Dear President Aquino,
In your inaugural speech, you said we, the people, were your Boss, and that you would listen to us. Now, Mr. President, please execute this one vital marching order for you as a priority, starting immediately.
With due respect, Mr. President, your security is very lax, and we fear for your life. We, the people, love you. You are our only hope to save the Philippines at this crucial juncture in our history. We do not want to lose you, or give you any excuse to leave us.
As convenor of the US Pinoys for Noy-Mar in Las Vegas, I, and my wife, Farida, and our contingent from the United States, had the privilege of attending your inauguration on June 30 followed by an audience with you in Malacanang the day after.
I noted that on both occasions anyone posing as a member of our group could have easily slipped through the supposedly "secured and restricted area," joined us, got close to you, and harmed you, all because of the laxity and the existing deficiency in the security protocol.
I was able to deliberately enter the "restricted" perimeter of the Quirino Grandstand, without showing my invitation card and ticket or any ID while the security officer was busy a putting a sticker on Farida's camera. I was even able to go up to the grandstand repeatedly (I was looking for our friends, the family of Mrs. Josephine Cojuangco Reyes, who waved at us when we were on our chartered bus at the inauguration site).
At the security gate to Malacanang July 1, I heard someone said the metal scanner was out of order. The guardhouse was crowded. I saw two members of our delegation going in without realizing they had to register first, until a member of our group informed them. The same laxity existed at the lobby registration before the Reception Hall.
When my family and I were invited on three occasions to Malacanang by President Cory, the security was consistently tight, very tight, in all those three visits. I realize that the times then were more tenuous, but the danger is no less treacherous today. The present risk may even be so subtle as to induce over confidence and escape detection.
An honest leader like you is the arch-enemy of the crooks and plunderers in the government. They have been threatened and intimidated by your expeditious strict implementation of good governance and speedy executive actions against corruption in any form hours after your assumption into office. This makes for an even more dangerous situation for you, as real danger now lurks everywhere. An honest President naturally breeds a lot of enemies, otherwise he is not doing his job well. And there are dozens of other reasons why your security must be beefed up to the fullest, even if you feel you are loved and protected by the people.
More than 15 millions of us labored hard for your landslide victory, and you owe us. You owe us the duty and obligation to stay ALIVE and HEALTHY to fulfill your promises to us to save our nation from corruption and poverty, and realize our common dream of a Great Philippines.
We received and accepted our marching orders from you. Now, Mr. President, as your Boss, we are giving you our vital marching order: Secure your perimeter by listening to your security team. Your life and your health are no longer yours alone. They now also belong to the nation and to us, "We, the People."
You are the priceless gem the Divine Providence has gifted us as an answer to our prayers. Please protect it for us.
Respectfully yours,
Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS
Chairman
Filipino United Network-USA
www.FUN8888.com
Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com
8 June 2010
Very well said, Mr. Philip S. Chua. I feel the same way for the safety of President Noynoy Aquino. Out of nowhere and unexpectedly we now have a president we've been looking for - a man with integrity, honest, down to earth, selfless. We cannot afford to lose him.
I was an avid fan of former President Cory Aquino. When she I died I saw a different Senator (then) Noynoy Aquino. Since then I admired him the way i admired her mother.
Mr. President for the sake of our country, please consider your security. While it is very heartwarming to see you follow the traffic rules and not using wang wang which gave a big imapct among motorists but your safety should not be sacrificed.
Our country have suffered a lot from the corrupt adminisration of Mrs. Arroyo for nine long years. You are our only hope now.
GOD BLESS YOU AND OUR COUNTRY.
I watched the inauguration several times as in for the nth time. Whenever i watch it, I felt a goosebumps all over my skin. I told myself at long last we can dream for a better Philippines. In my mind there is no doubt he is sincere, selfless and down to earth President. I just wish the people he would choose and work with will fulfill the task in alleviating poverty and providing good governance. It's about time! PLEASE give our nation a break. If I could only ask EVILS and CROOKS just to stay away for 6 years and do good instead, for our country and see what it feels like to have a prosperous nation devoid of corruption. But again as you have said Mr. President, you cant do it by yourself. We cant do it without you as well. Inumpisahan mo na din lang, Tapusin mo na lang din. So please be safe always.
