So that is the very complicated nature of the drug war issue
00:07:50because the biggest issue here is our justice system.
00:07:54If our justice system works, it will have a big effect.
00:07:59But it won't. There are a lot of challenges.
00:08:01Our police system is broken. The court system is broken.
00:08:05Now, Prof. Aris, the issue here is accountability.
00:08:09Who should be responsible?
00:08:11President Duterte said that he will be responsible for all of this.
00:08:14But the truth is, 6,000 were killed by the government.
00:08:1920,000 so-called human rights defenders were killed.
00:08:23And some cases that were filed in the court
00:08:26were jailed by boots on the ground or by the police on the streets,
00:08:31not by whoever gave the order.
00:08:36That's the big issue here.
00:08:39Because the appreciation of the drug war of Duterte,
00:08:43it's like a small fish that was caught.
00:08:48And on the other hand, the real ones who gave the orders,
00:08:52because if you're the PO1 or the police who undertook the operations
00:08:56and said, it's okay, if you think you're threatened,
00:09:00use force, use your gun.
00:09:04If you don't follow it, it's insubordination.
00:09:07You might lose your job.
00:09:09So the dilemma of those below, those boots on the ground,
00:09:13it's clear that if I follow, I'll be liable for human rights violations.
00:09:17If I don't follow my superior, it's insubordination.
00:09:20I might lose my job.
00:09:22But I think it's clear here that Duterte's rhetoric
00:09:26that I'm the only one who will answer is, for me, a political trap.
00:09:30Because he's saying that there's no accountability
00:09:35for those who just followed my order.
00:09:38But that's not the law.
00:09:41There's command responsibility, but there's also direct responsibility.
00:09:46Even if you say that you just followed an order,
00:09:49don't you have your own judgment to think about
00:09:54whether it's right for me to say that I used undue violence
00:09:59or undue force, undermining due process and civil liberties.
00:10:06Okay.
00:10:07In the Senate, what President Duterte said when he was asked by Senator Risa Ontiveros
00:10:12if he was responsible for the death of Kian de los Santos or Carl, etc.
00:10:17But the President said that the confession of guilt is personal.
00:10:23He just said that the policy is different, the state policy is different.
00:10:29So that's what the International Criminal Court is looking at.
00:10:32If there's a state policy and the case he's facing is crimes against humanity,
00:10:39we also have a law here in the Philippines that is humanitarian.
00:10:44What's your view on that?
00:10:46Is the state policy different from the confession?
00:10:49That the death is his accountability because there's a state policy.
00:10:54I think it's a political strategy to really get ahead.
00:11:02Because when former President Duterte said,
00:11:05but you'd look at his approval rating, it's high.
00:11:08On the other hand, the people he should be with will be running for the 2025 elections.
00:11:18And therefore, we know that even if we say that only presidents have immunity
00:11:23and only members of Congress have parliamentary immunity,
00:11:26if you get a position of power in the Philippines,
00:11:30the more that you have impunity, regardless if there's a political will for you to be accountable.
00:11:40But we've never seen that. It's really more a political persecution.
00:11:44What's critical here is, was this approach to the drug war institutional and at the level of policy?
00:11:55If that's the case, then the responsibility should not only be personalized.
00:12:00And moving forward, this means that leaders or people should not only be replaced
00:12:06because if it's systematic and institutional, then there's really something wrong with our institutions.
00:12:13All right. You mentioned the allies of the President.
00:12:16There are some who did not appear as a part of the Senate committee,
00:12:25Senator Bongo and Senator Bato de la Rosa,
00:12:28because they themselves were involved in the supposed giving of money or payola for the killing of the police.
00:12:36It's not true, according to the House hearing.
00:12:38So what should be done?
00:12:40From the point of view of a political science professor,
00:12:45is it right or wrong for them to appear as senators of the investigation committee
00:12:55because they were also involved and did not appear?
00:12:58In basic leadership and in basic governance, we have a conflict of interest.
00:13:07In civil service rules, it's clear.
00:13:11For example, we are UP professors, we are civil servants.
00:13:15Of course, if we need to inhibit, if there is a glaring conflict of interest,
00:13:20because if that conflict of interest enters our decision-making or in any dispensation of our functions,
00:13:27that's a violation of civil service rules.
00:13:31The problem is that the senators are above.
00:13:33Therefore, while some of our laws are applicable to most of those who work for government,
00:13:41those who are public servants,
00:13:43the senators are regimes of exception.
00:13:47But in the end, I think this indicates that we need to have better,
00:13:53as voters, better discernment or the choice of senators.
00:14:01Because while there are no rules,
00:14:05there are no policies that you should inhibit if there is a glaring conflict of interest.
00:14:10One, are they aware that there is a conflict of interest?
00:14:12Maybe not.
00:14:13So, the discussion is over.
00:14:15But if there is, it means that it should be inhibited.
00:14:19And if the reason is, no, because I want to tell the truth in that forum,
00:14:26then call a press conference, right?
00:14:29But when you get to the hearing, you are there as a senator of the republic.
00:14:35You are there as someone who should answer questions.
00:14:39As a senator of the republic, empowered to investigate.
00:14:42You should be wearing a different hat.
00:14:46It's not because you were involved or there was an allegation that you were involved in the drug war.
00:14:51All right.
00:14:52What's in the law is anti-drug laws.
00:14:54Real, perceived, and apparent conflict of interest.
00:14:57So, those are the three items.
00:14:59So, in those three items, it seems like they shouldn't be included or inhibited.
00:15:06I hope they are Senator Bato and Senator Bongo.
00:15:09I think, let's be hypothetical, Ma'am Malu.
00:15:13If they were inhibited and they explained that I am doing this
00:15:18because I know that the Senate hearing is not the right platform because I am involved,
00:15:27I think the public will have more appreciation.
00:15:32It means that these people really care about integrity and credibility.
