The Association of Women in Theology Statement on the Third State of the Nation Address of Rodrigo Roa Duterte
The story in II Samuel 21: 1-14 begins with a famine of three years during David’s reign. David asked the Gibeonites what it is that he can do so that they may have justice, and they answered, “let seven of his sons be handed over to us, and we will impale them before the Lord….” (v.6) The king took the sons of Rizpah, the concubine of Saul, and the five sons of Merab, the daughter of Saul, and the Gibeonites impaled them, a form of torture where a victim’s body is pierced with a stake, like an animal for roasting. Seven sons from the house of Saul were tortured and killed.
Two characters play vital roles in this Biblical narrative on human rights violations: David and Rizpah. David, the king, has power of life and death over the lives of people. He may attribute to God and the Gibeonites the judgement upon the seven sons, but as king, he chose to have mercy on the son of Jonathan, Mephibosheth. David, the king, chose to let one live and let seven die. Rizpah, the mother of two sons who were tortured and killed, protested in the face of oppression and death until all the dead males were buried. David embodies the powerful and Rizpah is the face of the disempowered and oppressed.
In the narrative, it is only David who speaks. His word kills. His word is the law. In the Philippines today, the proposed charter change which gives dictatorial powers to the president, is one of the greatest threats to human rights and national sovereignty. In the past two years, we have witnessed the intolerance and oppression of Duterte against those who express dissent. We have witnessed his refusal to defend our rights against China over the West Philippine Sea. And our people, especially the poor, have experienced the most vicious attacks through Oplan Tokhang and Oplan Galugad.
In the narrative, there are no words attributed to Rizpah, but she acts. She protests. For months. And she forces David to take down the bodies of the dead and bury them. When David ordered the killings, he wanted to instill fear among the household of Saul and those who supported him. But Rizpah refused to be terrorized. Today, women and their entire families, whose sons, daughters and husbands have been killed in the “War on Drugs,” refuse to be terrorized have come together in “Rise Up,” an organization pursuing justice and healing for the victims’ families. Women from different sectors have also proclaimed, “Babae Ako. Lalaban Ako” (I am woman. I will fight.) and “Enough,” in response to the misogynist statements of Duterte.
Then, seven sons from the household of Saul were ordered killed by David. Today, over twenty thousand have been killed under the Duterte Government. Some are priests, journalists, indigenous peoples, peasant and labor union leaders. Many of them poor.
On the occasion of the third State of the Nation Address of the President, Rodrigo R. Duterte, we, the Association of Women in Theology, denounce Duterte’s attacks on women and the Church; on human rights advocates and those who express dissent in the judiciary; on the poor and indigenous peoples who continue to be terrorized by state forces. We reject the proposed federalism and charter change which institutionalizes dictatorial powers, subservience to foreign powers and denies the most basic human rights like speech and mobility. We invite the Filipino People to be in solidarity with the poor and most vulnerable in this oppressive climate, to seek the truth and defend it, and to pursue justice and peace. May we be like Rizpah who challenged David and demanded justice for her sons and others.
Association of Women in Theology (AWIT) 