Saturday, July 05, 2008 Editorial: Time to show our support
IT'S obvious that the New People's Army (NPA) has gained unprecedented strengths and is in fact gloating over its recent victories over the military and the police.
It seems to be everywhere, striking at hapless soldiers and the police, and finding the weak links and hitting hard.
Gloating is the only way to describe the NPA's statement admitting responsibility for the raid on the police municipal station in Banaybanay, Davao Oriental.
"The widespread and intensive tactical offensives are hitting Gloria Arroyo's armed forces almost at will, with successive strikes to its head and blows to its body. In spite of the Eastern Mindanao Command's troop build-up in the region, they remain out-witted and out-maneuvered by the people's guerrilla army," the statement said.
They're on a roll and intend to keep on.
Dabawenyos, however, know how it is to live in a city where rebels lurk and we have said no to that almost a generation ago.
The recent developments show renewed offensives never witnessed before since the rebels were swept to the sidelines in the early 1990s. Thus, it's time to manifest our support for the soldiers who keep our region safe.
Their corrupt officers may make bile rise up our collective mouths, their commander-in-chief may not be our favorite person, but the soldiers have their duty to do, and it is up to us to boost them on.
The civil society can rally the foot soldiers on with their sworn duty by demanding that government give what is due them, be accountable for every article and item that has to be delivered to the troops, and endlessly help expose corrupt practices by officers.
The best way we can reward our soldiers and police is by helping provide them an organization devoid of greed and scalawags. That's a tall order, maybe even an impossible dream to some. But it need not necessarily be so, if both local governments and civil society will work together, and the best time to start is now, when our foot soldiers are being attacked from all fronts.