00:15:40What happened is that the hearings that are being held now become a platform for defense
00:15:47and pushing their own political interests and partisan agendas.
00:15:52So, it really became a political circus.
00:15:57I was about to say moro-moro, but it's really like bringing their own agendas to the hearings.
00:16:05There are also Senators who are not being included,
00:16:08but the perception of the people has become weak,
00:16:13or even very kid-gloves treatment was given to the former President Duterte.
00:16:19And they said that he actually dominated the entire hearing
00:16:23and even took advantage of it again and again.
00:16:25What is your view on that?
00:16:27What is your view on others who are not that independent or firm?
00:16:35The integrity factor in investigating President Duterte.
00:16:40Malu, our question is, what did they expect when they invited the former President Duterte?
00:16:46What did they expect to be his demeanor or behavior?
00:16:51Because we know that when he was President, he was already President.
00:16:56And all of that.
00:16:57He did not choose a place where his political style and rhetoric was being adjusted.
00:17:06And now, what do they expect?
00:17:09Because he is no longer President, his use of words will be more organized
00:17:15and he will be more polite to the Senators?
00:17:18At the end, I think what happened in the hearing, it's as if Duterte was still President.
00:17:24That was how he was treated.
00:17:26And I think the independence of the Senate is really critical here.
00:17:31It's supposed to be an independent and co-equal branch of government.
00:17:35They are always asserting that.
00:17:38But politically, what is coming out, with the exception of one or if not a few Senators,
00:17:46the way that the Senators treated Duterte was as if he was still President.
00:17:51I noticed that later in social media or in the comments,
00:17:55and even by former Senator Ping Lakson.
00:17:58It's as if Senator Rizal was the only one who stopped belittling him
00:18:04and how many times he said it was unacceptable to say, kill him, kill him.
00:18:10And I think, Malu, he should not have been the first.
00:18:16Because the hearing was supposed to really…
00:18:19Because we heard President Duterte many times about his drug war.
00:18:24I think he didn't say anything new about what he said.
00:18:29What we saw was another glaring admission of his command responsibility
00:18:38and even direct involvement both as Mayor of Davao and as President.
00:18:42So what is the lack of voices in the drug war?
00:18:45The victims and those who were left behind, those who were beaten, those who were EJKed,
00:18:50why were they not given a chance?
00:18:53Because I think that's what's important for people to hear, the faces of the drug war.
00:18:59The face of the drug war today is President Duterte, former President Duterte.
00:19:03But the victims, the real ones who lost their lives,
00:19:09and the widows who were left behind,
00:19:13we don't have a term for parents whose children died, right?
00:19:17I mean, orphans can, widows can,
00:19:20but that's how glaring the absence of emphasis that the investigation should really be about victims,
00:19:30it should really be about institutional process or procedure that was done.
00:19:41What happened was that it became a platform to defend.
00:19:46That's why when I was observing social media, the trolls were alive.
00:19:51Correct.
00:19:52They were alive before, now they are alive again.
00:19:55To defend Duterte.
00:19:56But the critics were also like that, not only to President Duterte for what he said,
00:20:03but also to the senators that if you weigh it, they think the measure of independence was not enough.
00:20:10Yes, definitely.
00:20:12I think that's why there's a comparison between the Quadcom hearings and the Senate hearing that just started.
00:20:23Of course, from the lens of politics, you can say that the Quadcoms are more aligned with the administration,
00:20:34the senators are really more of a mixed bag.
00:20:38But remember, some of those who appeared in the Senate and maybe in the House to a lesser extent,
00:20:44many of them are running for 2025.
00:20:47And we know that if you want to win, both as a senator or a member of the House or a party list rep,
00:20:56you need to, you shouldn't be defending the solid vote that Duterte supported because it's still sizable.
00:21:10And therefore, it's like a delicate balancing act.
00:21:14It's like the positions are not clear.
00:21:17Because trying to appease one side but also trying to appease the other side.
00:21:24Sometimes what happens there, you don't get any support because what you see is a pen sitter kind of.
00:21:32Now, Father Flavio said something in the Senate hearing.
00:21:38He called it propaganda that 300 families are being helped.
00:21:43Now, when President Duterte was asked about how this happened, he said that he's inciting the police to incite the suspects to fight.
00:21:53That's why many were killed.
00:21:54But what Father Flavio said was that all of the people they were helping had no guns.
00:21:59Most of them had guns on their heads and on their backs.
00:22:02And their hands and feet were covered.
00:22:05So it means they didn't fight.
00:22:07What does this tell you?
00:22:09That's why it's a good question from a resource person.
00:22:13If there are really guns, where are those guns?
00:22:17Where are they?
00:22:19So if there are hundreds of people fighting, it's supposed to be that there are hundreds of guns left.
00:22:24Because if they try to use force to evade arrest, as the justification for neutralization,
00:22:34the term neutralization, it's a bit misleading that the term used by the police is considered to be civilian force
00:22:44because neutralization is wrong.
00:22:47It's a military term, a warfare term.
00:22:50But the importance of reform and continued civilianization of the police is very clear.
00:23:00Because they shouldn't treat their fellow citizens like that.
00:23:07But on the other hand, this notion of non-fighting as a possible justification,
00:23:14that's why there should be an investigation.
00:23:17What is the protocol when it comes to arrests?
00:23:21And even if, let's say, this is really important to me,
00:23:28if the president tells you to give such kind of orders, it's different.
00:23:34And if it violates existing rules on human rights and civil liberties,
00:23:42then you should answer.
00:23:44All right.
00:23:45You said that 6,000 people were killed by government data,
00:23:51and most of them were fighting.
00:23:53The number of guns that were used,
00:23:55there were reports in the media, the photojournalists who covered,
00:24:00that there were a lot of guns with the same marking, caliber, registration number, etc.
00:24:07And to be honest, our problem is that there were a lot of children and women who were also killed.