More and more people are loving you each day, I'm not surprised if you continue to do good and being humble. Im not gonna be surprised you will be one of the most loved President we ever had.
I love Sec De Lima, she is one of your greatest asset in your Cabinet. And we are so pleased to see her everyday on TV. Oh Lord, create more guys like her. Sheild her with your protection everyday. I'm De Lima fanatic from Day 1 (of course next to Noynoy :)).
First time ever I read newspaper on a daily basis just to catch up what good things or even bad things goin on (prefer paying attention to good ones, lol). Then I realized I'm starting to be patriotic again. God bless the Philippines!
Matt_Hew
Dear Mr. President,
A few times I have cried watching TV. They are the times when your family has had tragedy. By no fault of yours I have gained the habit of updating myself to what your family is going through at a particular moment and have felt that I am part of that moment, time and time again. In saying so I have felt peace, love, pain and fear as I observed events happen to your family. However,the one emotion that I never fail to attain whenever a new event in your life unfolds is the feeling of great "HOPE". I dont know why. Your family just gives me that feeling. It is a very good feeling. Others in politics just give me despair, embarassment for being a Filipino, helplessness that greedy politicians and men in power do dirty things in front of us and we let them get away with it. What have we as Filipinos have become to? We have the greatest minds in this planet and we can't even put crooks in suits in their right places?
PNoy, you have a great aspiration and as we cling to every word you say , we hope that you succeed. We need you to be healthy and safe.
It will take another lifetime to have a man born from patriotic genes as you have . It will take many decades for a person more fitting for the job who is honest, sincere and trustworthy to be reared by parents who have the same love for the country to the point of martyrdom. There were good presidents in our history who had children in the same position but they were not nearly as sincere. So to have you is a one in a million shot.
Please keep yourself safe and secure. This is a time in my 40 years of life that I want to remain hopeful that there is a new beginning for all of us. Hopeful that Filipinos will no longer allow greedy politicians to steal under their very noses and let them get away with it. Maybe this is also a time when we see less poor people and the dividing marks between the rich and the poor is almost none. You see sir, you have provided the chance for all of this to happen through your leadership. If we lose you, it will be a great tragedy once again as we have lost Ninoy and Cory . So please be healthy, safe and secured so our HOPE for the country remains the same.
I agree to mr. chua as an ofw working abroad for so much of my wealth was rob by the people of the estrada admin when he was impeach. they took advantage of that impeachment to acculate extra cash for them to run in office. one of them is denr secretary cereles from the denr who sent his inorganic people by the name of father albor, I couldnt forget the name for that is one reason I have to work abroad to be able to live a normal life again. theres only one wish I want for all ofw that all philhealth of ofw should be all free with the all amount we are sending I think we deserve mr. president thank you.
Your security is a foremost concern... Just like other Filipino who are hoping for a better
Philippines, please consider your safety and security at all times.
I join this marching order for you, Mr. President. Please oblige.
Dear Mr. President,
I will be direct:
I have a strong gut feeling that they will try to eliminate you--those, whose personal and selfish agendas are detrimental to our well-being and our country, you'll be thwarting, and there are many of them, and the most dangerous are those who donned a sheep's clothing.
So please maximize the security for your life; it is in itself a victory for us all Filipinos who love you if you could frustrate the wish of your enemies under and above. your bed.
It is not only your duty to be our servant; it is also your duty to be our live servant...and hero,for we don't need another dead hero.
Dear Pnoy,
You've had a great start so far, spearheading this mission to finally lift our country from shambles. With this, I join these people in saying that you protect yourself at all times. God Bless.
Sorry to say, the surprise beso-beso with Imelda Marcos was very distasteful. The security detail should have prevented this.
The Phil. experience is an ongoing journey following different paths. We ask ourselves why it is so difficult and the answer is it just is.
