Golf Putsch

A handful of active military generals and some businessmen have revived their Camp Aguinaldo golfing sessions. Not that they don't have anything to do. Fact is, these people are so rich, they have time to waste for some nice rounds in the fairways of this military camp.

And they are not talking about those hot and sizzling billboards of Angel Locsin along C-5 and that in Balintawak. They are talking about the future of this country.

A source, one of those privy to these golf sessions, revealed to this writer that these generals are planning to install a military government. Yes, a quasi-dictatorship. They already have their plans laid out but the question that remains to them is very, very simple---when and how to counter-act the expected public outrage that this action of theirs will result to.

These men are fond of the Lady by the murky waters of the Pasig. She serves as a willing bimbo, a foil, to mask their acts.  They have benefitted immensely through their friendship with the Lady. They owe their stars to Madame. And they're extremely confident of success since they have an ideologue backing them up.

This ideologue commands a vast army of intellectuals who are convinced that the next government should strictly be a Council of hand-picked civilians and military men. They cannot accept the fact that their poster girl will now retire in a barrio called Lubao. Without their poster girl, the real powers and shakers will be revealed. They will lose their foil. Plus of course, her husband seemed content in his role as a backroom operator of willing puppets hungry for power and of course, money.

And why are they interested of running this country of 90 million Filipinos? Simple. This administration has laid out so many projects, costing billions of dollars. This is the pot. This is what they are after. And with the prospects of a vast field of oil in Sulu and Palawan, they cannot allow others to benefit from this huge booty. Plus, of course, the prospect of billions worth of dollars more coming from foreign investors.

This country has a huge economic prospect but a very weak government. The weakness of this government is being exploited by the uber rich down to the janitor. There is no strong hegemon that keeps the peace. They see themselves as that Power.

What will they do in the next couple of weeks?

First, they will intensify the war in Mindanao. Yesterday, the AFP already said that within 60 days they will do all they can to annihilate the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG). While the war simmers in Sulu and Basilan, these will effectively hide the REAL ACTION IN MINDANAO, which is the government spending spree amounting to 10 BILLION PESOS. Obviously, media will shift their attention. Instead of talking about this anomaly, they will cover war.

Second, bombings and assassinations will also intensify in various parts of the country. And lastly, they will then pay some media professionals to counter-act their enemies.

Net---we have an intra-elite war in the offing. Brace yourselves my friends,this is quite messy, and possibly, bloody.

Datu Andal Ampatuan suspect in Maguindanao Massacre a close Arroyo ally

You ask me who is the real terrorist in Mindanao and without batting an eyelash, i'll say its Datu Andal Ampatuan, the governor of Maguindanao. And it's totally surprising why our fellow Muslim brothers and sisters in Mindanao, especially those Bangsamoros who are fighting for a separate Islamic state allow this political goon to live.

The massacre of about 36 people in Sharik Aguak town in Maguindanao reminds us that the problem is NOT TERRORISM---its the proliferation of political syndicates led by such characters as the Ampatuans and the Pangandamans that contributes to the further enslavement of the Bangsamoro people to poverty.

These warlords should be eradicated from the face of the earth. They put the Name of Islam in bad repute. They should not be allowed to enslave their fellow Muslims in Maguindanao and other areas. It is the duty of a pious Muslim to kill those who do not follow the precepts of Islam and those who kill with impunity, their fellow Muslims.

Ampatuan is the real terrorist in Mindanao. He should be stopped and killed. Rido demands it.

This massacre reminds us of how Ugandan leader Idi Amin exterminated whole villages who oppose his rule. Ampatuan is like Idi Amin.

And it is the fault of the national government, particularly Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo because they have tolerated and taken cared of these characters for so long. This administration has cuddled them like head lice that these people have become bigger, stronger and more brazen. They don't fear anybody because they have strong links with the palace. 

And I also blame the military. The Ampatuans and others like them grew in influence and power because they took care of them and use them in their counter-terrorism campaigns in Mindanao.

I challenge the national leadership, particularly the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)---will you allow this political goon to further destroy democracy in Mindanao? Will you allow the Ampatuans to just get away with mass murder?

This massacre is another test on how strong the political will of this administration is. If the Ampatuans get away with this without a scratch, then, government is totally useless.

Mindanao needs a civil war to correct the decades of injustice wrought by these political clans. Let the war begin.

Mindanao hit by bombs: Selective State of Emergency?

" War is showbusiness. That's why we are here."

---Connie Bean, in the Movie "Wag the Dog", 1997

Another bomb exploded in Jolo, this time killing at least six people. A few hours after, a bomb also took off in Iligan. If we are to believe what the AFP says, these bombs incidents already hit the 40th mark.

The National Security Advisory Council has just been called by Mrs. Arroyo. They're expected to discuss the peace and order situation. Mindanao is a hot topic.

