Friday, August 22, 2008 Wenceslao: All-out war? By Bong O. Wenceslao Candid Thoughts
YOU know times are bad when you hear leaders of people victimized by war demand for an “all-out-war.” But that’s what is happening in Lanao del Norte, some of whose towns were hit by the most recent display of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) barbarity. Politicians sought more war even as war evacuees flooded their turfs.
They are unlike wartime US president Franklin Roosevelt who, after experiencing war, said: "I have seen war. I have seen war on land and sea. I have seen blood running from the wounded... I have seen the dead in the mud. I have seen cities destroyed... I have seen children starving. I have seen the agony of mothers and wives. I hate war."
I actually have this feeling government officials are not talking much with many of the people who fled the towns of Kolambugan, Maigo, Kauswagan, Bacolod, Tubod, Linamon, Baroy and Kapatagan in Lanao del Norte. Those are simple folks, torn between seeking justice, which is abstract, and the urge to lead normal lives again, which is real.
But on war and its necessity, here’s an advocate in Mao Zedong, leader of the successful Chinese communist revolution and of the now legendary Long March: “We are advocates of the abolition of war, we do not want war; but war can only be abolished through war, and in order to get rid of the gun, it is necessary to take up the gun.”
That’s another way of saying situations sometimes need to get worse before it can get better. Or that war can’t sometimes be avoided, which maybe what is happening in Mindanao. But while I am for punitive action against those who perpetrated the dastardly acts in Lanao and North Cotabato, I say the door should not be shut on peace talks.
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Just because warrants of arrest will be issued against Joavan Fernandez does not mean he should not enjoy life. So I won’t begrudge him for going on a joyride with a woman, who is said to be his girlfriend, and a minor, who wanted to join in the fun. And while his use of a city-owned boat was objectionable, he did bring his own gasoline.
I expect Joavan, though, to disappear once an order for his arrest is issued. I just feel there is a script here, with the issuance of the warrants a signal for Joavan to finally make his exit. That’s why I find interesting the boast of Talisay City
Police Chief Romeo Perigo that he will personally arrest Joavan once the warrants are out. Can he?
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Aug. 21, 1983 now seems eons ago. In yesterday’s commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the death of former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, only the die-hards were visible. Ninoy’s widow and former president Cory is frail and battling the ravages of cancer. His son, now senator Noynoy is no longer boyish with his receding hairline.
Worse, people are no longer that certain who killed Ninoy and who masterminded the killing when we who followed the investigation of the incident by an independent commission were already definite about it. What will come next? His death purged of any reference to heroism? I am not a believer in the saying that Filipinos have notoriously short memories. In the case of Ninoy, I may have to make an exception.
(khanwens@yahoo.com/ my blog: cebuano.wordpress.com)