00:24:13Maybe they weren't the ones who were fighting.
00:24:16And the issue is that there were also a lot of autopsy reports,
00:24:20that there were people who died from EJK, but were found to have pneumonia or cardiac arrest, etc.
00:24:26It means that the data here about war on drugs, not all of them will be published properly.
00:24:33That's right.
00:24:34And thus, the importance of these investigations,
00:24:39the counterfactual here, if the Quadcom and the Senate don't argue,
00:24:45of course, the Senate is just a reactionary.
00:24:47I think if there are no Quadcom hearings, the Senate won't have a hearing on this.
00:24:52Because Senator Rizontiveros, beyond the scope of the committee that was given to him,
00:25:00because most of the committees relevant to the drug war issue are chaired by different senators.
00:25:07So I think the Senate was forced to follow.
00:25:11And in terms of from the political angle, because the news cycle is all about Quadcom, right?
00:25:19The election is just around the corner.
00:25:21So how do they react to the Quadcom?
00:25:26So I think the Senate reacted and said that, okay, we'll do our own.
00:25:33But at the end, my question is, and I think a lot of people have asked this,
00:25:40where are these investigations?
00:25:42Correct.
00:25:43Let's also ask about the medical legal reports.
00:25:46In the protocol of the police, as you said earlier,
00:25:49if there are gunshot wounds, there should be a medical legal report.
00:25:53Actually, even the media is having a hard time asking for post-operation reports, medical legal reports, etc.
00:26:00And in the protocol of the police, they call it proportional force.
00:26:05If there is a fight, it should not be killed.
00:26:09And there is also an issue that you called earlier, the due process, the preliminary investigation.
00:26:14Because even the number of supposed users and pushers, the government's data is different.
00:26:20Sometimes it inflates, sometimes it deflates, even the result of the war on drugs.
00:26:25So it's a muddled story.
00:26:27And the really important data is not yet released.
00:26:31Indeed, that's why it's worrying when you look at me,
00:26:36when I look at the social media postings in the hearings,
00:26:40that the verdict of the conviction of the court has not yet been given.
00:26:47It's like it has already been judged by some in our society as criminals.
00:26:52Because criminals have no right to live, they should be removed from this planet.
00:26:57And of course, these sentiments are being followed.
00:27:05And this is why our political leaders are critical.
00:27:10Whatever their perspectives, worldviews, they emulate it.
00:27:16So if you have back then a president, it's okay to use wanton force and force to solve the problem.
00:27:29And in fact, the question is, have we really solved the problem?
00:27:32And in fact, former President Duterte himself said that until now, crime is still rampant,
00:27:38despite what was statistically invalidated by the current government of the day.
00:27:44So my question is, if crime is still rampant,
00:27:48then the war against criminality of your administration is not over yet.
00:27:55So is that it?
00:27:57I mean, are we going to use that fear factor?
00:28:01You need to agree to the hands of steel because of the fear.
00:28:06But my question is, if there is still a unity,
00:28:11if the alliance between the Marcoses and the Dutertes is still solid,
00:28:16will there be investigations both in the House and in the Senate?
00:28:20I think the people of our country should also think about that.
00:28:26You're right.
00:28:27Has the problem with drugs been solved?
00:28:29Actually, even President Duterte, he said that the original deadline was 3 months, 6 months.
00:28:34He said that he won't be able to do it, so he extended it.
00:28:37Until now, he is saying that there are still many problems regarding illegal drugs.
00:28:42You mentioned the unity between the Marcoses and the Dutertes.
00:28:48And now, it's not just the former President Duterte who is in the middle of it.
00:28:52Vice President Sara Duterte is also in the middle.
00:28:55What is your view on this?
00:28:57He said that this is political harassment.
00:28:59He is being incited by the allies of President BBM in Congress and in the Senate.
00:29:05The Congress and the Senate said to face the impeachable offense
00:29:10of inciting confidential funds and not explaining how the funds were used,
00:29:16confidential and intelligence funds of the Vice President's office and the DepEd.
00:29:21What is your view on this?
00:29:22Again, it's like a court of public opinion and a court of law.
00:29:26Is it just squid tactics on behalf of VP Sara or harassment on behalf of BBM's allies?
00:29:33The division is very clear.
00:29:35The polarizing divide now between those that are trying to hold the Vice President into account
00:29:43and those who are still supporting the Duterte dynasty.
00:29:48It's also clear that the atmosphere has changed in terms of how Vice President Sara Duterte
00:29:54is being treated by the allies of the Marcos administration.
00:30:00I think that change in that atmosphere is a change in loyalties
00:30:04because many of those who are trying to hold...
00:30:08Of course, there are those who are consistent since the Duterte administration.
00:30:15They want the Duterte administration to be held accountable.
00:30:18But there are also those who are noticeable who changed colors.
00:30:23This is indicative of our political system in the Philippines.
00:30:27There are no clear political parties.
00:30:29So, where is the wind blowing?
00:30:32What are the chances for them to get re-elected?
00:30:37That's where it comes in.
00:30:38However, this drive for accountability...
00:30:43My question is, why now, but in the first year of the Marcos administration,
00:30:49what did most of the likes of Vice President Sara Duterte want?
00:30:55Correct.
00:31:03I can still distinctly remember the first budget hearings
00:31:08when everything was just given, confidential funds, discretionary funds.
00:31:15A few years.
00:31:16Yes.
00:31:18And then all of a sudden, the year after or two years after,
00:31:21the wind changed.
00:31:23So, my question is, if you know there's a possibility
00:31:27that this will be used in the wrong way,
00:31:30we should have put in controls, we should have been told how to use it.
00:31:36Because now, the House and the Congress are saying
00:31:40that we have the power to scrutinize the spending of public funds.
00:31:44That's right.
00:31:46But in my opinion, shouldn't...
00:31:50It should be given.
