PUTIN, DUTERTE, & HEROD: THE PERILS OF POWER AND PARANOIA

 

The fiercest foe of President Vladimir Putin, 47-year old Alexie Navalny, who crusaded against official corruption and staged anti-Kremlin protests, died recently in the Arctic penal colony, where he was serving a 19-year sentence.

Navalny's death has sent shockwaves throughout the world and leaders have reacted with shock and sadness. US President Joe Biden has laid blame on Putin saying that regardless of the details still to come, "Make no mistake: Putin is responsible," while Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that "it's something that has the entire world being reminded of exactly what a monster Putin is."

Navalny's wife, Yulia Navalnaya, urged the international community to fight against Putin's "horrific" regime.

"I would like to call upon all the international community -- all the people in the world. We should come together, and we should fight against this evil. We should fight against this horrific regime in Russia today. This regime, and Vladimir Putin, should be personally held responsible for all the atrocities that they have committed in our country."

Meanwhile, Russians have risked detention in Moscow and elsewhere across the country attending rallies and vigils in Navalny's honor which resulted in at least 100 people having been detained across Russia for attending vigils and rallies following Navalny's death.

CNN Nick Paton Walsh's analysis of Navalny's death is thought-provoking as excerpted below:

"Navalny's death is a reminder of Putin's paranoia. He does not seem able to tolerate the risk of having his most outspoken opponent alive. Russia's prisons, it is fair to argue, could have easily kept him safe and healthy indefinitely, that was their mandated task. We do not have full transparency of their involvement, but this is not a Kremlin unafraid of the future."

Reading about Putin today reminds me of the public declaration of former President Rodrigo Duterte: "My favorite hero is Putin." No other words could spotlight the character bond between Putin and Duterte much firmer than such a public declaration. As the old saying goes, "birds of the same feather flock together" -- going as deep as the innermost recesses of the soul -- Fear.

Just as CNN reporter Walsh delved into Putin's paranoia, so too Antonio Lascañas, confessed ex-DDS hitman, spelled out Duterte as "matakutin," like two peas in a pod, in his one-on-one interview with Christian V. Esguerra's Facts First.

"Sa pagkakilala ko sa kay [Duterte] personally, for more than 20 years... matakutin siya," Lascañas said.

Like Putin, Duterte "does not seem able to tolerate the risk of having his most outspoken opponent alive." Let's take former Leila de Lima as Exhibit A with Lascañas' narrative:

"Ang unang plano talaga... ipa-ambush si Commissioner Leila de Lima. Pero dito pumalag si SPO4 Ben Laud, kasi ayaw niya yong planong ambushin si Commissioner  sa loob mismo ng Laud quarry... dahil walang ibang pagbintangan kung may mangyari kay Commissioner, segurado si Mayor...

"Nagproposed itong si SPO4 Sonny Buenaventura na ipa-sharpshoot na lang si Commissioner at all costs... Hindi ito nangyari. Yong plano natuloy. Ang pag-implement lang sa plano ang nagkaroon ito ng problema, dahil yong supposed to be gunman na appointed ni Buenaventura approved naman ni Mayor Duterte, isa itong private person. Hindi ko lang pangalanan. Kilalang-kilala ito sa Davao City within the business circle...

"Pero nahirapan siya i-deliver ang mission niya kay Commissioner, dahil unang-una mahigpit ang seguridad sa mga area na inabangan sila. I think sa Waterfront Insular Hotel isa rin yan sa mga area, at saka ang daming puno doon na medyo naka-block sa shooter. So hindi ito natuloy. Nakalabas si Commissioner na safe sa Davao City."

Let's take former Senator Antonio Trillanes as Exhibit B with Lascañas' narrative:

"Ganito po ang plano. Ipasok ako ni Mayor sa Bureau of Customs kasi isa ako nag-crop up sa plano na kung patayin si Senator Antonio Trillanes through sa isang sharpshooter walang ibang pagbintangan, si Mayor.

"So nag-crop up kami ng plano kasama ko si Buenaventura at Mayor Duterte at that time. Tatlo lang kami... Isa ako sa nag-suggest na banggain ang sasakyan ni Senator Trillanes ng isang 10-wheeler or 20-wheeler truck somewhere in Metro Manila.

"Pumayag dito si Mayor Duterte.

"Na-cool off ito... Hindi natuloy ang planong banggain yong sasakyan ni Senator Trillanes para lalabas lang na isang aksidente ang pagkakapatay sa kanya."

In contrast to Nalvany's fate, De Lima and Trillanes seem to be more fortunate, all the more, as against the thousands of EJK victims.

Amid the Lenten celebration, the above modern-day saga finds an uncanny parallel in the Biblical account of Herod the Great and the birth of Jesus. Herod, the ruler of Judea, was renowned for his paranoia and ruthlessness.

When he heard of the prophecy of a newborn king who would challenge his reign, Herod's fear knew no bounds. In a desperate attempt to maintain his grip on power, Herod ordered the massacre of innocent infants in Bethlehem, hoping to eliminate any personal threat to his rule.

However, his efforts were futile, as Jesus emerged as a symbol of hope and liberation, transcending the oppressive forces of time.

In both eras, we witness the tragic consequences of unchecked power coupled with deep-seated insecurity. Putin, Duterte, and Herod, despite their position of authority, succumbed to fear and paranoia, resorting to oppression and killing to safeguard their rule. Yet, in their ruthless pursuit of control, they only succeeded in perpetuating a cycle of injustice and suffering.

These parallel examples serve as a stark reminder of the dangers inherent in concentrated power and the fragility of the human ego. They compel us to reflect on the nature of leadership, accountability, and responsibility that comes with wielding authority. Moreover, they underscore the enduring relevance of age-old narratives in understanding contemporary socio-political dynamics.

The tales of Putin, Duterte, and Herod, offer valuable insights into the complexities of power and the human condition. They remind us that true strength lies not in domination and oppression, but in humility, empathy, and the willingness to confront our insecurities.

Interestingly, before his death, Alexie Navalny quoted Edmund Burke: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing." In like manner, Ninoy Aquino quoted Mahatma Gandhi: "The willing sacrifice of the innocent is the most powerful answer to insolent tyranny that has yet been conceived by God and man."

Both men uttered striking farewell.

Navalny: "My message for the situation when I am killed is very simple: not give up."

Aquino: (smiling) "If I'm killed, I'll be with Jesus."

Is there a common thread weaving through the fallouts of the two men's deaths?

God only knows.

Head collage photos courtesy of gettyimages

Video clips courtesy of YouTube