The propagandists were acutely aware of their path, which was constituent representation, e.g. democracy. They used their eloquence and perished for it. Today, Phils. is a democratic country, but by no means is everyone represented since politicians
have very limited definition of their constituency - which is limited to their families. The democratic process had been reduced to a tool to perpetuate political dynasties in power. Bonifacio aspired for social justice, where everyone is compensated for
their efforts, and used nationalism and independence as rallying points to achieve it. After a century Phils. is independent but social justice is still out of reach. Much worse, nationalism and independence were perverted and used to stifle dissent. Gabriela Silang fought for justice for her husband. Do we know what happened to his case? Or to the rest of the unsolved crimes in the country? Respect for individual rights is the aspiration of Mindanao and minority groups used their cultural preservation as rallying point to secure international support. They were successful, but their very success led to horrific events like the recent massacre. In the end they achieved respect for their culture to the detriment of individual rights.
The Noynoy presidency is said to be a restoration of Phil. democracy, and I agree. But I am more inclined to say that it is a continuation of the democratic journey, which is by no means the only journey we are undertaking. It is a journey started by the propagandists, the Malolos Republic, the Phil. Commonweath, the Phil. Independent Gov't, EDSA, and now Noynoy. Phil. Democracy had been challenged time and again, by the Japanese empire, by Marcos dictatorship, coup plotters and by the very people who are working to preserve it who blindly perpetuate patronage politics and corruption in the name of democracy. Those who silence democratic dialogue and political dissent in the name of democracy. The democratic journey is riddled with mistakes that needs to
be overcome. We know that curtailment of freedom of expression is not democracy, like what happened to Rizal, and all the media personnel who died doing their duties. We know that democracy secured through the use of guns, goons, and gold is not democracy but should be more aptly called electoral fraud. The Marcos dictatorship is not democracy and so are political dynasties. Being voted into position through the use of violence, coercion, regionalism, and bribery is not democracy.
Threats to democracy are nurtured by the filth of corruption. Stopping corruption is not the job of a single man, since corruption pervades everyone's daily lives. What the president can do is to empower everyone to fight against corruption. Realize that it is a very uneven struggle which only the power of the government can make fair. Stop the killing of the media. Strengthen witness protection. Move them to another country if necessary. Immediate removal of the corrupt. Remember that public office is not a privilege of those voted to power and the vote of confidence can be withdrawn any time - the reason why there is the impeachment process. Set no one above the law so much so that those who committed crimes run for public office to avoid prosecution.
Strengthen human rights and justice; and let the people themselves eradicate corruption.
Some may say that alleviation of poverty is a top priority. Yes, it is. But Phil. poverty is the result of social injustice. Any
action to eliminate poverty will be meaningless without eradicating social injustice. Remove the barriers set by those who rig the economy in their favor, and let the economy solve poverty.
Noynoy has 6 years to give Filipinos a review course on what a democracy should be and remove the mechanisms of electoral fraud and social injustice. Vigilance must start from his first day in office until the next presidents/public officials are elected.
Indeed, Dr. Chua has a point. A president like PNOY shouldn't be a fatalist. So many people invested not only their money to contribute to PNOY's success, but also their time and efforts. Hopefully, PNoy will heed the people and his security ppl's concerns to take extra precautions for his safety. I pray that PNoy would finish his 6 years terms w/much accomplishments and w/good health. No one would like to see Binay succeeds PNOY under any circumstances.
