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On Thursday, I had the privilege of briefing the military and
defense attaches of the different embassies during their regular
breakfast meeting. It was a rare opportunity for me to have a
frank discussion of the situation in Mindanao with an international
group interested in security matters, thanks to New Zealand Group
Capt. Mary Cox, the only female defense attaché I have met. Mary is
proof positive that women can do as well as men, even in
male-dominated sectors like defense.
I appreciated the frank discussions which
ensued. As usual, I strongly recommended the strengthening of
our local police to be effective partners in counterterrorism, as is
the case in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand. A
professional, well trained and well equipped police is the best
defense against terrorism and criminal elements since they are local
and therefore plugged into the community. Who better to
collect intelligence reports than those who are part of the
community?
Unfortunately, our police are generally not well
trained and are ill-equipped. Further, they are more
influenced by local politics since they are under the jurisdiction
of the local governments. Thus the need for military
intervention.
The Feb. 4 massacre of eight innocents in
Barangay Ipil, Maimbung, Sulu, could have been prevented if our
local civilian peacekeeping forces had been our principal line of
defense against criminal elements. The police would have known
that Ipil is not an Abu Sayyaf lair. As it is, the military
early morning raid resulted in the deaths of Marisa Payian, 4; Wedme
Lahim, 9; Alnalyn Lahim, 15; Sulayman Hakob, 17; Kirah Lahim, 45;
Eldisim Lahim, 43; and Narcia Abon, 24. The soldiers even killed two
of their own and wounded five others. According to the Commission on
Human Rights report, they mistook each other as enemies and traded
gun fire.
According to CHR Regional Director Jose Manuel
Mamauag, “None of them was an Abu Sayyaf member. Seven civilians
and a government soldier were killed in that attack.” I wish we
had more government officials like Director Mamauag, brave and
conscientious, unwilling to be muzzled. (Secretary Neri should take
note).
This is not the first time that Mamauag and his
courageous team have gone to Sulu to investigate charges of human
rights violations. Mamauag should be elevated and appointed
commissioner of CHR. Public servants like him give government
the credibility it sorely needs.
Unfortunately, the Western Mindanao Command’s
Judge Advocate General’s Office (JAGO) headed by Capt. Fred Lleosa
absolved all the soldiers involved, claiming the attack in the
village was a legitimate operation. We smell fresh white
paint.
Sadly, the Ipil massacre has been relegated to
the inside pages of newspapers, a blip on the consciousness of a
Filipino nation engrossed in politics and the unveiling of the
corruption which allegedly permeates the Palace near the stinky
river. Which smells more odious, you tell me.
The murder of eight poor Moros cannot compare to
the drama of Jun Lozada. After all, what possible value can we
affix to the lives of our murdered children Marisa, Sulayman, Wedme
and his sister Alnalyn? None. They are mere statistics,
dismissed as collateral damage. What value can we affix to the
suffering of their families, who belong to the poorest of the poor
category? Zero. After all, these Moros are already
basket cases anyway, used to a life of penury with no water, no
electricity, poor education, poor health, poor nutrition. This is
the message driven home to us in the Muslim communities.
As for me, I signed the statement of the former
senior government officials and joined the Makati interfaith rally
because of Marisa, Sulayman, Wedme, Alnalyn and their elders Kirah
and Eldisim Lahim and the unfortunate mother-to-be Narcia Abon.
Their lives have value to me and to the millions of Moros who wonder
whether the people power demonstrations will change our lives. I
joined because of the broken promises, the oppressive poverty, human
rights violations that burden our communities and the failing peace
processes. Manila people power movements have not recognized
the crimes committed by this administration against the Muslims in
this country, only focusing on the crimes of corruption. As
they pray for Jun Lozada, I will pray for our murdered innocents.
And I pray that the movers of the people power
movements do light even one little candle for them. They must
be worth at least one.
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