Twelve Martyrs of Sulu and the Philippine Government loss of credibility

Fourteen dead after a firefight broke out between the Royal Army of the Sultanate of Sulu and Malaysian security forces. The question now that many people are asking--what is the government doing about it? Twelve Filipinos died in that firefight and based on the principle of parens patria, government is supposed to attend to this quite seriously.

But, how do you expect this government to act the right way when it does not even have the capability of gathering accurate ground information? Yesterday, the very spokesperson of the President committed a grave error when he started blurting out disinformation. Secretary Ricky Carandang, who was earlier reported to have resigned his post only to deny it, said that the "firefight" never occurred and that the Malaysian forces only fired a "warning shot". Local Government secretary Mar Roxas further complicated this when he publicly blamed the Kirams for the incident, accusing the Sultan of Sulu of being "hard headed".

Worse, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the very same agency tasked to investigate or conduct an investigation, literally parroted what their Malaysian counterparts declared, without even appending the term " alleged" or "reported" to the information being given to them. The DFA further helped the Malaysians in spreading disinformation through a formal presscon which Assistant Secretary Hernandez called. The DFA is supposed to give information on what it itself gathered, and not depend on the note verbale or the report of the Malaysian envoy.

It goes without saying that the Philippine government acted like the Malaysian official newspaper and if you look at this very closely, even served as the disinformation agency of the Malaysians.

The Philippine government lost all shred of credibility yesterday, in the eyes of the Kirams, the Tausugs and the Islamic Community. The very act of the State yesterday clearly shows how it treats the Sabah issue---this government has literally abandoned this claim.

How then, will the Kirams trust this government when it acts contrary to what is expected of it? The Malaysian envoy is correct---the standoff ended yesterday because the very act of the Philippine government has clearly isolated the Sultanate of Sulu from the rest of the archipelago.

Since the Philippine Government has clearly shown its partiality with the Malaysians, it has now negated whatever moral influence it exerts to the Peoples of the Sultanate of Sulu. The Sultan may well not involve the Philippine government anymore in its claim, and pursue its claim to the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC), of which Malaysia is a member.

For that to happen, the Sultanate of Sulu must wrest itself free from the clutches of Imperial Manila and declare its independence. The Sultan's next move therefore, is not to annex Sabah at this point--it must complete its political struggle against the Philippine Government first and foremost. I will not be surprised if the peoples of Jolo, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi will again declare a war of independence.

Let me then dedicate this space to the twelve brave Islamic Martyrs who sacrificed their lives for their country. These pious ones must be named, and proclaimed throughout the country. Their extraordinary courage and bravery are shining examples of how pure and proud this race truly is. How glorious their deaths are! It is very rare for someone to die due to his principles.

Philippine Government in perpetual hostage: Are we so weak a State?

Is the State so weak, that we have to always give money to the rebels to maintain peace and order? Are we saying that this Government is always in a state of perpetual hostage by its enemies? That mere talk and diplomacy are two useless terms meant to justify the use of public funds without being accounted for by government?


Malacanang is in a quandary on how to explain to the public the thing they did. Is this a practice already when it comes to revolutionary groups, that the State is always being coerced by these enemies of the State, and the best way is to pander to their wiles and caprices?


During the time of the late president Ramon Magsaysay, there was no report of the State giving monies to the troops of Luis Taruc. Magsaysay, however, encouraged them to consider land. Some of those who fought the wars, asked to be relocated in Mindanao, to start life anew.


Ferdinand Marcos did not move an inch nor surrendered any inch of the Republic's territory when he was at the helm of power. There were concessions made during the 1979 Tripoli Agreement, but these concessions neither violated any existing laws nor the Constitution. Everything was made within the rules of Diplomacy. 


You can only compromise with an enemy if you are in a vulnerable state, but even if you're weakened, there is still a small semblance of strength in you. 


Don't tell me that this government does not trust its military and police that much that it decides or elects to just give money to rebels just so that peace be maintained? 


Just like before, the Aquino administration blamed the previous dispensation for entering into an agreement with the Moro rebels and giving in to the request of 5 million pesos.


Peace negotiators should have "re-negotiated" this and pointed out that this giving of "donations" is violative of the law. Atty. Marvic Leonen is one of our brilliant lawyers and yet, this thing passed him? Why was there no respect of the law by the very ones who are mandated by law to implement it?


Don't blame Arroyo for this--blame the Aquino administration's peace advisers who are ready to compromise everything, even the kitchen sink, just to pander to the rebel's demands.


