HOTSPOT

Since March 11, there has been some sort of “unfriending” campaign among political combatants in social media channels.

Families and friendships have not been spared by the heated exchanges, and by calls for unfriending relatives and friends for the sake of perceived “superior” politics.

Advocates of unfriending say they are exasperated, and they have given up explaining and trying to win their opponents over. Who exactly falsely taught them that politics is easy, we do not know. Or is it a case of self-deception?

The downside of this mindset is the formation of echo chambers, and the normalization of laziness in politics. If one merely deletes and discards opponents and their opposing views, it is not a political victory. It is actually a political defeat, because it is an admission of one’s inability or refusal to engage and win over others.

If one’s politics is truly superior, then it should be able to persuade, convince and convert others.

I spoke on this issue in an interview over the Teleradyo 630’s Ano’ng Take Mo radio program. I said that we owe ourselves and especially supporters of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte the widest latitude to express themselves.

It is but natural that they are in a state of shock following the sensational arrest and surrender to the International Criminal Court. Considering everything, they have every right to be angry and sad. It is also to be expected that they will express their raw emotions online and offline wherever they may be.

One is being naive if one expects Duterte supporters to accept what happened quietly and without any complaint. That would be unnatural and would defy the laws of politics.
For me, it is actually healthy that many have strong, competing views on Duterte’s prosecution regarding extrajudicial killings. It is a sign that many are interested and engaged in a national issue. At the same time that it is divisive, it could also provide an opportunity to find a common ground. It could also be an opportunity for everyone, regardless of belief, to learn more about crimes against humanity, the ICC, and what‘s important to fellow citizens.

I would rather have a country noisily and vociferously divided on the issues, rather than a nation dominated by apathy, indifference and cynicism. Unfriending is for losers.

Duterte’s arrest, detention and the proceedings he faces in the ICC provide media and political actors many opportunities for exposing and combating fake news, disinformation, red-tagging and hate speech in political combat.

With the help of lawyers and legal eagles, some media outlets are educating themselves and the public on the ICC processes and procedures. Ditto for the petitions in the Supreme Court.

Speaking of the court, the justices have announced that they are investigating fake news and disinformation that have spread regarding the petition filed before them.

Technology and good old journalistic sleuthing are helping media and watchdogs monitor coordinated inauthentic behavior in social media.

Supporters of the elder Duterte who have been leaving comments and apparent threats on social media accounts of the ICC judges may find those same efforts boomerang on their idol.

The big developments are bound to affect the ongoing election campaign. But whether this would be the central issue is a different matter altogether. Perhaps the distance of The Hague and the generous time before the next court date would open space and time for other concerns.

If there’s one clear takeaway from March 11 and onwards, it is that power is fleeting. Or maybe two, because we also once again proved that we can prevail over a problem that we once found intractable or unsolvable.

What if instead of “unfriending,” there could be an outreach to the indifferent and the apathetic? What if efforts be made instead to assist families of victims, witnesses and lawyers? There’s also the need for raising one’s own awareness and political education, so as to find out that there’s no substitute to not giving up on ourselves and others.

Decades from now, it would perhaps be quite funny to future generations when they discover that at this historic moment that’s pregnant with a lot of potential, some chose to “unfriend.” Let’s challenge and change this point of view before it is too late.