By Alex P. Vidal
“Freedom of speech is a human right and the foundation upon which democracy is built. Any restriction of freedom of speech is a restriction upon democracy.” — Deeyah Khan
I MAY not agree with what Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio declared in her recent very controversial press conference, but I will defend to death her right to say it.
The vice president’s right, as well as the right of any Filipino, to free speech, is a fundamental right protected by Article III, Section 4 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.
When she said “gusto kong tanggalin yung ulo nia ba” (I want to cut off his head) referring ostensibly to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., she was expressing a personal opinion.
An opinion can’t be a crime; it can’t be suppressed in a democratic state unless done directly to inflict real and present harm and instigate rebellion or topple the duly constituted government.
It’s unpalatable if a free speech is abused by shouting “fire” inside a crowded movie house.
It’s real time macabre if she proceeded to Malacanang and went straight inside the president’s bedroom and chopped Mr. Marcos Jr.’s head off with a bolo.
This would surpass the Sherlock Holmes and The Silence of the Lambs episodes.
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It would be a different story if the vice president egged, led, aided, financed, or encouraged the people to cut off somebody’s head or, in this scenario, the head of the highest elected official of the country. A crime is being suggested to be committed here; or, a crime is about to be committed.
“Gusto ko” (I want to) may not be the “gusto mo or niyo rin (also what you want to). “Gusto ko” (I want to) is not “let’s go cut off someone’s head or let’s do it.”
Action always speaks louder than words. Words, on the other hand, don’t drill holes in the skin. And there are words that don’t translate into action; words are sometimes the byproduct of emotional or mental outbursts.
Of course we don’t condone what Inday Sara (Vice President Duterte-Carpio) had said. Never. No way.
Despite her anger and emotional anguish, it was still better if she acted or expressed her beef with her estranged political friend with decorum.
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The vice president’s threat to “dig up your father’s remains and throw (them) into the West Philippine Sea” (referring to the remains of the late former President Ferdinand Marcos Jr buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani or national cemetery) if the purported attacks against the Duterte family didn’t stop surely sounded bizarre and sickening, but it’s an expression. It can be interpreted as figure of speech.
Using a simple logic and imagination, not even superman or any cartoon character hero can singlehandedly dig, transfer, transport and throw away any cadaver even in the Pasig or Iloilo River without being mobbed and manacled in the gates of a cemetery.
If Mrs. Duterte-Carpio will next go to the cemetery and literally implement her threats, it’s really a problem and that’s her problem.
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)
