Worse Than The Virus

Reading posts about the COVID-19 pandemic on Facebook (confirmed cases as of this writing: 3,246, deaths: 152) already triggers paranoia that I never thought I had in me, but even worse are the godawful posts related to how the government and the people are handling the crisis.

I believe that how you act at a time like this only shows the person you really are. I read about how some residents in Dinalupihan, Bataan opted out on the relief goods for poorer, more deserving families. But I’ve also seen a video of a man throwing relief goods to the ground because he said it isn’t enough.

While this pandemic brought out the best in people, it also brings out the worst in some. My faith in humanity hoped that since this is a global crisis that doesn’t discriminate and it can affect anyone rich or poor, that it will somehow bring us together rather than divide us. That for once we could set aside partisans and politics and just agree on one thing: that we all have to do our part so we can triumph over this.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.

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In a late televised national address last Wednesday, the president ordered the police and military to shoot people causing trouble during the quarantine. This was following the incident in a barangay in Quezon City where people flocked to the streets. The stories were conflicting but some said they were there because it was announced that there will be a distribution of relief goods, while some supposed they were there to stage a protest incited by the Kadamay, an urban poor group (which was said to be a front organization of the communist party).

I GET IT. There are so many people out there who do not follow the quarantine guidelines; so many who lack discipline and wouldn’t want to sacrifice their freedoms. But I think this is mainly because they see some public officials themselves not following the rules. Like how medical staff and frontliners, who are in urgent need to get tested for COVID-19, were sidelined by high-ranking government officials, their families, and other VIPs.

How can they expect the citizens to follow social distancing measures when a Philippine senator was the one who breached self-quarantine protocols by accompanying his pregnant wife to the hospital potentially infecting others?

The president’s inflammatory “shoot-to-kill” remark fueled the ire of many that #OUSTDUTERTE became a worldwide trending topic on Twitter moments after the address. Even if some defended the president by saying that the threat was for the leftist group or a hyperbola to stress the severity of the situation, it angered a lot of people because one shouldn’t respond with violence at a time like this.

The president asked and was given emergency powers even when there seems to be no clear sense of urgency after getting it. Days are counting and people are getting restless as they are struggling with their basic needs. It was very publicized that he had 275 billion to use for pandemic response and of course, people were expecting assistance. The poor cannot understand logistics, they don’t give a hoot for bureaucracy, red tape and formalities because for them it’s already a matter of putting food on the table. 

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At a time when emotions are high and everyone are volunteering their opinions, supporters of both sides are trying to outgun each other on Facebook. Even someone like me who had no political leanings and is just expressing an unbiased view every once in a while is sometimes thrown in the fray.

I've always believed that there’s nothing wrong in calling out people, even public officials (regardless of political affiliation), if there’s a wrongdoing. But now I realized that I should also be prepared to alienate some of my friends with my views.

For days now, I see the same people criticizing the opposing side even when in reality, both sides have their faults. Both sides are guilty at one point or another of politicking anyway, it’s become a contest on who f**ked up more. This is why when a vitriolic view comes from someone I know who’s either a pro-Duterte or the opposition’s ardent supporter, I can’t help but think it’s likely driven by personal/political biases rather than altruism or nobility of intention. Asserting one’s views does not always mean one has good reason for holding it, right?

These days, comments become more and more hard-hitting. Some went as far as wishing the other to die from the virus. This has gotten so toxic that I decided to avoid participating in politically-engaged posts.

I’d rather watch hours of TikTok videos or share funny memes than argue with someone who would snap back at me and say, “Kayo kaya ang maging presidente?” — or my personal favorite (NOT!) —“Ano ba ang naiambag mo?” 

There has been so much toxicity online that I’ve seen friends unfriending and unfollowing each other over oppressive politics. So I think it’s not just the virus that we should worry about, but more about the widening animosity and hostility due to political disagreements.