Betsy Garcia Chua
San Diego, CA
Mr.President on behalf of OFW parents working here in Middle East we appreciate your dream and concerned for our country.We are hoping that good governance will prevail corruption will be minimized if not eradicated.As a growing concern for our children here can we ask from your good goverment to set up a college university here in the Middle East.Our children after finishing the secondary school here were forced to go back in the Philippines because there is no available college schools .May we request from present administration to have some fessibilty studies to set up schools for college for the sake of our children here in the Middle East
I think we are missing the point. We hang dirty linens after dirty linens of corruption for what reason? It is pointless. It is
not the president's job to make exposes but to take action. A corruption case is not only about proving guilt but more importantly
it is about stopping a crime of corruption in progress. It is like the electoral fraud during the last government, where the whole
term was actually a crime. At least the responsible COMELEC officials should have been removed because now all elections under
their watch are under suspicion. It is not about the officials' being guilty or innocent, it is about them not being able to stop
the fraud. It is also similar to the over importation of rice. We are not saying that the officials should not commit fraud, we
are saying they should prevent fraud. If the officials responsible are not able to stop fraud, they should be removed. They can be
proven guilty or innocent later on, but at least we prevented possible fraud from happening.
This is one instance to show the gov'ts seriousness in fighting corruption: The NFA head said the country is swimming in rice - he should have said what he is doing about it. The over importation was done by the gov't owned corporation - fire the company officers right away. The funny part is that senators are investigating this - are they not supposed to make laws? And don't we have the department of justice? ombudsman, supreme court? They said the evidence are weak against the erring officials, don't we have the NBI? - It is a white collar crime, there is an abundance of paper trail. The over supply is the evidence, those with responsibility are supposed to act as if they were widely awake.
This early in the new administration, everything starts to look familiar. Investigations in congress, a commander issuing a statement contrary to the new government policy, those responsible for the water shortage, and rice oversupply are not all named and maybe still in office. counter productive government arms like the COMELEC and Ombudsman are still headed by the same officials. It is beginning to look like the usual telenovela for the public. PNoy only has and should only have 6 years - no more. Therefore, everyday we waste diminishes our chance of getting out of our predicament. Give no more than 1 week for officials to solve problems, or to remove corrupt officials. The impeachment of those needed to be impeached should also be reasonably short. We have 6 years to remove the weeds of corruption, and to put in place electoral safeguards - remove private armies, more efficient election process, strong public accountability, judiciary and human rights. All the corrupt and ineffective officials must be made public to prevent us from accidentally electing them in the future. One can just imagine the last election wherein plunderers were allowed to register as candidates.
At first, I had reservations regarding the truth commission because it would duplicate government functions. But observing that this was opposed by the likes of Santiago and Enrile (the strongest protectors of haciendero republic), I believe that it has a promise of helping eradicate corruption. These guys are political geniuses, and they must have seen that it has a potential of shaking the status quo. I still believe that it is better to clean up the organizations that should be doing the job, but I see that we could use the commission to gather all corruption information and evidences, possibly, unanimously from all sources. We could also enlist volunterism in advocating to see to it that each corruption case is solved the shortest time possible and the erring officials fired.
Dear Nr. Chua,
Sumasang ayon ako sa mga ilan na sinabi mo tungkol kay Pangulong N. Aquino, at sa ibang sinabi mo naman..hindi ako sumasang ayon subalit ni re respeto ko ang iyong opinyon.
Akoy sumasang ayon sa pagiging concern mo sa pangulo. Ako rin ay naniniwala na ang isang pinaka mataas na leader ng bansa ay nanganga ilangan nang pag iingat sa lahat ng oras dahil:
1. Bilang halal na pangulo, maituturi na syang pag aari ng taong bayan, at dahil dito may obligasyon syang tapusin ang kanyang panunungkulan bilang namumuno ng bansa,at ang biglaang pagkawala nya sa pwesto o tungkulin sa anumang paraan (pagka paslang o aksidente o pagka tamo ng sugat na magre resulta ng pagka balyado niya na magiging hadlang sa kanyang kakayahan manungkulan)ay labis na makaka apekto sa takbo ng bansa. Kung may obligasyon syang tapusin ang kanyang tungkulin...may obligasyon din syang siguraduhin ang proteksyon ng kanyang sarili at itoy ginagawa kahit saang bansa.
2. Kagaya ng nabanggit mo, maraming korap at masasamang tao na makakabangga sya sa kanyang panunungkulan. Tanggapin natin na ganito ang riyalidad at buhay sa politika. kanya kanyang interes sa paghanap ng kapangyarihan. halos karamihan ay gahaman sa kapangyarihan...at dahil dito hindi maiiwasan na may iilan na handang magpapatay ng tao basta lang makuwa ang kapangyarihan.
