Reviewing Mindanao’s martial law policies
AS we are about to enter the 2018 New Year, I feel it is also timely to review the Mindanao martial law policies: To adjust it to the evolving law and order situation in that island. On the newspaper front pages we read that Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) have kidnapped and killed 2 Teduray farmers, burnt houses in remote Mindanao towns. This BIFF actions were reported to be in retaliation for the AFP’s continues operations against rebels in Central Mindanao.
In another separate attack, New People Army (NPA) guerrillas seized Chief Inspector Menardo Cui, deputy police chief in Roxas, North Cotabato. From various incidents and reports in the media over the last quarter of 2017 – ever since the PH government and the Communist NPA terrorists talks were cancelled – the NPAs have tried to prove that they are still very much around, by staging some attacks against soft police detachments and staging abductions of stray police personnel.
Based on past experience from as far back as the Magsaysay Anti-Hukbalahap Campaign, through to the Marcos regime, to the present, it is obvious that good intelligence information is indeed a must. Many veteran police men and soldiers can tell you that good intelligence costs money. In fact, sometimes one must invest in a potential source of intelligence and be patient for some time without necessarily being able to “harvest” on the investment. Other times the source could not be revealed until a particular important action is taken with the source might be discovered by the enemy.
Another public Magsaysay strategy was the resettlement of Hukbalahaps in Mindanao, the development of areas where the rebels were given land plus basic housing and working animals from various eras many of the successful strategies could be culled and tested under present conditions to be able to test whether it will work or not. What is most important is that the government’s credibility remains strong and true. Again, however such commitments of any should be subject to the strict compliance of the other party to every agreement. It should not be one-sided in favor of the rebels – worse if they are terrorists. The rebels should be aware that the non-compliance of an agreement would result in a very strong punitive retaliation for unfulfilled guarantees. Those who follow will be rewarded while those who use the “broken agreements” will suffer.
I recall that during President Magsaysay’s administration, the Presidential Assistant on Community Development (PACD), an office directly under the office of the President was used extensively in the campaign against the Huk insurgency. Although its main ostensive function was to assist all the barangays on a “self-help basis” in building barangay potable water systems, school buildings, community halls, irrigation works, barangay foot paths or roads, electricity to light up the villages. In short all infrastructures needed to be done in the villages.
If I recall correctly, Atty. Ramon “Dodong” Binamira, was the first PACD Officer. His second-in -command was another Atty. “Dodong” de los Santos. In fact the current impression at that time was that PACD was composed of, headed by, and run by Cebuanos. During President Marcos’ administration the well known head of PACD was Atty. Ernesto Maceda who later, because of his excellent record in barangay development, was elected senator. After all, he started the PACD Community Halls all over he Philippines; awarded “Bahay Kubo” Best Governor Award in Community Development etc. The US CIA had some kind of PACD in Vietnam with less success than our own. So why don’t we review government policies in Mindanao!
Happy New Year!