Sunday, December 20, 2009

Maguindanao Massacre, Product of Dirty Politics


by ERNESTO T. SOLIDUM

The Maguindanao massacre will go down in Philippines history as the worse pre-election violence to date. Both Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary General and Irina Bekova, Director General of UNESCO were shocked. They called for the immediate action "using all resources at its disposal to bring the perpetrators to justice."

Panelists to the weekly Kapehan on December 12 included PNP Chief Inspector Adan L. Agradante, Atty. Allen S. Quimpo, Pres. North-western Visayan Colleges, Atty. Ronquillo C. Tolentino, former Vice Governor, and Engr. Winston Carillo, Pres. Aklan United Media Association on the topic the "Maguindanao Massacre".

The case stemmed from the filing of Certificate of Candidacy of Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu for Governor of the province of Maguindanao. The act of filing was delegated to his wife. They were a convoy of six vehicles en route to Shariff Aguak where Zaldy Ampatuan, Governor of Maguin-danao exercised absolute political dominion and power. In that convoy were 31 media men, two lawyers, relatives, and supporters of Vice Mayor Mangudadatu.

However, at a check point in the boundary between Ampatuan and Shariff Aguak, the convoy was stopped, ushered to another direction just at the outskirt of Poblacion, Ampatuan town. Before they knew it, about 100 enlisted men (PNP, Cafgu, CVO) were already waiting for them. Several burst of gunfire killed all the 57 victims, their bodies littered the grassy area.

Two days earlier, the backhoe Province of Maguindanao owns excavated portions of the hill. It turned out that this was in preparation for the mass graves of the victims, including two of their vehicles. At least 50 witnesses pointed to Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr. as the mastermined. He was seen at the scene of the crime on November 23, 2009. The suspect is presently detained at NBI headquarters in Metro Manila.

Meanwhile, the Justice Department has 28 cases of murder charges filed against Ampatuan, Jr. as the mastermind of the killings on November 23, 2009.

Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo initially declared Presidential Proclamation No. 1946 placing Maguin-danao, Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato City under National State of Emergency. Moreover, on Dec. 4, 2009 she issued Presidential Proclamation No. 1959 declaring Martial Law for the province of Maguindanao. Secretary of Justice Agnes Devanadera said there is "looming rebellion" to justify Martial rule and the restoration of law and order.

Fortunately, the President lifted martial Law in Maguindanao on December 12, 2009 amidst unpopular partisan support from both Houses of Congress. The Senate resolution voted 18 versus 5 in favor of the revocation stating that based on the 1987 Constitution, proc-lamation of Martial Law may be done only when there is actual case of invasion or rebellion where the President is empowered subject to concurrence of Congress by a two thirds vote.

Reactions and comments on the above brief narrative report were thick and fast. It should be underscored that strong condemnation of the barbaric crime was enacted by thousands of civic, religious organizations including print and broadcast media and Integrated Bar of the Philippines. Protest rallies and street demonstrations in Aklan on December 11 marked public indignation and cry for justice to the victims and their families.

Atty. Tolentino said there should be righteous indignation for the victims of Maguindanao massacre. He called it as tragedy of the first order recalling international observance of Human Rights Day (Dec. 10) and 18 day Campaign Against All Forms of Violence against Women (November 25 to December 12).

He noted the death of 31 mediamen in a single day that registered an all time high of 67 since 2004. Indeed culture of violence is unmatched by any other country in the world!

Tolentino underscored that members of the Bar are persons in authority, officers of the Court and Public Officers, thereby giving due recognition and tribute to the courage of Attorneys Connie Brezuela and Cynthia Oquendo–Ayon (a native of Linayasan, Altavas).

Chief Insp. Agradante mentioned that PNP estimated that the nine towns comprising the province of Maguindanao has 22,000 loose firearms. There is however an on-going firearms amnesty program dubbed "Kontra Buga" to be availed of by gunholders. Agradante said that under Martial Law, the operation of the judicial system is still enforced hence erring enlisted personnel of the armed forces may be court marshaled and members of PNP administratively charged. Death toll based on bodies recovered stood at 64.

Engr. Carillo have insights into culture of violence and deprivation of our Muslim brothers in the South. He said that the average Muslim family places high priority on owning a gun rather than work animals. Wide stretches of fertile plain and valleys lying idle owned by a handful of powerful individuals contribute to worsening poverty, fragile peace and leftist ideology. Engr. Carillo spent his younger days in Surallah, South Cotabato as a high school student before his family moved to Aklan.

The Maguindanao massacre is considered shocking disbelief to many if not all. Mindanao was a "wild west country" in 2003.

There are three factors which are considered preeminent in explaining the tragedy of November 23 to wit:

a) Prevalence of loose firearms mostly in the hands of irresponsible people. At the back of mansion of former Gov. Andal Ampatuan, Sr. was unearthed a weapon and ammunition cache totaling 800 firearms mostly assault rifles – M14 and M16. By day, members of PNP and paramilitary units are law enforcers of the civil government but at night they transformed as security battalion of political warlords. Just going to the office a Mayor or Governor has backup support of two to three vehicles brimming with enlisted men and armor.

b)Widespread poverty. While the national average poverty threshold level is 41 percent, Maguindanao the third poorest province has 80 percent. The Ampatuans who exercised political supremacy since 1987 virtually siphoned public funds into their pockets. The result is anemic government spending on roads and bridges, schools, hospitals, health centers, public markets, and irrigation. Of course the only way to prop the authoritarian regime was by means of guns and goons plus the able support of Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

c) Low level of literacy. Muslims and Lumads in Maguindanao comprise two thirds of population while one third is Christian. There is wide disparity between the two – i.e. cultural communities have 61 percent literacy rate while Christians achieve 91 percent. Reason of the decline is the incomplete integration of Madrasah schools into the DepEd. Facilities in Madrasah schools are very inadequate. The curriculum covers only four subjects namely: Koran, Arabic language, Math, and Shariah law.

It appears that the Arroyo Administration failed to justify declaration of National Emergency and Martial Law in resolving the Maguindanao massacre. From the evidence of weapons stockpile, partially burned voters’ ID and registration certificates, bodies recovered from shallow graves by the military authorities only prove collusion between the armed forces (PNP and PA) and local politicians in perpetuating a regime of violence, corruption and electoral fraud.

Certainly, this democratic government would not allow degeneration of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao into a failed state like Somalia, Afghanistan, and Sudan where tribal warlords reign supreme. What this country needs is more teeth in implementing laws and strengthening government institutions. The blood of those slain journalists, attorneys, and political supporters be upon us if we do not address the evil done by dirty politics. /MP

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