3. Sa mga aral ng kasaysayan ng politika sa mundo, ipinapakita kung gaano kadilikado ang buhay ng leader ng isang bansa. Maramimg kilalang leader na ang napaslang dahil sa ibat ibang kadahilan. Sina Indira Gandhi ng India, Abraham lincoln ng Amerika, Anwar Sadat ng Egypt, franz Ferdinand ng Austrian Empire at marami pang iba.
Para sa akin naman, hindi katanggap tanggap yung sinabi mo na si Pres. Nonoy ay ang tanging pag asa ng bayan..at lalong hindi tama na sinabi mo na sya ay mabait. Masyadong maaga pa para husgahan natin ang kabaitan at kakayahan ng taong wala pang ilang buwan na naka upo. Tangi ang kasaysayan lamang ang pweding mag sabi nito. maraming mga bagay at dahilan na pweding mag laro sa pag takbo ng panahon...at ito ang mga pwersa na mag didikta at susukat sa kanyang kabaitan at kakayahan mamahala ng tama para sa taong bayan. Tandaan natin..tao lang sya at maaring mahulog sa mga kaakit akit na patibong ng pagkagahaman sa kapangyarihan at kayamanan. Marami nang nasira dito! Si Noynoy ay hindi Cory...Mabait ang ina pero hindi ngangahulugan na ganon ang anak...
Salamat,
Jack Apostol
Email: gomburza_1872@yahoo.com
Dear Nr. Chua,
Sumasang ayon ako sa mga ilan na sinabi mo tungkol kay Pangulong N. Aquino, at sa ibang sinabi mo naman..hindi ako sumasang ayon subalit ni re respeto ko ang iyong opinyon.
Akoy sumasang ayon sa pagiging concern mo sa pangulo. Ako rin ay naniniwala na ang isang pinaka mataas na leader ng bansa ay nanganga ilangan nang pag iingat sa lahat ng oras dahil:
1. Bilang halal na pangulo, maituturi na syang pag aari ng taong bayan, at dahil dito may obligasyon syang tapusin ang kanyang panunungkulan bilang namumuno ng bansa,at ang biglaang pagkawala nya sa pwesto o tungkulin sa anumang paraan (pagka paslang o aksidente o pagka tamo ng sugat na magre resulta ng pagka balyado niya na magiging hadlang sa kanyang kakayahan manungkulan)ay labis na makaka apekto sa takbo ng bansa. Kung may obligasyon syang tapusin ang kanyang tungkulin...may obligasyon din syang siguraduhin ang proteksyon ng kanyang sarili at itoy ginagawa kahit saang bansa.
2. Kagaya ng nabanggit mo, maraming korap at masasamang tao na makakabangga sya sa kanyang panunungkulan. Tanggapin natin na ganito ang riyalidad at buhay sa politika. kanya kanyang interes sa paghanap ng kapangyarihan. halos karamihan ay gahaman sa kapangyarihan...at dahil dito hindi maiiwasan na may iilan na handang magpapatay ng tao basta lang makuwa ang kapangyarihan.
3. Sa mga aral ng kasaysayan ng politika sa mundo, ipinapakita kung gaano kadilikado ang buhay ng leader ng isang bansa. Maramimg kilalang leader na ang napaslang dahil sa ibat ibang kadahilan. Sina Indira Gandhi ng India, Abraham lincoln ng Amerika, Anwar Sadat ng Egypt, franz Ferdinand ng Austrian Empire at marami pang iba.