Heads should roll for compromising the very integrity and security of this Republic. 

Susan Ople calls on government to help OFWs in death row

The thing I like the most about Susan "Toots" Ople is this---despite her hectic schedule as an official Senatorial candidate of the Nacionalista Party, she does not forget her basic advocacy--helping distressed Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW). She still heads the Blas F. Ople Labor Policy Center, a place dedicated to the advancement of Filipino workers' rights.

When informed that the Saudi government is giving away pardons for foreign detainees, Ople immediately acted and called upon the Philippine government, especially the Department of Foreign Affairs, to activate its legal teams and ask that the Saudi government consider giving pardons to "overstaying" Filipino detainees and those on "death row". One OFW, Don Lanuza, is still languishing in the Saudi jail and his family is suffering from tremendous financial woes. Ople is helping him, along with hundreds of other Filipinos jailed for both petty and serious crimes.

There is another detainee, much like the same experienced by another OFW, whose sentence was just for one year but has been staying in jail for more than two years now.

In one of my conversations with Toots Ople, one of the problems she sees is the lack of adequate personnel of the DFA. In various consulates and embassies we have abroad, there is but 1 to 1,000 OFWs ratio. " We need to bolster the ranks of our professional foreign affairs personnel posted abroad, otherwise, cases involving Filipinos will rot and will not be attended to", says Ople.

Ople is trying her darnest best to help our embassies and consulates but the Center has limited resources. People, like me, who knows the real situation abroad (I'm an ex-OFW), supports Ople because we know that she will definitely help a lot in crafting laws to benefit OFWs, local workers and their families.

By the way, tomorrow, I'll be launching online "OT sa Pagbabago, OT sa Manggagawang Pilipino", an online effort to help Ople reach her dream of continuing the legacy left by her father, former Senator Blas F. Ople. "OT" means "Overtime Tayo". Or, it also means "Ople Tayo". :-)

Mindanao bombs meant for Gen. Sabban?

Are all those bomb attacks meant to force the resignation of Southern Command General Juancho Sabban?

A source says that there's a plan to force Sabban to resign. Sabban, a member of PMA Class 1978, is considered not a loyal subject to Herr Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Some says he's a threat to other members of his class for his previous association with the RAM.

Sabban has been previously meted a punishment for engaging in a word war with Senator Richard Gordon. Gordon is a close administration ally. Sabban was forced to relinquish his post to a subordinate.

With all these bombs going off in his turf, there are confirmed reports that people within the AFP are asking for his head. Why? Why do these people want Sabban out?

Aside from the strategic goal of placing a more trusted Arroyo man out there, getting Sabban out of a very sensitive and large command is actually tactical. In an event where Arroyo allies move for a self-coup, they want eveything covered. They don't want a trouble maker to spoil the broth.

Sabban, as some sources say, is considered the black sheep of his class for having an independent streak. He's not close to Mrs. Arroyo. He's widely perceived as a professional soldier.

Fuelling the flames of confusion and chaos in Mindanao is more than enough reason for the government to move in and dislodge Sabban from his post there.

Gloria The Savior and the Strategy Beyond 2010

Why is the government bent on collecting more VAT when suspending it for a few months seems a plausible solution to the people's dilemma on high food and oil prices? And why is government persistent in its subsidy plan when all indications show that i'll not ease inflation nor the pressure of high prices?

Answer: creating more destabilizing factors favor or justify an extension of Gloria's term BEYOND 2010.

A destabilized environment is always favorable to Gloria. She and her gang of misfits have thrived under a state of destabilization. In the past, Gloria survived and even grew stronger when wave after wave of political protests rocked her administration. Now, creating a more destabilized economic situation could serve as  a springboard for Gloria's term extension.

Continuing VAT collections will enable government to stay financially afloat. VAT collections enable government to continue projects that feed Gloria's gang of misfits and operators. That P80 billion collections don't necessarily go to the poor through subsidies. Government only allotted 8 billion for subsidies.

This 8 billion pesos will benefit 3 million poor families. If government continues this dole-out strategy in a consistent manner, it will create dependence which in a transactional political atmosphere such as ours, could favor Gloria.

Believe me, Gloria will use this subsidy plan to justify that there's actually a public clamor for her to extend her term. If the economic situation worsens, as what experts expect, this could be used by Gloria for a State of Emergency declaration which could justify her term extension and the cancellation of the 2010 presidential elections.