War

Philippine security services are on high alert after the Philippine Supreme Court issued a TRO on the signing of the peace agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The Philippine Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are preparing troops to protect areas covered by the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) since elections are just days away.

Meanwhile, North Cotabato vice governor Manny Pinol engaged peace adviser Hermogenes Esperon to a "word war", alleging that the former AFP Chief-of-Staff bullied him into agreeing with the government on the ancestral domain issue. Esperon denied the charge and despite calls from various sectors, that includes a call by Senator Mar Roxas for Esperon to step down, the retired general refused and said that he owns his post to Gloria, not to everybody else. Ho-hum. 

Reports say, the MILF is also readying its troops for a possible showdown with civilian armed groups (CAFGUs) financed by wealthy caciques in the affected areas. Analysts say that these two groups might create violence during the ARMM elections and that's not a far-fetched idea. Apart from this, an electoral group watchdog called Marangal na Eleksyon says that those automated counting machines might bog down during the polls. 

Rumours are circulating now that former generals have activated their so-called "golfing club" sessions in Camp Aguinaldo. This came about after a meeting was held by the AGFO, an association of generals and flag officers of the AFP. We are not privy to what was discussed but surely, our snoops say, it's all about Gloria and the situation in Mindanao.

Another rumor is that Gloria and her family already purchased a "vacation home" in Portugal. Wagging tongues say, it's for their eventual exile, should the situation gets worst. Gloria is slated to go to the Beijing Olympics, along with superstar boxer Manny Pacquiao. Will Gloria again make a sidetrack and go to Shenshen for a golf game?

While hawks are enjoying all of these, common people are engaged in a daily war against high food and fuel prices. Electricity rates are expected to go up next week. And despite lower global oil prices, most oil companies say they'll not lower their pump prices since they still need to recover so-called "losses". Well, if an oil company reported a P 7 billion profit, that, for them, is still a "loss".

Friends, we are encountering a period of instability leading to a "transformative event". Things are getting worst and history has shown us that there's a rupture when these things happen. That social rupture will be upon us very, very soon. We don't need to wait for a singular "casus belli". These events are more reason for us to prepare for an engaged fight for survival. 

As what Senator Rodolfo Biazon commented, these events have been transformed into serious "security issues". And nearly 70 percent of us Filipinos agree.