Heroes in Mindanao

There is definitely a lot going on in the country (and the world) these days that is disheartening. It’s sad that the negative now seems to far outweigh the positive and the media is full of conflict and anger and killing. I am continuously saddened to read that more and more of our troops are dying in the ongoing fighting in Marawi City in Lanao del Sur. Though they predicted that the fighting wouldn’t last very long, it has kept going and more and more lives have been lost. To date, we have lost 147 soldiers in the fighting.

The other day I was reading about the death of army Captain Rommel Sandoval and his comrade Private First Class Sherwin Canapi. They are the latest fatalities in the skirmishes that have lasted well over four months and could continue until December of this year. These are the true heroes, the ones who fall in the line of duty trying to make the country a safer place for everyone.

I read that Sandoval and Canapi were killed while trying to rescue one of their company’s team leaders who was wounded and trapped. Reading about the sacrifices these men have made and the bravery of the men who are continuing to fight certainly makes all the petty political catfights seem small. It’s sad to know that while our soldiers are fighting for our freedom our politicians are sitting ensconced in a bubble and squandering those sacrifices with their petty squabbles.

I have very high respect for our veterans and for those who gave their lives in the line of duty. Sandoval’s remains were flown to Manila and transferred to Libingan ng mga Bayani for the wake and burial. If you ask me, these are the men that deserve to be buried there. Not a former dictator who robbed our country blind. * * * And the wheel goes round and round. It’s no wonder politicians don’t want to give up power in our country. It seems that the moment they do they are persecuted. It’s a never-ending cycle and it’s where we find ourselves yet again. This time it’s former president Benigno Aquino III who is back in the limelight. Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales has junked the former president’s appeal to dismiss criminal charges against him for the Mamasapano encounter in January 2015.

It’s ironic actually that Morales would be going after Aquino now considering she is also in the hot seat with the current administration that is looking to not let her finish her term. PNoy is the one who appointed her to the Ombudsman but it would seem that despite that, Morales is not willing to do him any favors and is proving that she is not beholden to any person in power.

Personally I believe in the honesty and integrity of our former president. I don’t believe that he stole money or was corrupt while in office – though I can’t say the same for those under him in Malacanang. However, I also believe he was a weak president. I feel that too many things happened while on his watch that might have been prevented if had been more vocal and more involved in the decision making process. And I do feel he does share some responsibility for the terrible tragedy at Mamasapano.

After all, he was the commander and chief at the time and the excuse of not knowing what was truly happening is just not going to cut it. After all – as late US president Harry Truman said “the buck stops here.” For a president not to know all the intricate details of such a high risk mission is just irresponsible. Additionally PNoy is being investigated because he was said to have allowed then Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima to play a major role in the operation despite Purisima being on preventive suspension in 2014.

Again, I don’t believe the former president set out to do harm but the SAF44 was handled badly by him and by his office. After the tragedy, instead of being right there at the frontlines when the bodies were transported back home, as he should have been, PNoy was at the inauguration of a car manufacturing plant. Something that many, myself included, won’t ever forget.

At this point I suppose the former president’s case is in the hands of the courts and legal teams. We’ll have to wait and see what PNoy and his legal team decide to do next. This is just one of many cases against politicians past and present. There are so many of them happening and ongoing that it’s become hard to keep track. It should say something about our political arena when a larger majority of cases is against politicians instead of criminals.

* * * Congress has approved the deferment of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections to May 14, 2018. This is a practical decision so that the campaign time is longer and less expensive as it is spread out more. The measure also includes a holdover provision meaning that incumbent village and youth officials will hold on to their respective positions in the interim.

A total of 213 congressmen voted in the affirmative while 10 opposed and none abstained. Although a law must be passed by Congress to officially postpone the elections, I’m sure it will pass quickly in both chambers.