Philippine entertainment writer and tabloid editor Art Tapalla, a native of the island of Hilabaan in Dolores, Eastern Samar, has been very vocal about his socio-politico-cultural views and he is always sought out as an ideaman in many discussions on the topic especially on the grassroots level.
Art has been writing about show business but while he is bitching around the shenanigans of movie, television and other multimedia stars, he is embracing the philosophy of the liberation of man from oppression and tyranny by bolting out from the fascist and authoritarian system of the arts. Yes, there is also fascism and authoritarianism in the field. Go figure.
The current issue of the International Criminal Court (ICC) vs former president of the Republic of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte has triggered the argumentative spirit of Art.
But while the majority of observers and pundits alike are largely interpreting the event as government and politics, Tapalla has pulled down the issue to show business because according to him, some show people were also victims of Duterte's war on drugs.
"Bakit ba inihihiwalay ng mga tao, ng mga Filipino ang showbiz sa nangyayari sa lipunang Filipino? E, hindi naman hiwalay ang showbiz kahit na saan (Why do people, the Filipinos segregate what are happening in showbiz in the larger society? In reality, show business isn't detached from any aspect of life).
"In connection with Duterte and his authoritarian rule, konektado ang gobyerno (government is connected with) showbiz," argued Tapalla.
Art cited the cases of award-winning actors Julio Diaz and Katherine Luna who were directly involved in the Operation or Oplan Tokhang (tuktok hangyo—knock and arrest) without warrants.
According to Katherine in her interview with newscaster and vlogger Julius Babao, she heard a knock on her door and when she opened it, police authorities ransacked their things and later handcuffed her and her live-in partner.
They were jailed, just the same, after hearing them in court.
Katherine said she fought for her rights as there were no pieces of evidence or buy-busts in the arrest.
After four years, Luna was set free and reformed her life.
Although Julio was arrested by police authorities in a buy-bust operation, it also happened during Duterte's war on drugs.
"Ang dapat asikasuhin ng gobyerno kabilang ang mga pulis ay ang pag-aresto sa mga makapangyarihang tao na tiwali. Bakit hindi sila nabibilanggo o kaya naman ay nabubulok sa bilangguan samantalang lumalabag din sila sa batas? Pero pag maliliit, walang kapit o kapangyarihan, mahihirap na pinaghihinalaang gumon sa bawal na gamot, kung hindi man pinapatay ay inaaresto (What the government should do or prioritize including police authorities is the arrest of corrupt, powerful men. Why are they not imprisoned o if they are jailed, why aren't they rot there? But if the powerless or small people, poor ones who are suspected of drug use or supply, it's either they're killed or arrested," said Tapalla.
"Ang isa sa mga ugat ng paggamit ng droga ay kawalan ng trabaho o kahirapan o kabiguan sa mga pangarap (One of the root causes of drug menace is joblessness or poverty or unfulfilled dreams)," elucidated the Waraynon movie reporter.
"Hindi pantay ang mga oportunidad ng mga tao sa paghahanap-buhay, karapatan sa pagkakamit ng katarungan, ang paglawak ng agwat ng mayaman sa mahirap (There are no equal opportunities in employment, right to attainment of justice, the widening gap between the rich and the poor)," added Art.
"Kaya dapat ay magdemanda pa rin si Katherine Luna sa (She should file complaints against her) illegal arrest sa kanya," urged Tapalla.
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