Reactions to this barbaric ambush in Basilan are pretty confusing. Here’s why, if I may read between the lines from reactions by all concerns right after the sad incident: Said the Abu Sayaf, “Zzzzzzzzh, snore.” Said the MILF, “We’ve done it! Because they did not ask permission.” Said the Philippine government, “No, you did not, it’s the Abus who did it. We have a peace agreement with you, so could not have been you.” Then added, “We will go to war against the perpetrators, but we will go to peace at the same time.” Hehehehe, very confusing indeed.

Well, you know me, I’m to the Right even of President Arroyo, who happens to be hemmed in, as usual by the needs of compromise. The Warlords of Maguindanao are not so different from the Beheaders of Basilan–they’re cousins–and she badly needs Zubiri in the Senate.

But where in the world does this sort of thing even happen? Zimbabwe? Sudan? Saudi Arabia? Extrajudicial Beheadings, I mean, to which the thoughtful, cerebral reaction of a large broadsheet is to urge “fairer” peace talks with the perpetrators. That is keeping one’s head? Or is it pure Dukakisism, and dhimmitude?

No wonder Eid Kabbalu reads out PDI editorials and columns on air. He couldn’t have thought up of more clever arguments and rationalizations for mayhem and murder.

There have been three related incidents mind you: (1) the kidnapping of our negotiators, Gen. Dolorfino; (2) the kidnapping for ransom and beheading of 7 innocent workers last April; and (3) the murder and mutilation of the 10 Marines.

Will you still be keeping an open mind if some combination of the above acts next occurs, such as the beheading of our negotiators?

You think that MILF/ABU/MNLF in any way shape or form legitimately represents the Bangso Moro people? They’re just the latest in line of pretenders waiting for a bribe. And of course the GMA that you like is the one that is prone to capitulation, to the giving of ransoms for poltiical convenience, to running away when the going gets tough. But there is a direct line from Baghdad and Angelo de la Cruz and Basilan’s beheadings this past week. As in cause and effect.

You are the guys that have succeeded in getting gloria to do the most unwise and shortsighted things in regard to the war on terror. Every ransom sets up the next kidnapping, every capitulation ensures the next terrorist atrocity.

And Peace is full of comforting but lethal legend.

You say, “The harder (indeed for some, almost impossible) choice is to keep one’s head.”

John,
You’re not trying to be funny are you? I know at least ten guys for whom it has become literally, not just almost, impossible to do so (i.e., keep their heads).

Now I’m not sure this post is going to see the light of day. But I would like to call the attention of Gen. Aliaga of the marines. Your men, Sir, are being fed to the dogs, and not a whimper from you, Sir. Please say something, Sir, so your men will know you are still there. Sir? To Madam President, whom the Inquirer seems to think is reasonable and patriotic enough…..please show more of it, Ma’am.

The Inquirer is also very barbaric in its news and comments! You are like thetraitors who beheaded the marines!

As of this posting, now I’m hearing the voice of Gen. Allaga. So, there you are, Sir. You sound very brave by your saying that ‘MILF and Abus are fair game……’. Could calm the nerves of your men, if actions followed the words, and not just words but no action. But, Sir, the commander-in-chief had already spoken, and what I understand of what she said, she said that she’s ready to go to war against the perpetrators, but she’s to go to peace with them at the same time. Which would mean that she’s ready to do nothing. So, what you do now?

As far as I know the MILF does not have sanctioned territory in Basilan. Hence what they said as the military entering their “territory” is a lame excuse and hogwash at best.

Smells like an ASG and MILF collusion to me.

ASG with their “kidnapping wealth” oftentimes buys sanctuary privileges with other recognized Muslim separatist rebel groups.

