SINCE time immemorial, some of the best political strategists around the world know how to cover-up or “smokescreen” the realities besetting the administration they are in. In the Philippines, former President Arroyo’s strategist has mastered the craft. President Aquino’s men were also masters of this art. But, the men of Duterte are far off better than the well-educated leeches of the past administrations. These groups of strategists are so far the best among the pack. They have not only mastered the craft but they are really doctors of the art.
Smoke screening is an art of covering-up the truth with a sensational issue that would often die down because it is not an issue and bring the real issue to its grave. This is engineered to divert the issue from the minds of the masses.
I remember during the failure of the peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front (NDF) in 1987. There was a big rally at the public plaza for the people to force the government to continue the peace talks and to heed the call of the rebel movement for the masses. There were national speakers at the public plaza. We did not hear the speeches well because our focus was on the helicopters and bomber planes passing over our heads and throwing confetti. The attention of the masses was really taken.
Smoke screening was employed by almost all administrations. President Arroyo was a little bit lucky for hers was a natural smoke screen. Whenever there were issues and conflicts, typhoons and natural calamities were always there to cover the issue. When there was economic conflict, a typhoon would devastate us and all would be united to work for the victims.
Former President Benigno Aquino III was also a bit lucky to have a sister who could get the attention of the masses. Whenever there was an oil price increase, we would expect the sister to go on cam and had a personal issue to cover-up whatever problems or conflicts the country is facing under her brother’s watch. Or if not the sister, a friend in the show business would change the whole topic. President Aquino should thank the late Chief Justice Renato Corona for covering up for his failures and faults. Remember, the first years of the Aquino administration was only to talk about the issue of the SALN (statement of assets and liabilities) of Corona.
Today, the Duterte administration is better off than his predecessors. His think-tank really knows what to do. We have Senator Leila de Lima, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, Senator Panfilo Lacson, the Mautes, General Bato; the left wing in the administration, Chito Gascon, Chief Justice Sereno and Ombudsman Morales. These are the people who are covering up for the problems and conflicts of the country. President Duterte must thank them. At first, to cover up any fault in governance, “war on drugs” was used. But when it went haywire, the people attacking the president were used as smokes to blur the reality.
In short, this present administration is very successful in smoke screening or covering up the realities that a simple “Juan de la Cruz” is facing. Poverty, criminality, drugs, crimes against persons, robbery, name it we have it all, still there haunting us. But, the government is successful. It is like putting beautiful flowers beside the coffins to mask the reality of death. Happy MassKara.
St. Ezekiel Moreno, St. Lorenzo Ruiz, St. Pedro Calungsod, Pope St. John Paul II, Mons. John Liu and Su; Fr. Cornelio Moral, OAR, Manoy Bill and Sir Faraon Lopez, pray for us.
