I WAS still on official mandatory leave when I reported to work last week. An important meeting has been called by the boss and I am particularly involved and needed as a participant in the proceedings.
In the meeting, Dr. Cameron Odsey, regional executive director of the Department of Agriculture Cordillera, in consultation with Department of the Interior and Local Government Cordillera Director Marlo Iringan, told us of the need to immediately convene the technical working group of the
"End Local Communist Armed Conflict" (Elcac) Program in the Cordillera, early on this month.
You may have read a few of my write-ups on this topic already. I seem to like this work and the people committed to it.
I use to think I am a lover of peace. Being engaged in a program to end armed conflict in our villages and beautiful landscapes can keep me to the particular than being ravished in the abstract.
In our previous articles on communism in the Philippines, there is one item we need to highlight at this moment.
You see, growing up I encountered friends, relatives, and fellow travelers in this life who either joined the New People's Army (NPA) because of perceived injustices in the society.
On the other hand, my brother enlisted in the army and died as an intelligence operative, because of the abuses and injustices that he saw were committed by the NPA against the people in the villages.
Being involved deeper in peace and security work has not crossed my mind until the the appointment of Dr. William D. Dar as Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA), and Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security for the Cordillera.
As CORDS, he is directly involved and responsible in promoting and advancing the government's National Task Force-Elcac Program in the region.
I directly serve under Secretary Dar as his Executive Assistant and under Dr. Odsey as my immediate supervisor in the region. Dr. Odsey is also the Chair of the Elcac TWG. We coordinate our activities under the Elcac with the DILG, Neda, NCIP, military and police institutions, local government units, and other concerned government agencies following the convergence (whole-of-nation) approach.
A CORDS Support Group has been organized by Dr. Odsey and works under his direct supervision. Dr. Odsey has designated me and Dr. Susan Balanza as Co-Chairs of this group comprised of key staff and operatives of the DA-CAR.
Last year, I have encountered former members of the communist movement in the South who would rather see this costly and deadly struggle come to its end in our archipelago.
I have also talked to some elders in our villages who told me that rebellion in the country will always be part of our existence unless and until the corruption in government, political power abuses, and the greed and carelessness of people resulting in the destruction of our environment is resolved.
Meanwhile, the innocent continue to suffer injustices and ills along with the thousands who are crippled and dying every day who does not register in our consciousness. All that mattered is our power struggles.
We stride about in our authority and power. Some carry guns and care less about the struggles of the millions who are hungry, and those struck by injury, disease, or death while they are young. Many of us are poor, very old, insane, blind, and suffer emotional and spiritual health problems. We continue to go deeper in our sufferings throughout time. And fighting armed conflicts is the solution? Think!
I will support the DA's pursuit of community development against poverty, and in improving the livelihood of our hinterland communities. Hopefully, we will encourage our brothers and sisters to work together and help themselves rather than waste their lives and others in a bloody rebellion, mysterious disappearances perpetrated by their own groups and blamed on others to seed hateful retributions. That is how rebellions are sustained as a societal wound.
It is not only through murder and propaganda that rebellions and ideological terrorism would like to control the people. A despotic cause would like to control how people think, how and what to worship, their arts, ways of living, and their government. After 50 years, we should know this cause too well.
That is not our cause. Ours is a democratic nation that must continue to get rid of all forms of evil including greedy politicians.