Sunday, December 31, 2006 Local leaders expect no backlash from former dictator’s execution
REP. Antonio Cuenco (Cebu City, south), chairman of the House committee on foreign affairs, said he expects no local backlash from yesterday’s execution of deposed Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.
While there may be Muslims in the country, the former dictator’s death is not about a clash of religions, but about justice, Cuenco added.
“He was judged by Muslims. So what’s the beef? I don’t think there will be repercussions here. We have nothing to do with the death. Maybe the US, for alleged influence of the Americans over the (outcome of the) case,” he said.
Cuenco, a staunch supporter of the death penalty, said justice has come full circle for Saddam, and his death should make dictators think twice.
“It is about time that the dictators and mass murderers are taught a lesson,” he said.
He said that unlike Filipinos, Iraqis have a reason to rejoice because justice was fully served.
Former president Ferdinand Marcos, in contrast, died unpunished for his sins, the congressman pointed out.
But for Ustadz Haron Magadapa, imam of the Cebu Green Mosque, only God can say if it was an evil man the Iraqi Government hanged.
“Ginoo ray mohukom nila sa laing kalibutan correct ba ilang gibuhat kay pwede man matuis ang ebidensya (Only God can judge if what they did was right. Evidence can be manipulated),” he said.
He said the new Iraqi government is under pressure from the US, which invaded Iraq and brought Saddam to trial for crimes against humanity.
“We cannot say the majority is always correct. Sometimes, it is the minority that is right,” he added.
This explains why to many Muslims, Saddam is a murderer; while to other Muslims, he was a hero for fighting against foreigners, Magadapa observed.
But at least, Magadapa said, the new Iraqi government has accomplished something on its own, and that is to sentence someone it believed to be guilty.
Like Cuenco, Magadapa thinks Saddam’s death will not enrage the Muslims in the country.
“Ilaha man tong nasud, sila may nagbuot-buot ato. Malooy ta sa gidangatan ni Saddam, pero ila man tong gobyerno (It’s their country. We may pity Saddam, but it’s their government that’s responsible),” he said. (RHM)
