The scene from my perch

HOW dismaying that we Filipinos are incapable of giving straight categorical answers like yes or no. It must be genetic verbosity, a congenital flair for evasion, or an atavistic fear that, in this part of the world, the truth rarely sets you free, but may put you in deeper trouble.

How alarming that a century after the execution of Andres Bonifacio, we Filipinos are still inconveniently disunited, as shown by the rather cavalier attitude of the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Armed Forces towards each other. There is a silent turf war, so no sharing of information, no coordination, no sense of urgency, all of which may have led to the death of the Heroic 44.

How imperious can the MILF get! Their representatives to the Senate committee inquiries were not up to the level of the other resource persons. How rude, yet very clever because the Senate hearing turned into a finger-pointing joust between the AFP and PNP, to the MILF’s amusement. However, there were portentous revelations: The MILF has been coddling international terrorists and may soon offer them a base for operations. To them, peace will not be achieved before the controversial BBL becomes a reality. They deny having anything to do with Usman and Baswit and other terrorists although it is now clear that what MILF calls its territory is sanctuary for said bandits. They said the stolen arms and personal belongings of the Heroic 44 will be returned; that remains to be seen.

How discomfiting that the Peace Panel is too protective of the MILF. Negotiators Ging Deles and Sheila Ferrer deny that, of course, but the Urbana and Felisa of this internecine war are burdened with protocols and procedures about which the MILF couldn’t care a fig. What a frightful landscape! ( ggc1898@ gmail. com)