A group of artists on Monday, August 3, criticized the President’s spokesman over his “clear and absolute lie” in saying President Rodrigo Duterte’s threats of a “counterrevolution” were sparked by a popular song from a musical about starting one.

“In an attempt at damage control, Roque asserted today that Duterte was referring to ‘Di Niyo Ba Naririnig,’ a music video by Voyage Studios featuring artists singing the Filipino version of Les Miserables‘ ‘Do You Hear the People Sing,’ when he took the plea of health workers to government as waging a revolution. This is a clear and absolute lie,” said the Concerned Artists of the Philippines in an August 3 statement. 

In a late night address on Sunday, August 2, Duterte placed Mega Manila – Metro Manila, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, and Bulacan – under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from August 4 to 18, after a plea from over 80 groups representing the medical community in the Philippines. While Duterte acted – partially – on their letter, the President also went on to lambast members of the medical community for supposedly threatening a revolution. 

“Next time, huwag ninyo akong parinigrinigin ng revolution. Naku, Diyos ko. Iyan ang mas delikado sa COVID. Eh kung mag-revolution kayo, you will give me the free ticket to stage a counterrevolution. How I wish you would do it,” said Duterte, referring to medical societies that had written a letter urging government to place Mega Manila under a stricter lockdown as cases of COVID-19 spiked.

(Next time, don’t say “revolution.” That’s more dangerous than COVID-19. If you mount a revolution, you will give me a free ticket to stage a counterrevolution. How I wish you would do it.)

The medical groups did not threaten a revolution against Duterte but instead asked for a two-week reprieve as COVID-19 cases continued to spike around the country, particularly in Metro Manila. They also laid out suggestions for the government to improve its response to the pandemic. 

But in a press conference hours later, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque claimed Duterte’s remarks were triggered by a song about a revolution “from Les Miserables.” Several Filipino artists were recently featured in a music video for the Filipino adaptation of the song “Do You Hear The People Sing” from the popular musical. 

The song, which is sang twice in the musical, has since been adapted as a protest anthem in different parts of the world. It’s been sang at protests in the Philippines as well. 

The artists’ group said that contrary to Roque’s claims, what triggered Duterte’s rant was simple: anger over a sector speaking out against his administration’s failures. 

“And as usual, when he is criticized and censured, he responds with threats and lies to evade accountability. He peppers his inactions with false assurances and a delusion of effective military-led COVID-19 response,” the group said. 

“It is utterly wrong for Duterte to put the revolutionary theme of ‘Di Niyo Ba Naririnig’ in the context of violence. Across the world, it has been sung and adapted as a collective call for people to unite at the face of threats and adversities. We stand with the artists and figures who worked to produce the Filipino adaptation as a collective expression of protest against tyranny today,” they added. 

The group also urged their fellow artists to “stand firm and united against the black propaganda, gaslighting, intimidation and the trolling that the regime unleashes on all creative acts of protest.”

“Why is Duterte and his regime so afraid of a song? Is it because art can tell and amplify truths they do not want to hear? Because it helps us sing about the dark times and our resolve to keep the fire of dissent burning?” they said. 

The Philippines – Metro Manila in particular – has been under among the longest lockdowns in the world. Even as the coronavirus pandemic brought the country to its knees, the Duterte administration has also been throwing its weight behind moves that threaten dissent and free speech in the country. 

The House, which is dominated by a supermajority allied with Duterte, denied broadcast giant ABS-CBN a new legislative franchise. While the Palace insisted the President was “neutral” toward ABS-CBN, Duterte himself attacked the network during his fifth State of the Nation Address. He has also repeatedly threatened the network in the past. 

Congress also passed the anti-terror bill, which Duterte later signed into law. Human rights lawyers and advocates have warned that the law could be used to curtail dissent against the government. Several groups – including a former Supreme Court justice and a former ombudsman – have filed challenges against the law. – Rappler.com