THE Special Action Force (SAF) is already in Negros to help the local police in anti-criminality and internal security operations. The bishops in the island issued a collegial pastoral statement on the series of unjust murders. This is an indicator that we have problem with our peace and order.
Negros has its definition of peace. There is peace when sugarcane workers do not complain that their salary is far behind the minimum wage; when they could still tolerate to live in their beyond-the-dignity-of-man-shanties; when they quietly sleep with empty stomach.
There is peace also when the beneficiaries of Integrated Socialized Farms simply allow the businessmen from the urban areas to convert their farms into resorts, coffee shops, and breeding areas for fighting cocks. The beneficiaries are still there but no longer as stewards of the farm but as mere helpers.
It will all be quiet in the business front if the factory and mall workers do not make noise about their meager salary and uncomfortable treatment of the heartless employers. Peace means absence of complaints in the Department of Labor and Employment.
There is peace when the residents in towns and cities would always say "yes" to their political leaders; if they would look at them as their lords, masters, and redeemers. Give them blind faith and confidence. They will pave the way for the prosperity of your LGUs. Amen!
Peace will reign in our midst if we do not question the over-priced projects of the government; if teachers do not bewail that they are severely punished by so many forms to accomplish; and if our indigenous people do not bemoan that their lands are being grabbed.
Probably, we have to ask Fr. Luis Jalandoni, Fr. Frank Fernandez, Fr. Vicente Pelobello why they left the pulpit and talked directly to the people. When Fr. Jose Silverio was still alive, he would go down to the level of his rich relatives to tell them that wealth is not needed in heaven. Share your blessings!
I am for the government and I will always stick my head out for freedom and democracy. Where do we breed NPAs, leftists, subversives and plain non-conformists? We simply breed them in the front yards and back yards of our local government units.
We have patriotic, committed and dedicated island leaders. Politicians, businessmen, pillars of the academe, the military and the clergy...we have to give a genuine meaning of peace for Negros. We love our province and we do not want to have a garrison state here.
There is no need to kill one another if we know the value of life as the ultimate gift of God to mankind. We do not want to regret because we fail. Regret is a waste of time. Do not stop searching for true peace. Even a blind monkey sometimes finds a banana. Make that banana our peace!