THE "Tom and Jerry" peace talks in Oslo, Norway agreed to a temporary lull in the war against dissidence. On its side the rebel groups promised not to bomb power grid and communications towers or torch transportation equipment
The GRP panel is giving partial concessions to the National Democratic Front (NDF) including the release of its imprisoned leaders. The government glows with joy in succeeding to bring the Communist officials to the table.
The opposing panels have formally agreed to fast track the complicated process of reaching a political settlement to the 47-year-old insurgency.
Will the military as Tom stop chasing after and harassing Jerry, the dissident who has been causing Tom lots of bumps and headaches? It will be an uneasy peace between the antagonists with the NDF demanding drastic socio-economic reforms that only a coalition government can achieve.
It is in the nature of things that the house cat will not allow the resident mouse complete freedom and access to their common abode. Inspite of the innate animosity and hostility to each other Tom treats Jerry like a needed playmate, causing him injury but not exterminating him.
That has been the history of the military and the local insurgency group. All Philippine presidents liked to proclaim they will finish the dissidents but could not. It has been a long and lasting game.
Certainly the Duterte administration will not agree to an unstated and imperative CCP-NDF-NPA agenda for a coalition government. After the ceasefire, Tom starts the merry chase to prevent Jerry from enjoying his cheese. Theirs is a love-hate relationship. We enjoy the charade even as we are fooled that the two will go their separate ways.
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Generally, peace loving citizens do not protest and talk against the President's extermination of illegal drug offenders.
I understand that Mr. Duterte is afraid that the ever increasing drug zombies, if not eliminated today, will create untold destruction to society most especially to their suffering families. Drug addiction has become pandemic, a menace to national security, he believes.
Shabu, particularly, destroys the mind. One of its components is automotive battery water that renders the addict useless, deranged and violent. The addiction is a national plague, he said.
It is better to eliminate the addicts than allow them a miserable existence and create danger to society. That is how I see his view.
With drug-deranged addicts, we should fear for our children- our daughters foremost-as they walk dangerous village and city streets at night. Eliminating the potential criminals is society's way of preempting an imminent and present danger. Purging the undesirable, a human rights violation, is a version of Darwinian concept of preserving the strong against the "wicked."
Duterte expects the populace to seal their lips during the six-month fumigation period, a deadly time when the plague would have receded.
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Our cabalen express jubilation over the appointment of Alex Cauguiran as acting chief of the CIAC while Angelenos are proud of Mayor EdPam's vital role as Philippine Panel consultant to the GRP-NDFP peace talks. Alex's former accomplishments at the airport and his acclaimed proposal on the DUAL Airport policy have helped him to land the post. EdPam, the Super Boy of a bygone administration, once again affirms his status as a national figure.
He served with distinction in the government panel as Consultant...Mabalacat residents have kept Mayor Boking in high esteem despite recent bad publicity.
"The people have not withdrawn their trust and confidence in the mayor," I was told by colleague Diosdado Pangilinan.
"They expect the mayor to propel growth and development in his new term. What he sets his mind on, the mayor achieves it."
A Sangunnian resolution affirming the trust and confidence of the city council is being drafted in support of the mayor and as an expression of his innocence.