In this book, Mr. Gerry Arambala, Chair of Philosophy at La Salle University in Ozamiz, intends to provide the narrative of radical politics in Ozamiz, using the lens of radical democracy. It is a
pivotal move in Mindanao studies. He employs the theory of Chantal Mouffe and
analyzes local politics based on the works of Nathan Quimpo, Paul Hotchcroft, John Sidel, and his mentor in political theory, Christopher Ryan Maboloc.
Arambala argues that Police Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido, in the same way as President Rodrigo Duterte, has changed the course of Ozamiz politics by challenging the grip into power of the Parojinogs. Using Sidel’s bossism as a vantage point, Arambala thinks that change in Ozamiz was possible because of the leadership of Espenido, who put the local bosses to task as he went into cleansing the city of its drugs and criminal elements.
Ozamiz City politics is not different from national politics. The local problems in the city reveal that it can be a microcosm of the country’s brand of democracy. The way forward is to examine how we must go beyond the antagonism and proceed to what Mouffe calls a “pluralistic agonism”. In this way, Arambala has put together a critical step in understanding how we must view the pursuit of a common ground that allows society to flourish in the name of justice, democracy, and humanity.