00:31:51Shouldn't it have been given in the beginning?
00:31:54It should have been flagged, why are you asking for this much?
00:31:58Where are you going to use this?
00:32:00You should have asked for a plan.
00:32:05If it's not true, the money is lost.
00:32:07What will happen?
00:32:08Where is the money if it's already spent?
00:32:13And who will pay for it?
00:32:15It's us, it's our taxes.
00:32:18That's why I think the sentiments of certain Filipinos trying to defend
00:32:25the notion that we shouldn't look at the spending of money.
00:32:30Fellow countrymen, it's our money, we worked hard for it,
00:32:33we didn't steal it.
00:32:34So, I think we should all have a strong sentiment against the spending of money
00:32:43because at the end, we worked hard for it, we didn't steal it.
00:32:47Okay.
00:32:48Hamon changed his mind.
00:32:49The members of Congress said that we should have a psychological evaluation.
00:32:54Vice President Sarah changed her mind to include a drug test.
00:32:59What do you think?
00:33:00Is it...
00:33:01Are all counter-challenges very childish?
00:33:03Or would they be really important for us to measure how evil our lawmakers are thinking?
00:33:10It's really childish.
00:33:12The level of our political discourse is getting lower and lower
00:33:19because of the behavior of our politicians.
00:33:23And unfortunately, there are not enough people that ask the question,
00:33:31why are we not focused on the real issues of poverty among the people?
00:33:40The drug test, the psychological test.
00:33:44It's all political theater.
00:33:47Okay.
00:33:48What I think is, of course, the media is covering it.
00:33:55And what I've noticed is that some of the media have started to ask the hard and the tough questions.
00:34:03So, it's important for the role of the media to continue doing this.
00:34:06But also, we shouldn't give too much attention to these kinds of issues
00:34:14because in the end, there's nothing constructive that can be pointed out.
00:34:20Because it's included in the news cycle, but at the end,
00:34:24we're still being bombed, the prices are still high, and all of that.
00:34:28And I think what every Filipino should be asking when they hear this news is,
00:34:35what does my daily life have to do with this?
00:34:38Because this is a barricade for those who are powerful.
00:34:46Meanwhile, I have a lot of problems.
00:34:48Traffic and all of that.
00:34:50I mean, it's all a barricade for me.
00:34:56And if there's nothing, then we need to talk.
00:35:00We need to say, can we work first before the drama?
00:35:04All right. Work first before the drama.
00:35:07But the election will be held in May 2025.
00:35:11People are confused.
00:35:12In your view as a political science professor,
00:35:15who is the real political opposition now?
00:35:18Because between the two blocs, the UNITEAM,
00:35:21and what you said, the politicians who moved houses,
00:35:24the former UNITEAM is now pro-BBM or pro-SARA.
00:35:28What is the view of people now?
00:35:31Who is the real exponent of change and opposition?
00:35:35Our opposition now, Hattie,
00:35:39on the one hand, you have an opposition
00:35:41that their opposition is anything that the current administration does.
00:35:48We call that a negative opposition.
00:35:50But we have an opposition that is based on principle.
00:35:55Meaning, it's consistent.
00:35:58That's why we'll look at it.
00:36:00I think I invite all of our viewers to compare
00:36:04who are the politicians who are now attacking,
00:36:07let's say, for example, Vice President Sara Duterte.
00:36:10But the previous Duterte administration was quiet
00:36:14and the first one and a half years of the Marcos Rivera administration.
00:36:18So, I think the opposition now,
00:36:22it's clear who is consistent
00:36:25and who is really the big difference.
00:36:29The opposition that is really being attacked
00:36:32and really persecuted by the previous administration
00:36:37and the opposition that is not.
00:36:40Because that's where we can really see the opposition that is consistent
00:36:45and the opposition that is just now,
00:36:47because the wind has changed,
00:36:50there was a divorce in the alliance of the two biggest
00:36:54and most powerful dynasties in the country.
00:36:57This upcoming election, not only in the Senate,
00:37:00but also in the House of Representatives
00:37:02and in the local opposition,
00:37:04where are the political clans coming from?
00:37:08And where are the returning politicians?
00:37:12What is your perspective?
00:37:14You said earlier that the quality is declining
00:37:18or are we having problems because of the repetition of the former names
00:37:24and now they call it Peace Political Families.
00:37:29Our observation,
00:37:31actually, my colleagues here in the Department of Political Sciences studied this,
00:37:35is that before the dynastic succession,
00:37:38let's say, let's say a politician first in a dynasty
00:37:43and then he passes it on to his wife or son
00:37:47and then he passes it on again.
00:37:49That's the kind of succession.
00:37:51But what we're seeing right now,
00:37:53I think this started a long time ago
00:37:56but it's really a dispersal.
00:38:00Meaning, it's not enough to just pass it on.
00:38:03Really, fill as many positions as possible
00:38:08and to really infiltrate national, local, congressional, party-list, district.
00:38:15The party-list is like a force multiplier of the dynasty.
00:38:21So, I don't want to use the word shameless,
00:38:25but there's really no limitation.
00:38:28I think what's new is that it's not a dispersal anymore.
00:38:32I mean, and our question is why did we reach this?
00:38:38First of all, because until now,
00:38:41even if it's in the Constitution, there's a ban on political dynasties.
00:38:45There's no law.
00:38:47Yes, it's just written on paper.
00:38:51Second, they saw that this is the best way to perpetuate themselves in power.
00:39:00They saw that the road to Malacanang is through the dynasty.
00:39:06So, our politicians don't lack ambition.
00:39:10So, they start really early.
00:39:13And I think third, they also believed that there's nothing wrong with the dynasty
00:39:21because they're voting for us.
00:39:23So, it's like we're gaslighting the voters.
00:39:25It's like it's our fault that there are dynasties because we're voting for them.
00:39:29But the question here is,
00:39:33the dynasties, because they already have an advantage over others.
