You can see it in the main content of the Opposition rhetoric nowadays — mudslinging, inciting misinformation-driven panic, and nitpicking on inconsequential “issues”. Perhaps because of a lack of a substantial ideological foundation, the Yellowtard-led Philippine Opposition is running around flailing aimlessly, lashing out at every target that catches its eye.
A key pillar in their portfolio of talking points is wishing death upon Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. The most famous of these were words tweeted by the late Carlos Celdran before he croaked.
Interestingly enough, the Yellowtards don’t have a compelling plan of action if Duterte does die before his term ends. All they have is “vice president” Leni Robredo who one cannot imagine surviving even one Cabinet meeting. And as leader of the Opposition, she has so far been flaccid at best.
Thus, things are indeed looking bleak for the Opposition. The Yellowtards, for now, are plumbing greater depths of desperation today as they scamble to politicise the novel coronavirus outbreak, taking every opportunity to demonise China and, by transitivity the China-friendly Duterte government. Their top “thought leaders” are issuing shrill the-sky-is-falling announcements with every factoid about the crisis they come across.
THE PHILIPPINES JUST WELCOMED 2 SHIPS FROM CHINA.
ANAK NG PATING! Anong katangahan ito?! Gusto ba talaga ni Duterte na may mamatay na Pilipino sa Corona virus!
This is total madness! Nasan na yung magje-jetski papuntang China para protektahan tayo?
D'BEST KA TALAGA, DIGONG!? pic.twitter.com/D53Qz8LzqX
— Francis Baraan IV (@MrFrankBaraan) January 29, 2020
More intelligent folk like Jessica Soho are more disciplined than these shills, however, preferring to take deep breaths and first take stock of facts before raising hell on social media.
Interviewed on State of the Nation with Jessica Soho on Monday, Nellan Banda warned Filipinos against “fake” photos and videos that have become viral amid the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) scare that originated in Wuhan.
“Ang social media is maraming mga fake na video na ginagawa para mas lalong pumanic ‘yung mga tao,” she said.
Banda said she had never seen people randomly collapsing in public, contrary to a number of videos that have surfaced online.
Filipinos deserve better than an Opposition that clings to dwindling relevance using dishonest means such as raising stinks over inconsequential things. For their part, it’s time the broader Opposition reconsider being led by the now-discredited Yellowtard bloc and chart a new and smarter pathway to an election win for themselves.
Webmaster of Get Real Philippines