Para sa akin naman, hindi katanggap tanggap yung sinabi mo na si Pres. Nonoy ay ang tanging pag asa ng bayan..at lalong hindi tama na sinabi mo na dahil sya ay mabait. Masyadong maaga pa para husgahan natin ang kabaitan at kakayahan ng taong wala pang ilang buwan na naka upo pwesto. Tangi ang kasaysayan lamang ang may karapatan mag sabi nito. maraming mga bagay at dahilan na pweding mag laro sa pag takbo ng panahon...at ito ang mga pwersa na mag didikta at susukat sa kanyang kabaitan at kakayahan mamahala ng tama para sa taong bayan. Tandaan natin..tao lang sya at maaring mahulog sa mga kaakit akit na patibong ng pagkagahaman sa kapangyarihan at kayamanan. Marami nang nasira dito! Si Noynoy ay hindi Cory...Mabait ang ina pero hindi ngangahulugan na ganon ang anak...
Salamat,
Jack Apostol
Email: gomburza_1872@yahoo.com
Dear Nr. Chua,
Sumasang ayon ako sa mga ilan na sinabi mo tungkol kay Pangulong N. Aquino, at sa ibang sinabi mo naman..hindi ako sumasang ayon subalit ni re respeto ko ang iyong opinyon.
Akoy sumasang ayon sa pagiging concern mo sa pangulo. Ako rin ay naniniwala na ang isang pinaka mataas na leader ng bansa ay nanganga ilangan nang pag iingat sa lahat ng oras dahil:
1. Bilang halal na pangulo, maituturi na syang pag aari ng taong bayan, at dahil dito may obligasyon syang tapusin ang kanyang panunungkulan bilang namumuno ng bansa,at ang biglaang pagkawala nya sa pwesto o tungkulin sa anumang paraan (pagka paslang o aksidente o pagka tamo ng sugat na magre resulta ng pagka balyado niya na magiging hadlang sa kanyang kakayahan manungkulan)ay labis na makaka apekto sa takbo ng bansa. Kung may obligasyon syang tapusin ang kanyang tungkulin...may obligasyon din syang siguraduhin ang proteksyon ng kanyang sarili at itoy ginagawa kahit saang bansa.
2. Kagaya ng nabanggit mo, maraming korap at masasamang tao na makakabangga sya sa kanyang panunungkulan. Tanggapin natin na ganito ang riyalidad at buhay sa politika. kanya kanyang interes sa paghanap ng kapangyarihan. halos karamihan ay gahaman sa kapangyarihan...at dahil dito hindi maiiwasan na may iilan na handang magpapatay ng tao basta lang makuwa ang kapangyarihan.
3. Sa mga aral ng kasaysayan ng politika sa mundo, ipinapakita kung gaano kadilikado ang buhay ng leader ng isang bansa. Maramimg kilalang leader na ang napaslang dahil sa ibat ibang kadahilan. Sina Indira Gandhi ng India, Abraham lincoln ng Amerika, Anwar Sadat ng Egypt, franz Ferdinand ng Austrian Empire at marami pang iba.
Para sa akin naman, hindi katanggap tanggap yung sinabi mo na si Pres. Nonoy ay ang tanging pag asa ng bayan..at lalong hindi tama na sinabi mo na dahil sya ay mabait. Masyadong maaga pa para husgahan natin ang kabaitan at kakayahan ng taong wala pang ilang buwan na naka upo pwesto. Tangi ang kasaysayan lamang ang may karapatan mag sabi nito. maraming mga bagay at dahilan na pweding mag laro sa pag takbo ng panahon...at ito ang mga pwersa na mag didikta at susukat sa kanyang kabaitan at kakayahan mamahala ng tama para sa taong bayan. Tandaan natin..tao lang sya at maaring mahulog sa mga kaakit akit na patibong ng pagkagahaman sa kapangyarihan at kayamanan. Marami nang nasira dito! Si Noynoy ay hindi Cory...Mabait ang ina pero hindi ngangahulugan na ganon ang anak...
Salamat,
Jack Apostol
Email: gomburza_1872@yahoo.com
It is not enough to disband private armies, we need to cut the sources of dirty money that infects our politics. Pork barrel, smuggling, gambling, narcotics, illegal mining/quarry/logging, landgrabbing and hoarders of commodities. We should not let these activities choose our leaders for us.