00:39:39Second, our political parties don't blame them.
00:39:46Because in other countries, there are dynasties, in America,
00:39:49but they will still have to compete to get the party's nomination.
00:39:54We don't have that anymore because parties are even created by dynasties themselves.
00:39:58So, how could that control them?
00:40:00And third, I think the notion that, yes, we're a dynasty,
00:40:06but we're doing something.
00:40:09We're giving aid.
00:40:12Our movement is good.
00:40:14But in a democracy, diversity is important.
00:40:18Representation is important.
00:40:20So, my question is, we're 110 million Filipinos,
00:40:24why is it always them?
00:40:28Can it be someone else?
00:40:30Because the new ideas in the government, the new policies,
00:40:34don't they have innovations, the dynasties on this?
00:40:39We saw during the Christinian Revolution,
00:40:42their approach to everything is just to hand out,
00:40:47dole out, and money, right?
00:40:49All right.
00:40:50But Prof. Aris, the truth is, our problem is,
00:40:55the political dynasties, in the eyes of the people who study the issue,
00:40:59it's not a good phenomenon because, why?
00:41:03The government controls the funds,
00:41:06controls the contracts, controls the appointments.
00:41:09What's wrong with electing and re-electing political dynasties?
00:41:14First of all, I think the dynasties are bad for our politics
00:41:21because they don't give other options to our voters.
00:41:26Second, the dynasties have really focused on the patronage,
00:41:34way of governing or ruling,
00:41:38the debt that you owe us.
00:41:41We were just handed out, we were given aid,
00:41:44that's enough to secure a vote.
00:41:46But, my fellow countrymen, what the politicians are giving you,
00:41:50that's also from you.
00:41:52That's not money.
00:41:54So, you don't owe them anything.
00:41:56In fact, your question is, how sustainable are these goods that they're giving
00:42:03if there's no right approach,
00:42:05no right institutional approach to solving the problem?
00:42:09Because, of course, the dynasties will do everything possible because of us.
00:42:15So, if you don't patronize us, this will be lost.
00:42:18But it's not like that in a democracy.
00:42:21The ego should be smaller because what's important is what you left behind.
00:42:27And if the leader is different, it's still the same.
00:42:32There are some who say,
00:42:34we can't get rid of the dynasties.
00:42:38So, we should limit it.
00:42:42There's an economist who said,
00:42:45we can limit it, meaning two per family at any point.
00:42:51But, I think, knowing our political dynasties,
00:42:55they will find a way to go around any limitation.
00:43:01That's why it's important to reform the institutions,
00:43:04the political parties, and the way our voters think
00:43:09and how they treat these dynasties.
00:43:12Don't patronize the dynasties because the truth is,
00:43:15the power is yours, not theirs.
00:43:18I think, historically, the role of the Senate is really the fiscalizer, a check.
00:43:23That's why, I think, the logic that they are nationally elected
00:43:27has something to do that you have an upper chamber composed really of prominent people
00:43:33who could really act as a supporting or complementary source of leadership to the executive.
00:43:42Because they have too many houses.
00:43:46I think, we're just lucky to have a Senate like this,
00:43:50which is elected nationally.
00:43:52Because in other countries, they are not elected nationally.
00:43:54And because of this, the politicians are given more incentives
00:43:59to really eye a Senate seat.
00:44:02Because we all know, just a little tumbling is already a big deal, right?
00:44:07If you're a Senator.
00:44:08A lot of our presidents were Senators before.
00:44:13But the most significant development is that,
00:44:19us, the voters, I'm not blaming you,
00:44:22we have allowed over-representation of dynasties in the Senate.
00:44:28Because we know them.
00:44:29Of course, those dynasties, because they've been around for a long time,
00:44:32of course, we know them.
00:44:33But the basis of voting should not be just because we know them,
00:44:36we see them, they're always in the media,
00:44:39celebrity, action star, reading the news.
00:44:43Let's think as voters, the role of the Senate.
00:44:47And we can see now how they're performing.
00:44:50That's why we should think about this.
00:44:52I mean, are these the people I want in the Senate?
00:44:57Before, they used to say,
00:44:58it's like you're really proud of the quality of those who vote in the Senate.
00:45:02The election is good, it's good, it's happy.
00:45:06You'll learn from the hearings, right?
00:45:09So now, it's like,
00:45:11it's not like our fellow countrymen know more.
00:45:17It's the opposite, right?
00:45:19This is the sad development in terms of the quality.
00:45:23And objectively, because you can only see that,
00:45:26if you compare the qualifications of the former Senators to the qualifications now,
00:45:32I think this is also the negative effect when you democratize everything.
00:45:38Because the qualifications of the Senate, right?
00:45:42Age, they know how to read and write.
00:45:45Age, 45 years old and above.
00:45:48Exactly.
00:45:49Some COCs asked,
00:45:52what kind of law do you want to pass?
00:45:55They said to think about it when it comes to the Senate.
00:45:58It's different, right?
00:46:00Right, right.
00:46:01And I think if that's the case,
00:46:03I mean, you really should ask,
00:46:06why did you run?
00:46:08So, in other words,
00:46:11if there's no plan,
00:46:13if there's no clear direction,
00:46:15that a candidate will follow,
00:46:17what is the motivation?
00:46:18Is it just confidence?
00:46:20Is it just influence?
00:46:22Is it just ambition?
00:46:25Yes.
00:46:26Ambition?
00:46:27Protection?
00:46:28Because sometimes there are people who run.
00:46:30I mean,
00:46:31there are religious leaders who run.
00:46:36Because if you become a Senator,
00:46:39you will be protected because you're a Senator.
00:46:42But also, if you notice,
00:46:44you will also be protected by the institution itself.
00:46:47Okay.
00:46:49And you talked about the party list system earlier.
00:46:52Many applied, but many were rejected.
