Political move a bid to change topic from economy — analysts

By Arjay L. Balinbin, Reporter
THE government is deliberately roiling the political landscape to distract the public from more urgent problems like inflation or disruptions to the rice market, analysts said.
Asked to comment on the revocation of Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV’s amnesty, University of Santo Tomas (UST) political science professor Marlon M. Villarin said in a phone interview: “This is a calculated political move on the part of the Duterte administration. Normally, the government utilizes political sensationalism as a method to really cushion public stress, especially when our country is experiencing economic uncertainties.”
August inflation came in at 6.4%, while the National Food Authority (NFA) has allowed its inventory of low-cost rice to dwindle, creating a supply crisis in certain regions. Poor families rely on NFA rice as an alternative to more expensive rice sold in commercial markets, making the shortage a politically-sensitive matter.
Mr. Villarin added that “our government sometimes capitalizes on sensationalism… to really divert the attention of the people.”
“It’s common in Filipino culture… that every time you feed them sensationalized topics, they tend to drop things that are very fundamental to their practical lives,” he added.
Mr. Villarin also said the government is doing this “every time it experiences difficulties in explaining to the general public what inflation is all about.”
Also in a phone interview, University of the Philippines (UP)-Diliman law professor Antonio G.M. La Viña said: “It’s quite obvious that the economy is getting worse… And if you are going to concentrate on partisan politics, you will not be able to solve the problem of the economy. These are both related to each other.”
He added: “I don’t know if they are trying to change the topic because it doesn’t really change the topic, right? The economy is getting worse.”
In a phone message, UP-Diliman Political Science assistant professor Perlita M. Frago-Marasigan said: “The revocation of the Trillanes amnesty is an attempt to shut him up. This is an anticipated move. It shows how power can really corrupt the best or the least of us. It is interesting to note that inflation also reached an all-time high as of today. Perhaps, the government should start re-ordering its priorities and should concentrate on bringing those prices down.”