Narcotics, for example, generates enough money to fund military dictatorships now in existence all over the world. The world power U.S. has even declared war on drugs - an indication of the drug trade's perniciousness. Gambling and drugs may have already elected some of our presidents in the recent past. For these reasons, We need to fight the above crimes like a war for independence or as if fighting an invasion.
It is true, there is need to be more sensitive in dismantling private armies in Mindanao, because these are funded by foreign countries. We need to convince these countries that they are replicating in the Mindanao the sectarian violence that is debilitating countries in the middle east. We need to stop the practice of rido, which is technically a version of lex talionis, vendetta, venganza,etc. Rido, however, is worse since instead of being an eye for an eye retribution, it is a form of escalation, wherein death could be the price for a perceived disrespect of a royal blood. It is actually not a form of retribution but of domination, that is, establishing a pecking order. We should have only one penal system which already has due process and human rights imbedded in it.
Hope the new dawn of a new era has formed. Hope there is great change and prosperity. I hope things will get better for all. Photography
Life is reborn in the form of a new government. As we see what newness brings, we live on. We dream of the future. Embrace today and enjoy the moment. World Traveler
Demanding autonomy is the same as incorporating a city or a province. The assumption is that the petitioners are capable to manage their own self sustaining community.Which means they intend to and are capable of protecting human rights and already have a plan on how to manage themselves and already have a vision for the future. Following are the things ordinary people would want to see in their vision: 1. basic human rights (respect for life, liberty, and property) 2. freedom of religion, 3. freedom from ethnic cleansing, 4. commitment to sharing and succession of government, 5. environmental protection, 6. basic services, 7. financial services, 8. revenue plan, etc. Without a revenue plan, these autonomous governments will just raise funds from kidnapping, drug trade, smuggling, illegal logging, etc. Without a plan for returning their fighting units to civilian life, these would be renegade private armies, like what's happening now. Without a plan for transition of power, and election, it would be another warlord government like the Ampatuans. The return to ancient government is unacceptable since these were warlord organizations. A change to theocratic government is also unacceptable since this would result in ethnic cleansing (imagine 10 out of 100 people able to kill the other 90 because they were in power?). The people we are giving power to are 14 century and 16 century colonists. The other races who colonized the land (before and after their group) are since then able to integrate and learned that it is not domination but the ability to get along with others that is essential for peace.
At the moment we need to examine what their aspirations are. Do they want to be involved in their own fate, or do they merely want to be unaccountable for their actions against national and international laws? Do they want to take their place in the world community or do they want to be an isolationist society? Do they want freedom to practice religion, or to exterminate those who belong to other religions? Do they want to involve their constituents in government, or to become another dictatorship? Do they intend to develop industry, agriculture, services, etc. or are they going to do what their grandfathers did, that is give concessions to large corporations, collect the money, and neglect government? Do they see themselves as the people who live in the land or an occupying force?
Without examining their aspirations, it's like we are granting governments to any violent group that sprouts anywhere.
From our experience with the other autonomous governments, it is important that we realize that they need a lot of help. It is not enough that we give them autonomy, but the autonomy let's them achieve their aspirations. For human rights, I believe a close and armed monitoring by the United Nations is necessary because there is a high risk of ethnic cleansing.
Reacting to the torture expose, if you live in Metro Manila, it is always good sense to avoid spots where policemen and soldiers congregate. Oftentimes you will see them glass eyed with drugs, or bloodshot eyes with alcohol. It is no wonder the fight against prostitution, kidnapping, drugs, and gambling is so hopeless since most of the time, the personnel charged with going after criminals have fulltime jobs with the criminal bosses. Torture is not reserved for suspects, it is even reserved for those who have pretty wives or girlfriends who an officer happened to eye. There is no excuse for torture, since it is not being used to extract information or to instill disciploine but more on letting officials get what they want with impunity.
I strongly agree with this article with thanks.
Personally support you Mr. President, all my hopes for a better Philippines are clearer from the day you took office.Keep it up!
God bless u in every way!