00:46:55What we don't know,
00:46:57because I think the law now
00:46:59is not just like a representative
00:47:01of marginalized sectors,
00:47:03but of sectoral organizations or interests.
00:47:07And even now,
00:47:08it's like a party list of political parties.
00:47:12What do you think?
00:47:13Did you capture what happened?
00:47:14Because there are rumors
00:47:16that some were rejected
00:47:18because they didn't pay.
00:47:20They have an entrance fee.
00:47:22That's what they said.
00:47:26Our party list system
00:47:28is an example of a tragedy.
00:47:30A law that is supposedly
00:47:32a political reform measure.
00:47:34Because if you read our constitution,
00:47:37it's really a way to increase
00:47:39the diversity of representation
00:47:41in our legislature.
00:47:43To have a different alternative way
00:47:46of having sufficient representation
00:47:49in Congress.
00:47:50That's why the law that was implemented
00:47:53was first limited to three seats.
00:47:56The first was the party list group.
00:47:58The second was the notion
00:48:01that if you're rejected twice,
00:48:04you're out.
00:48:05And then of course,
00:48:06the Supreme Court decisions
00:48:08relaxed the notion
00:48:10of who the party list group is.
00:48:12Because supposedly,
00:48:13marginalized and underrepresented sectors
00:48:16are far from being marginalized
00:48:19and underrepresented.
00:48:21So I think,
00:48:23and of course,
00:48:25before,
00:48:27now we can see who's running,
00:48:29right?
00:48:30Because our party list system
00:48:33is closed.
00:48:34Supposedly,
00:48:35we don't really know.
00:48:37I think it's a good measure
00:48:38that we can see.
00:48:39Because now,
00:48:40you can really see who,
00:48:43and you can see the connections.
00:48:45Because the dynasty can't hide
00:48:48themselves because of their name.
00:48:50Very obvious.
00:48:52And the notion before
00:48:54that there are party lists
00:48:55that are being bought,
00:48:56right?
00:48:59In order to put certain
00:49:01dynastic politicians.
00:49:03So this is really a tragedy.
00:49:05I think there's a clamor now
00:49:09not only to reform,
00:49:11but maybe we're better off
00:49:13without it.
00:49:14There's that sentiment.
00:49:16However,
00:49:17the solution here
00:49:18is not to abolish
00:49:19the party list system,
00:49:21but to improve the filtering
00:49:23of those who run.
00:49:25And in my opinion,
00:49:27it's really a shame
00:49:30that a dynasty will use this,
00:49:33meaning there's a district rep
00:49:35who's still a party list.
00:49:39So,
00:49:40I said force multiplier,
00:49:42but as of now,
00:49:45unless a law is passed
00:49:47to reform the party list law,
00:49:49I doubt it will happen.
00:49:50Because of course,
00:49:51these dynastic politicians,
00:49:53of course,
00:49:54if the system benefits them,
00:49:55why would they want to change it?
00:49:57The only solution is
00:49:59for the right voting
00:50:01of the representatives.
00:50:02Okay.
00:50:03Now, the first parliamentary
00:50:04elections in BARMM,
00:50:05what are your views?
00:50:06Because what people are doing
00:50:08because the amnesty hasn't been
00:50:10given yet,
00:50:11the former commanders
00:50:12or those who were involved
00:50:13in the war back then,
00:50:15MILF, MNLF,
00:50:17they will face the return
00:50:20of the politicians
00:50:22in Mindanao, in BARMM.
00:50:24What are your views?
00:50:25Because this is an important election,
00:50:28very historical,
00:50:29but very intractable
00:50:32in terms of the results.
00:50:34You're right, Malu.
00:50:35This is very critical.
00:50:36I think this is really
00:50:38the true test of the peace agreement
00:50:41because it was signed
00:50:44many years ago.
00:50:45Because if the MILF
00:50:49and affiliated parties
00:50:50won't be able to secure power
00:50:52through the electoral pathway,
00:50:56then there's a threat
00:50:57that they might return
00:50:59to the armed struggle.
00:51:01Because it's like they're saying,
00:51:02if we will not be given power
00:51:04through the democratic way.
00:51:06But I think a good development
00:51:10is that even in the Bangsamoro
00:51:12electoral code,
00:51:13there's a ban on political dynasties.
00:51:17Now, the question is,
00:51:18how will this be implemented?
00:51:20How will the candidates be elected?
00:51:24And who will be the political members?
00:51:27Because our lawyers are very technical.
00:51:30What is the level of the relationship?
00:51:32Degree, third degree.
00:51:34Exactly.
00:51:35So I think Bangsamoro is prepared
00:51:39on this.
00:51:40This is the implementation.
00:51:42But I think that's the fear.
00:51:45If the dynasties will pervade
00:51:47the Bangsamoro Parliament
00:51:49and other positions in BARMM,
00:51:51then it tells you,
00:51:54will there really be change
00:51:57enough to really secure
00:51:59a lasting peace?
00:52:00Because if BARMM will just mirror
00:52:03the dynastic politics
00:52:05at the national level,
00:52:06then that's part of the grievance.
00:52:10Why is there a conflict for decades?
00:52:13It's the lack of representation,
00:52:16the monopolization of power
00:52:19of the politically powerful already.
00:52:23So we should be patient.
00:52:25My only hope is that
00:52:28the voters in BARMM
00:52:29will really take seriously
00:52:31that they're not just voting
00:52:34at the moment of the election,
00:52:37but the future of the region as well.
00:52:39Okay.
00:52:40Prof. Aris,
00:52:41you have a book called
00:52:43Games, Changes, and Fear,
00:52:46The Philippines from Duterte to Marcos.
00:52:49What are the highlights
00:52:51of your findings?
00:52:52What are the changes?
00:52:54What are the fears
00:52:56of the people?