Its is always better and advantageous if the government negotiate with the MILF in a position of strength,to show weakness to your enemy will only bolster their morale and embolden them to do more harm to the country.War is the final arbiter of the things that cannot be settled in the negotiating table.It is important that the government should be decisive while the sympathy and support of the entire nation is behind them,before those experts,political analyst and so-called know it all politicians and ex-generals muddle the issue and blame it all first to GMA for their political advancement.Strike while the iron is hot!

Both John and the Dean are speaking logic, even at temperatures on the boiling points. Here’s a point to consider with regards this peace talk: The peace talk between the government and the rebels have been going on for more than half a decade already. Still, inspite of that, war and atrocities goes on. The government is not making any headway to what it wants to accomplish vis a vis the Muslim rebellion in the south. On the contrary the situation there is continuously regressing all throughout the whole episode, always to the disadvantage of the Philippines as one souvereign nation and one government entity. In view of this very conspicuous factor, it could be said that, given two alternative options, one being peace talk, the other no peace talk, and we have tried the first without any success, isn’t it logical that we should try the second? With due apology to John, eh, John?

There’s a better way than going to war with the MILF and the ASG. Let us warn them that if they did not surrender, we will ask our Senators to conduct an investigation (in search of legislation of course) about the Basilan inciddent and orders the Sargeant-at-Arms to arrest them if they did not appear in the Senate. The Senate can also cite them in contempt if they refused to attend the Senate hearing.

Whoho! Slow down, Dean Jorge Bocobo! This is exactly what these guys want to happen, the government to get angry and withdraw from the peace talks…and turn the table against the government…the government is the problem.

I still think that we have to continue the peace talks but around new set of conditions. First, you do not want another kidnapping of the negotiators to happen, second, you do not want more beheadings.

Do we have all the facts on these incidents? Are we fed with information that confuse us and lead us to a direction that would lead us to stay away from the negotiation? If this is so, why? Who would have stakes in such a decision? Whose interests are being pushed here?

I would still keep an open mind. I would still continue to negotiate because this is what loving our brothers in this part of the Philippines means. Or are we negotiating with the wrong groups? Are we sending the right messages? …or they are sensing, hollow, insincere words and promises, lies and more lies from this government?

Just asking.

Suma Total: Unless the government of the Philippines and it’s people renounce violence and aggression there will be no peace in that country. It’s such a shame, my country of birth is a paradise compared to my adopted one now. I always say, if this kind of government system is the one applied to the Philippines, it should have been great. This country produces the first police force in the world but yet they refused to armed themselves with guns on the street. Can you imagined why? Because it’s true that if you armed your police force on the bit, the opposition will armed themselves better and more to compete with the police and so it goes. Anyway, I already concluded that the human rights of a poor Filipino had never ever existed at least in my life time. Human rights are only available in the P.I.to those who can afford. What can we do to change this, education?

teejay,

I agree with you 100%….the country I am staying right now…theres no doubt…filipinoes are much better than the people in this country….

The sad thing is…dahil puro magagaling ang mga pilipino…yun ang dahilan kung bakit hindi nagkakaintindihan..yun ang dahilan kung bakit sa isang partido, ang isang member na di maeelect para tumakbo sa isang position sa halalan…yung member na yun at magtatayo ng sariling partido..and so on and so forth…yan ang resulta kung bakt ang dami nating partido hehehehe bukod sa partido national marami pang partido sa local hahahaha

isa pang ejemplo ng di pagkakaisa at ayaw magkaisa…dito sa blog na to…kung basahin mo lahat ng blogs dito..wala talang pag-asang makikita na tayo dito na mga bloggers eh magkakaisa tungkol sa pamolitika ng pilipinas…

merong taga erap/fpj at sympre anti GMA
merong maka GMA at anti erap/fpj
etc etc etc

ang dalawang grupo na yan…i think never talagang magkakaisa at magkakaintindihan..

meron pa pala…yung mga maka Marcos…at nagsasabing mas safe pa ang buhay noonng martial law kesa ngayon hahaha

kanya kanyang galeng…kanya kanyang depensa sa pagiging magaling