Filipino Observer (http://filipinoobserver.blogspot.com/) has a very good analysis on these things. Forces are at work here.

Uncanny that these bombs are going off in the midst of talks that government and the MILF have reached an agreement to go back to the negotiating table. Despite these, government thru Jesus Dureza and Peace adviser Sonny Razon insist that talks would push thru.

There is really a break down of peace and order in Mindanao. Previous to this, Metro Manila was also hit by bomb scares. Are we now to believe what former speaker Joe de Venecia said that these things are preliminary to the declaration of a State of Emergency?

At the very least, what I think government is trying to lay the groundwork on is selective declaration of a state of emergency. Mrs. Arroyo and her hawks would try their luck first on Mindanao, then, as SONA nears or a week after SONA, they'll experiment on this here in Metro Manila.

This could justify what Defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro initially announced--that these things are still inadequate to justify a State of Emergency or martial rule. With all these bombings justify the plan of Mrs. Arroyo to stay a decade longer?

Be very vigilant. This regime is still trying to figure out how to circumvent what Washington said a few days ago. Mrs. Arroyo will simply not go down without a fight. What a pity.

Dangers Ahead---Macabre birthday gift to Mrs. Arroyo

Senator Richard Gordon yesterday left the fate of the two foreign hostages, Notter and Vagni in the hands of Philippine president Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The senator just wanted to be clear---he already did his part and it is now up to the higher-ups to avert an international incident that a beheading might create. Gordon said that the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) has not lifted its ultimatum, that is, behead one hostage. And the dangers are there. The ASG went ahead of schedule when they did that in 2002. They beheaded an American tourist in June 12, 2002 as a gift to Mrs. Arroyo. And they can still do that.

What escapes Mrs. Arroyo and her hawks inside the palace is this---the world tolerated government insensitivity in 2002 precisely because Mrs. Arroyo was just "new at the job". Uncanny still, this newest hostage crisis happened at the twilight of her rule. Such a macabre coincidence, I might say. If the ASG beheads one of the hostages, possibly the injured one, Mrs. Arroyo enjoys the reputation as the only president in the annals of Philippine history to be given two "macabre" gifts during her reign---one at the start and the other, at the twilight of her administration.

It's different now since there's a new US president who has shown insensitivity to Mrs. Arroyo before. If a beheading happens in Sulu, surely, that would further heighten the "bad rep" already being enjoyed by Mrs. Arroyo over at Washington. That would be a sign for the US State department to support moves against Mrs. Arroyo since it would validate the perception that the Philippine government remains as the weakest link in the anti-terror fight in the region.

A beheading would surely boast the morale of mujaheddins and jihadists all over the world. It would serve as a beacon for a renewed fight against the West. Wittingly or unwittingly, Mrs. Arroyo would take a part of this, since it would be under her administration that such a thing would happen.

So, now, before Mrs. Arroyo blows her 62nd birthday candle, her advisers should remind her to show resolve and decide this thing today. Order a temporary pullout. If not, then, be ready to explain to the world why this beheading happened. Then, prepare and pack your suitcase already Mrs. Arroyo and head off to Portugal.

ASG escaped a tight military dragnet? Probe this Teodoro!

Something tells me that it will only be a few more weeks, maybe even two, before the Abu Sayyaf Group finally release their Red Cross captives.

Recent news confirms fears that these captives have been broken up into two groups--one ASG unit holding the Filipina engineer volunteer while the other, in a more secure place, holding the two Italian Red Cross workers.

Question--how did the ASG managed to break up their captives into two groups inspite of the alleged "tight military dragnet" thrown at them by the AFP?

Just recently, ASG sub-commander and appointed spokesperson Albader Parad went on air, and asked that the military withdraw its troops near their camps, which was rejected flatly by the AFP. Don't tell me that after that televised exchange, the AFP finally succumbed to the ASG demands?

Government should investigate this. It's highly uncanny for the ASG, which the military described as "trapped" already in one place, to again, move to another location, even further complicating the already confused and complicated hostage crisis.

Was there another "compromise" with the military, given that the ASG reportedly demanded 50 million pesos as ransom?

Muslimin Sema, one of the Tausug MNLF commanders and now part of government, told Mindanao journalists that the ASG is asking for 50 million pesos as ransom. No official statement has been heard from the ASG on this amount.

What is certain, given a study on the movements of the Abu Sayyaf Group in recent past, is when they break up their hostages into groups, it is either they are preparing for an open battle with the AFP; or they are in near completion of their negotiations with government or non-government emisaries. Something tells me that these captives are now being prepared to be released.

The question everybody is asking is this---who convinced the ASG to release the Red Cross workers and for how much?

Something tells me, these captives were given as "gifts" to buttress the announcement of a presidential bid. Whose bid?