00:52:58Our book is the first book
00:53:02to be published
00:53:03that completely assesses
00:53:04the Duterte administration,
00:53:07but also analyzes the 2022 elections
00:53:10and the first year
00:53:11of the Marcos administration.
00:53:13What we saw there,
00:53:15that's why it's called
00:53:16Games, Changes, and Fears.
00:53:17These are the three themes.
00:53:18The games played by the dynasties,
00:53:21the politically powerful,
00:53:23and how they were able
00:53:24to really prevent the opposition
00:53:28and alternative sources of leadership
00:53:32from getting power.
00:53:33The passing of Corona
00:53:35from Duterte to Marcos
00:53:37was really something
00:53:39that was analyzed in the book.
00:53:41Why didn't they fight?
00:53:44Because typically,
00:53:46the dynasties are fighting.
00:53:48But in the 2022 elections,
00:53:50why did the dynasties
00:53:51really unify?
00:53:54We also predicted in the book
00:53:56that it's precarious
00:53:57because the history of politics
00:53:59in the Philippines,
00:54:00the alliances of the dynasties
00:54:02don't last long.
00:54:05Because there's so much power
00:54:08and there's so much ambition
00:54:10that power sharing
00:54:12becomes highly untenable
00:54:14in the long term.
00:54:16And there are no political parties
00:54:18and other institutions
00:54:19that will implement the agreement.
00:54:22So there might be agreements
00:54:24like, okay, I'm the president in 2022,
00:54:26you're the president in 2028,
00:54:28but we know that 2028 is still far away.
00:54:30And in fact, we saw that.
00:54:31A few years after the alliance,
00:54:35there was already distrust
00:54:37whether the pact
00:54:38that was originally made
00:54:39will happen.
00:54:40There are many changes
00:54:42because that's the agenda
00:54:43of the Duterte administration.
00:54:45Fears has something to do with
00:54:47to what extent
00:54:49is the Marcos Jr. administration
00:54:51going to continue
00:54:52some of the draconian,
00:54:54draconian meaning
00:54:55the undemocratic,
00:54:57illiberal,
00:54:59illiberal strategy
00:55:03of the Duterte administration.
00:55:05We can see now
00:55:06that there are changes,
00:55:07but it doesn't mean that...
00:55:11Because our analysis is,
00:55:13is this criticism
00:55:16and attempts to hold
00:55:18Duterte accountable,
00:55:20where is this coming from
00:55:21on the part of the Marcos Jr. administration?
00:55:23Is this really belief
00:55:24in democratic accountability,
00:55:27in human rights,
00:55:28in rule of law?
00:55:30Or this is really just
00:55:31a political weapon
00:55:33against a very strong adversary?
00:55:36Okay.
00:55:37So, from your point of view,
00:55:40if we're going to measure,
00:55:41when President BBM won,
00:55:43what he said was
00:55:44he wanted to redeem
00:55:48or to have the name
00:55:50of the Marcos family
00:55:51rise again.
00:55:53But he's measuring
00:55:54two big issues.
00:55:56Corruption during his father's time
00:55:59and human rights violations.
00:56:01What are your views
00:56:02on these two issues?
00:56:04What is the analysis so far?
00:56:06Are there fears?
00:56:07Are there significant changes?
00:56:10I think it's still early.
00:56:12But I think what the Marcos Jr. administration
00:56:14is doing is
00:56:15careful that he doesn't have
00:56:17an addition to their legacy,
00:56:21the supposed legacy
00:56:24of his family
00:56:26during the March of Laws.
00:56:28So, I think now,
00:56:30it's more preventative,
00:56:31meaning let's not put more
00:56:35corruption scandals,
00:56:37more human rights violations.
00:56:38And I think this is why
00:56:42it overlapped
00:56:43and converged
00:56:44the push to make
00:56:47the Dutertes accountable
00:56:49and the push to investigate
00:56:51how public funds are being spent.
00:56:53Because, you're right,
00:56:55these are the vulnerable points
00:56:56of the Marcos Jr. administration.
00:56:58And if there's a way for them
00:56:59to distract the public
00:57:01and say,
00:57:02we're not the only ones,
00:57:03look, they're here too.
00:57:05They're also tainted
00:57:07with such allegations.
00:57:08I think it's a very strategic
00:57:12political move
00:57:13because their attention is lost.
00:57:15It's deflected.
00:57:16Yes, it's deflected.
00:57:18It goes to...
00:57:19But of course,
00:57:20the challenge here is that
00:57:21we know that
00:57:23in terms of public popularity,
00:57:26the government is still
00:57:28trying to get
00:57:30a high approval
00:57:31in terms of the Dutertes.
00:57:33In Mindanao,
00:57:34it's really unwavering,
00:57:35for example.
00:57:36And we must not discount
00:57:38the ability of
00:57:40the southern part of our country
00:57:42to influence our politics.
00:57:45The issue that Vice President Sara
00:57:47is talking about,
00:57:48the entry of her cousin
00:57:52in this discussion,
00:57:56what do you think about that?
00:58:01It's like there's a cronyism.
00:58:03I mean, it's back,
00:58:04they say.
00:58:05People are doubtful
00:58:07of what the intention is.
00:58:08It's been a year
00:58:09and nothing has happened.
00:58:10There are contracts and appointments
00:58:13from her major donors
00:58:16in the last election.
00:58:17Is cronyism back?
00:58:19That has always been
00:58:20the Marcos brand.
00:58:21That's why we shouldn't be surprised,
00:58:24especially those who voted
00:58:26in the UNITEAM.
00:58:27And those who are now thinking
00:58:30why this is how things are going.
00:58:33That's part of their way
00:58:38of doing politics.
00:58:40So therefore,
00:58:41if we see more cronies
00:58:44and friends in power now,
00:58:46that's the Marcos playbook.
00:58:48That has always been there.
00:58:50So I don't want to say
00:58:52to those who voted,
00:58:53there are a lot of votes,
00:58:5431 million.
