GRADUATE SCHOOL OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY

General Luna Road, Baguio City Philippines 2600

Website: www.ubaguio.edu
Telefax No.: (074) 442-3071 E-mail Address: ub@ubaguio.edu

Name of Student: Marilyn M. Duan-Balo

Subject and Schedule: Crisis Intervention & Management/ 1400H to 1730H
Date: 02 February 2019
Activity: Working Paper No. 3
Facilitator: Marie joy Macli-ing Capdos PhD
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“Assessment on the Philippines Current Status quo in Handling Crisis Situations”

Filipinos are known for the relatively contagious culture of being optimistic in the middle
of crises and manage to smile in the midst of difficulties. We, Filipinos always have found
reasons to celebrate despite adversities. That’s why Philippines has emerged as one of the
happiest countries in the world, according to a global survey by US-based firm Gallup
International. Fiji was the happiest country in the world, getting a score of +92, followed by
Colombia with +87 and then Philippines with a net score of +84. 1 Meanwhile, the Philippines
ranked 5th in the economic optimism index, getting a net score of +32. The result is attributed
by the palpable change our people have felt under the leadership of President Rodrigo Roa
“Digong” Duterte (Tatay Digong) with regard to economic growth by pushing the government’s
infrastructure, a tight labor market pushing up wages, coupled with the recent decline in inflation
rate and public salary increases notwithstanding with the polemic on war on drugs which is
resulted to extra judicial killings, U.S.-China trade tensions at west Philippine Sea and threat on
National Security.

According to “Focus Economic” website, the outlook for 2019 remains favorable to the
Philippines Economic Growth. Focus Economics panelists see that the Philippine Growth
Development Program expanding 6.3% in 2019, which is unchanged from last month’s forecast,
and 6.2% in 2020.2 I’m not an economist but the way I see it, Tatay Digong graded good on his
3rd and a half year embarkation as a president on how he handled crises/challenges that have
rocked his administration. For the country’s chief economist, Socio Economic Planning
Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia told the Philippine Inquirer Newspaper on April 10 2019 that, to wit;
“it’s so far, so good for the Duterte Administration in terms of sustaining the stellar economic
performance it inherited from its predecessors”.3

From the start, Tatay Digong projected himself as “man in action” and not a bureaucrat-
leaving the role to his cabinet members. He is always on the scene, distributing relief goods in
typhoon-stricken towns or flying home from Russia to call the shots during the Marawi siege. He
even visited Marawi City seven (7) times before it is liberated from terrorists. His actions and
words provide insight into how he dealt with controversies and crisis in his presidency.

But a crisis for some might not be a crisis in Tatay Digong’s book. According to the
Ateneo de Manila Political Science Professor, Carmel Abao said the President seems to have
two (2) categories when it comes to crisis. To wit; “It seems that Duterte only looks at two (2)
situations as ‘crisis’ situations: the drug crisis and the presence of terrorists”.4

For the Filipinos, his most shocking pronouncements and actions in handling crises are
not that ordinary. One of the major crises and Tatay Digong’s unordinary responses is the
problem on Drugs, he declares that the Philippines is on War on drugs and releases drug list to
include the high ranking officials, Politicians, celebrities and other well-known names leading
the countries ultimate shock and upset for the previous administration.

Due to this, Tatay Digong was verbally attacks and threatens critics by the International
Human Rights advocates for the allegations of extra-judicial killings (EJK) in his drug
campaigns. Despite those critics, he is persistently unstoppable and even proved that there is a
presence of Drug menace in the Country. He gave the nation’s most shocking example in his

1
PH third happiest country in the world - Gallup survey Dharel Placido, ABS-CBN News Posted at Jan 02 2018 07:13
PM | Updated as of Jan 03 2018 11:08 AM lifted on 08 April 2019.
2
https://www.focus-economics.com/countries/philippines lifted 08 April 2019
3
by Ben O De Vera, Philippine Inquirer on 10 April 2019
4
How does President Rodrigo Duterte define a crisis? How does he handle one? by Pia Ranada Published on 4:22
PM, July 28, 2018, Updated 2:27 PM, December 17, 2018 lifted on 10 April 2019
1|3
“The struggle you’re in today is the strength you need tomorrow” by Robert Tew
 GRADUATE SCHOOL OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY
General Luna Road, Baguio City Philippines 2600

Website: www.ubaguio.edu
Telefax No.: (074) 442-3071 E-mail Address: ub@ubaguio.edu

drug campaign by catalyzing Senator Leila de Lima, a former Philippine Chief Justice
into drug inquiry, leading to her arrest. Her incarceration is an eye opener to all people sojourn
in the country who is involved in drugs that indeed he is not jesting in his war on drugs
campaign.

