By Joe EspirituJagna-based Writer
Bohol Sunday Post
Last week's news in the national broadsheets and television was disturbing. A newspaper bannered that widows of soldiers urged the President to stop the war to prevent further bloodshed and deaths of many more soldiers. In an allied news item, the senators said that the war would cost the country some one billion pesos a day until it is over. Still, in another story, the religious leaders of the country particularly the Catholic bishops, urge the belligerents to go back to the negotiating table. Things are easier said than done.
The bishops had forgotten that the fratricidal conflict was started by the kidnapping of an Italian Catholic missionary, Giancarlo Bossi. A marine detachment on a search and rescue mission was ambushed by Muslims, who styled themselves the MILF lost command and elements of Abu Sayyaf. The pretext was; the marines failed to notify the MILF that they, the marines, would be operating in their territory. Atrocities were committed on the bodies of the slain soldiers prompting the marines to demand justice.
Following the rule of law, the perpetrators were identified and warrants of arrest were issued. However, the warrants could not be served because the MILF lost command coddled the lawless elements. It is the duty of the police to enforce the arrests and since they were facing an armed group, the help of the Armed Forces was requested. To ease the pressure on the breakaway group in Basilan, another group styling themselves MNLF and with the Abu Sayyaf ambushed another marine contingent in Sulu. The time for negotiation is over. This started a massive drive against the recalcitrant Muslims.
At this time, the Armed Forces should be left to do their job without interference from anyone. The sovereignty of the Republic must be upheld. The MNLF, MILF as groups could not hold Philippine territory. They do not have the right to interfere with any legal operation of the police or Armed Forces of the Republic The Mindanao conflict is not war but police action with the police and Armed Forces trying to enforce the law. If lost commands of the two parties coddled the Abu Sayyaf, they have to account for their actions.
When a citizen enters the armed forces, he automatically becomes a soldier, whose duty is to uphold and defend the Constitution even at the cost of his life. A soldier is a soldier, is a soldier. A large part of his service is war and death. His family is aware that the life of a soldier is hazardous, that he may die anytime. "It is not theirs to reason why, theirs is but to do and die, so into the valley of death ---" Those with wives and families who cannot accept the risks must not let their men enter the Armed Forces. They should ask them to look for safer professions.
War is always costly. Millions and billions of pesos must be spent to pursue a goal and that goal in is integrity of the Republic of the Philippines. The MILF as the MNLF before them wanted chunks of Philippine territory under their rule.
Fortunately, the MNLF agreed to autonomy with places predominantly Muslim under their autonomous government. The MILF wanted at least 1,000 villages into their Bangsa Moro Juridical Entity. However, 400 villages of the 1,000 are peopled by Christians. If a plebiscite were to be held in the 1,000 villages on whether all of them would be incorporated into Bangsa Moro, the MILF would not accept. History had said that the generals win wars but it is the politicians, who give away the fruits of victory.
The moral fiber of the country is at its weakest. The media is full of news about abortions and fetuses found in garbage cans and esteros. Stories of promiscuity among the show biz and high society, people supposed to set examples of morality, pollute the airwaves. Theft, robbery, hold ups and murder are rampant.
Dishonesty becomes a part of life. Those are the problems that should be addressed by the religious authorities. The soldiers had laid down their lives to rescue a kidnapped priest. The least thing that we could do is ask for justice for the atrocities done against them and pray for the eternal repose of their souls.
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Topic: No more negotiation. Let the war continue. Leave the AFP alone. (Read 1548 times)