00:58:55And now they're thinking,
00:58:59wait, this shouldn't be like this.
00:59:02Unfortunately, you voted.
00:59:06And that's why it's important
00:59:09in the 2025 elections,
00:59:11let's start the investigation
00:59:15to get the right information
00:59:20about the candidates.
00:59:22Because if not,
00:59:23we'll always be cornered
00:59:25by these politicians.
00:59:27Okay, so now,
00:59:29what will be the role
00:59:31of the political opposition?
00:59:34Because between the two
00:59:36blocking the UNITEAM
00:59:38that is now open,
00:59:39what is their role?
00:59:40Is there no hope
00:59:41that their strength
00:59:44will be strengthened?
00:59:46We will see that
00:59:48if the real opposition
00:59:50will be strengthened.
00:59:52Because for now,
00:59:53there is no threat
00:59:54to both of them.
00:59:56So it's okay for them
00:59:57to clash.
00:59:59In fact,
01:00:00this is what VP Sara revealed
01:00:02when she said,
01:00:04Senator Amy Marcos
01:00:05approached me
01:00:07because she said,
01:00:08Lenny and I will lose
01:00:09if you don't join us.
01:00:11So that means,
01:00:13there is a notion,
01:00:14a perceived threat
01:00:15on the power
01:00:16of the pink bloc
01:00:18or the opposition,
01:00:19the liberal democratic forces
01:00:21in the country.
01:00:22So I think
01:00:23if their standing will improve
01:00:25and we will see that,
01:00:26not necessarily in the Senate elections,
01:00:28but in other elections,
01:00:30and the political clout
01:00:32of the liberal democratic opposition
01:00:34will increase,
01:00:35we don't know,
01:00:36there might be a clash.
01:00:38Because they have a common threat.
01:00:41Because the opposition
01:00:43did not see the rationale
01:00:45of continuing
01:00:47to work together.
01:00:48Alright.
01:00:49So lastly,
01:00:50Prof. Aris,
01:00:51when President Duterte
01:00:53was elected,
01:00:54you said that
01:00:55this is just the beginning.
01:00:56You can see that
01:00:57his impact would be
01:00:58on a very tragic reversal
01:01:01to populism,
01:01:02authoritarianism,
01:01:04the return of the clans.
01:01:05Until when will this happen?
01:01:07What is your outlook
01:01:09for the 2028 elections?
01:01:11Will the reversal of populism,
01:01:13authoritarianism,
01:01:14and clan rule
01:01:15change or stop?
01:01:18It's still far.
01:01:20And I think
01:01:21as a student of democracy
01:01:23in our country
01:01:24for more than two decades,
01:01:26I still believe
01:01:28that there is evolution.
01:01:30It's just slow.
01:01:31It's like we're dancing
01:01:33two steps forward,
01:01:35one and a half step backwards.
01:01:37But I still believe
01:01:39that there is a possibility
01:01:41of progressive evolution
01:01:43of our politics.
01:01:45Why is that?
01:01:46One,
01:01:49we have a lot of youth.
01:01:51This is a different generation.
01:01:54We saw this
01:01:55in the 2022 elections.
01:01:57We also saw in other countries
01:01:59the youth
01:02:01who mobilized.
01:02:02We also know
01:02:03that they are vulnerable
01:02:04to disinformation
01:02:05and there are a lot of victims.
01:02:07But I still believe
01:02:09that generational change
01:02:11could be one.
01:02:13Second,
01:02:14I also believe
01:02:16that the worst enemies
01:02:18of dynasties
01:02:19are themselves.
01:02:21And therefore,
01:02:25those who don't believe
01:02:27in the style of their government,
01:02:30they don't need to be undermined
01:02:32because they're undermining themselves.
01:02:34The critical thing here
01:02:35is to be able
01:02:38to have alternative
01:02:40sources of leadership
01:02:42that are available.
01:02:44And this is why
01:02:46it's encouraging to see people,
01:02:48new people,
01:02:49trying to run for office.
01:02:53At least,
01:02:54they will put their names.
01:02:56Maybe they won't win
01:02:57the first time,
01:02:58the second time,
01:02:59the third time.
01:03:00But just be persistent
01:03:02because the wind of politics
01:03:04in the Philippines
01:03:06is always blowing.
01:03:08And therefore,
01:03:12perhaps,
01:03:13dynasties are forever.
01:03:14But in our politics,
01:03:15there is no forever,
01:03:17including dynastic politics.
01:03:19And you said,
01:03:20work first,
01:03:21not just drama.
01:03:23Not political theater,
01:03:25but real reform.
01:03:27Yes.
01:03:28Because if I want drama,
01:03:29I'll watch Netflix.
01:03:33But next,
01:03:34you're going to launch a book
01:03:36in UP.
01:03:37When is it?
01:03:39This is on November 7,
01:03:41on Thursday,
01:03:42from 12.30
01:03:44until 4 in the afternoon
01:03:46in Pilar Herrera Hall,
01:03:48in Palma Hall.
01:03:49You won't get lost
01:03:51when you go to Palma Hall
01:03:53in UP Diliman.
01:03:54And if you want
01:03:56more information,
01:03:58just follow
01:03:59the UP Department of Political Science
01:04:01on Facebook,
01:04:02Instagram.
01:04:03We're not on TikTok
01:04:05or LinkedIn.
01:04:06Alright.
01:04:07So on that note,
01:04:08we thank
01:04:09Professor Aris Arugay,
01:04:11Chairman of the University of the Philippines
01:04:13Political Science Department.
01:04:15Keep safe.
01:04:16And I hope
01:04:17the drama stops.
01:04:18Action, action.
01:04:19Work, work.
01:04:20Have a good day,
01:04:21Professor Aris.
01:04:22Have a good day.
01:04:23Thank you very much.
01:04:32For more UN videos visit www.un.org