Tatay Digong becomes the ultimate famed here and in abroad and known as iron-fisted
mayor of Davao City. He is hands-on, on the scene, and consistent in his language. We see on
how he handles his anti-drugs campaign5. The policy direction of the anti-drugs campaign
comes straight from his mouth – whether it is changes in who leads the campaign, punishments
for abusive cops, and crackdowns on Narco-politicians.

Philippines today, illegal drugs have become a national security threat. The campaign
against illegal drugs has become a primary mission and the campaign will even be more
intensified to eradicate the menace and so much more. The Militaristic Response to Crisis
Management is not something new. However, in the past, such mode was deemed as a sort of
“Last Resort”. The current administration, it is considered as a ‘default’ mode. That is how Tatay
Digong approaches today’s governance.

In these crises, Tatay Digong’s message matches his actions as he declares an

“unrelenting” and “harsh” campaign against drug personalities and terrorists. Thus, speaking of
terrorism, Duterte considered this as a national crisis just like drugs. The terrorist threat posed
by local communist terrorist groups continues to threaten the lives, properties, and freedoms of
the Filipino people. 6They hamper the country's potential economic gains and progress. Hence,
the “Violent Response” is the response which Tatay Digong knows best.

As I remember bomb exploded in a Davao City night market, a mere hour after that,
Tatay Digong was on the scene, ignoring the warnings of his own security team so he could see
and be seen. It’s this type of crisis that he has grown used to handling from his days as mayor in
Davao City. The former Chairman of University of the Philippines (UP) Political Science
Department, Temario Rivera said in an interview in Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper dated
28 July 2018; to wit, “He was mayor for twenty three (23) years in a frontier city with a long
history of violence so an important aspect of his leadership I think was how to deal with those
kinds of conflicts, literally involving violence force, coercion and terrorism,”

The threat form ISIS-affiliated groups’ remains despite their resounding defeat in
Marawi, which is now undergoing reconstruction and rehabilitation. Reminiscing that turmoil
day, Tatay Digong was informed of the terrorist takeover of Marawi City, he immediately
declared Martial Law, cut short his much-anticipated visit to Moscow, and called an emergency
Cabinet meeting. Seven times (7x) over the next months, Tatay Digong would visit the besieged
city, clad in full battle gear and bearing gifts for soldiers and police. We see on the reports how
he dealt with the Davao City bombing and Marawi siege.

Philippines Current Status quo in Handling Crisis Situations like ours, are an example of
responsive governance. We can see an action and support from the government. Unknown to
the media, there are more Security Forces deployed elsewhere and as often as necessary
especially in red tag areas. In areas where there are local terrorist groups such as the Abu
Sayyaf, Maute, NPA, MILF and the BIFF, the operations will be relentless, persistent and
inexorable. Recently, the latest crisis in Tadian, Mountain province where government forces
and the New People’s Army has so far resulted in the death of one police officer and injuries for
at least 7 other policemen. They were reports said that the government forces encountered
Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) set by NPAs along their way.Members of the 54th Infantry
Battalion joined the police in pursuing the NPA guerrillas in Cordillera Administrative Regions as
of today searching mountains over mountains7. On the Mindanao situation, the recent
Congressional approval to extent Martial Law demonstrates government's commitment at
maintaining peace and order and eliminating extremist influence in the region. The extended
implementation of Martial Law will be vital in ensuring the success in handling crisis in the area.
5
How does President Rodrigo Duterte define a crisis? How does he handle one? by Pia Ranada Published on 4:22
PM, July 28, 2018, Updated 2:27 PM, December 17, 2018 lifted on 10 April 2019
6
“The use of epidemiological tools in conflict-affected populations: open-access educational resources for policy-
makers” by Olga Bornemisza & Francesco Checchi lifted on 10 April 2019
7
http://conflict.lshtm.ac.uk/page_07.htm Bradley "Woody" Woodruff lifted on 10 April 2019.

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“The struggle you’re in today is the strength you need tomorrow” by Robert Tew
 GRADUATE SCHOOL OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY
General Luna Road, Baguio City Philippines 2600

Website: www.ubaguio.edu
Telefax No.: (074) 442-3071 E-mail Address: ub@ubaguio.edu

Only a few weeks ago, Tatay Digong issued Executive Order 70 (EO 70) providing for a
Whole-of-Nation approach in defeating the Local Communist Terrorist Groups. A National Task
Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) was created to synchronize the
utilization of the government's instrumentalities of power with the capabilities of private sector
stakeholders to finally end the 50-year long deceit, lies and atrocities committed by the
communist terrorists against the people. The President himself is leading the way by taking the
role of National Task Force Commander, he is demonstrating resolve to fulfill his vow to provide
a better future for the Filipino people.

The National Security Strategy (NSS) that was issued by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
in May was instrumental in integrating the country's major security policies, defining
responsibilities, and coordinating the actions of all concerned agencies, to effectively address
security threats, issues and concerns both within and outside the country. The "Whole-of-Nation
Approach" gives importance to inclusive and sustainable framework towards attaining peace. In
this light, the government remained persistent in implementing the Enhanced Comprehensive
Localized Integration Program (E-CLIP), wherein rebel returnees have found alternatives to a
life of crime and violence.

LTGEN HERMOGENES ESPORON JR said in an interview that, to wit; “Predictions

care bright for an even more stable and secure nation in 2019. With the NSS and the "Whole-of-
Nation Approach" in place, the security sector will become more robust in addressing future
security challenges. We are optimistic that as we are able to provide continuing stability, more
developmental prospects, small and big - such as our Build, Build, Build projects -- will see
fruition. All these will translate to improved economic standing and better living conditions of
most Filipinos”.

With that program, the AFP & PNP assured to stand side by side with the President and
remain committed to secure Philippine territory, ensure sovereignty, fight against internal threat
security and implement law and order - all for the well-being of the Filipino and for future
generations.

The Philippines pursued the development of its deterrence capabilities for a credible
defense posture, particularly through the increased funding allocation by Congress including the
improvement of facilities in the Philippines. The Philippines remains an active member-state that
recognizes the ASEAN way in undertaking concerted actions against security threats and
challenges/crisis in the region. With that, I can conclude that the Philippines is hereby prepared
in handling different crisis situations.

We are Filipinos, known to be optimistic and by that blood, we manage to won every
battle in our history. We even manage to smile even if it is difficult, even if it is hopeless. No
matter what is the type of crisis we encounter, Humanitarian emergency, man-made disaster or
complex emergency or a combination of both, name it; with pride, I can assess that Better
Philippines is prepared at par internationally with proper actions, coordination’s, plans, proper
enforcement of laws, a Selfless Realist leaders and with our strong cooperation. So far, we are
so good and if there is a need for us to level up, there is always a room for improvement.

Tatay Digong once said and I quote, “I do not like the way oppressed Filipinos are being
treated now. They are oppressed and have no one to turn to.8 Love of country, subordination of
personal interests to the common good, concern and care for the helpless and the impoverished
- these are among the lost and faded values that we seek to recover and revitalize as we
commence our journey towards a better Philippines. There are consequences in violating the
law. I will fight for the people until my last breath, do not ruin my people, I will kill you”.

8
www.dutertesquotes.com
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“The struggle you’re in today is the strength you need tomorrow” by Robert Tew
 GRADUATE SCHOOL OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY
General Luna Road, Baguio City Philippines 2600

Website: www.ubaguio.edu
Telefax No.: (074) 442-3071 E-mail Address: ub@ubaguio.edu

4|3
“The struggle you’re in today is the strength you need tomorrow” by Robert Tew