I've had two requests / inquiries into my thoughts on that recent massacre down near Cotabato, and whether I'm alright, worried, upset, or have any kind of reaction to it.
My reaction is this: Welcome to Filipino politics.
This massacre was basically the assassination of the wife of a guy who was running for governor, everyone who was with her at the time, and apparently several other bystanders. I'm not sure why it happened, or more specifically who it happened to, or what was supposed to be accomplished (other than in the most general "get the other candidate out of the race" sense).
Most importantly though is this: What happens inside the ARMM area of Mindanao — with all the Muslims, the MILF, and the thieving bandits who pretend to be associated with the MILF — pretty much stays in the ARMM area. (When it does spill out to the Christian areas, it doesn't get as far as Cagayan De Oro... let alone Jasaan.)
In fact, a good analogy would be living in Delaware... on the far side of Philadelphia, and hearing about a redneck massacre in West Virginia: About the same distance both in miles and cultures.
The fact is, if I ever run into any jungle warriors in this part of Mindanao, it will be the Communist rebels, who theoretically could make it as far as Jasaan. As I've mentioned before, while they can be a nuisance and can kill, they are pretty much a joke.
The lesson to be learned from this crime against humanity, democracy, and The Philippines? Stay as far away from politics, politicians, and political causes in this country as you can.
UPDATE:
Just as an afterthought: I really hope that this is a turning point for The Philippines... although I won't hold my breath. My personal opinion is that The Philippines should impose the death penalty for any political murder... be it candidate, family member, aide, or the murder of any other person killed in an attempt to derail the democratic process of selecting a government.
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9 comments:
Your quote: "My reaction is this: Welcome to Filipino politics." is troubling to me.
Of course I have no inside info on this barbaric act, but I think it goes far beyond Filipino politics.
Your quote: "This massacre was basically the assassination of the wife and everyone who was with her" is stopping short of the barbaric rape, beheading, and sadistic killing of 57 innocent people.
The killings accomplished nothing politically, the opposition still plans to run in the election, assuming he survives until then.
It is fairly obvious who is behind this atrocity, and their belief that because they are in power, that they are immune from anything that they commit. It is power that has gone beyond any comprehension of a reasonable person. Many people have blood on their hands in this massacre. Actually from the very top.
I do agree with you about the advice to stay as far away from politics and politicians in the Philippines, yet this is advice that is often ignored as evident on how foreigners continually bring up the fact that they are well connected or are friends with people in high places. When people claim this, I see that person as a weakling and coward that must rely on others to protect them.
My heart goes out to all the victims, their families, and friends of this act of cowardliness and hope that true justice prevails and all involved will suffer more than the innocent did when met with their unfortunate demise. It is truly a sad commentary how us supposedly intelligent species can act towards our fellow humans.
It is also interesting to note how we value life with the killing of nearly 400,000 animals in Nepal in the name of religion. It is somehow proclaimed as a festive event. A very disturbing statement from Chandan Dev Chaudhary, a Hindu priest, said he was pleased with the festival's high turnout and insisted tradition had to be kept. "The goddess needs blood," he said. "Then that person can make his wishes come true."
I cry for all of humanity. I really do.
The history of modern Philippines politics is littered with corpses... especially those of journalists.
However, you are right: This particular act was especially barbaric, and represents a new low in Filipino political behavior, but look at Iran just a few months ago, with political rape, torture, and murder being practiced against political foes by the thousands. 50 people killed for a raped, tortured, and murdered for a political cause? On this planet, that's a once-a-month news item. From Algeria to Zimbabwe, the Associated Press prints the stories of dead political foes all the time.
I don't see the connection to this versus some Hindu sacrificial event. I'm pretty sure that KFC kills 400,000 animals per day for our physical sustenance, so (although I don't approve personally) I see equivalence with killing 400,000 animals for spiritual sustenance.
Foreigners in the Philippines are often targets of extortion, malice, and acts of aggression. The police here are not effective in their enforcement of the law, and equal protection is a myth: The size of one's wallet determines the amount of protection they will supply. A phone call to a wealthy and powerful friend in times of need is often the best course of action in a country in which wealth and power are the only weapons against the crime and corruption that permeate this country.
It's not cowardly to rely on others to protect us. In America, we people you would call cowards have soldiers and police that we can rely on to protect us. In The Philippines where those people don't exist, we turn to our friends in high places.
Hello, I dont think it makes a person a coward but it is laughable as most the people that various expatriots claim as their friends wouldnt stick their necks on the line if push came to shove and foreigner had problem with a pinoy of means.
If foreigner had drama with a poor pinoy then I can see a powerful pinoy making the trouble vanish but no politician or big businessman will put his neck on the line to protect a pooreigner from a person he can gain more from.
Basically, Unless the connection is blood it doesnt exist and cant be counted on if push truly came to shove.
Regarding NPA you should inform the thousands of AFP and PNP that they have slain how funny the NPA is and what a joke they are. I feel quite certain they would not share your sentimate and based on your statements I suspect you have never been engaged in nor witnessed a NPA ambush during you time in the Philippines. Beter yet next time in CDO ask Councilman Elipe how funny they are and let him recount to you in vidid detail how the communist jokes murdered his father , Victor Elipe, in a well excuted attack , back in 2007 which was carried out during a Christmas party in Tagana-an Surigao Norte.
Jil,
Below link to article about that attack though the article does contain quite a few mistakes regarding the events.
http://tinyurl.com/ykq22kl
I respect you opinion but in no way is a highly organized , armed group of men a funny thing when they are practing extortion and carrying out excutions handed down by kangaroo courts. I just do not see the humor in it and neither do the soldiers who hunt them.
Anon,
About the "joke" thing... I didn't mean to disparage the NPA's victims, only to disrespect and diminish those thugs out there in the mountains. (I'm sure you can find enough "Kim Jong Il is a pussy" and "Al Queda ain't shit" quotes on the internet to get what I'm talking about.)
As far as I'm concerned, the NPA hasn't accomplished a single thing they set out to do 40 years ago, and in fact are farther today from their goal than they ever have been, and every member of that organization has wasted their lives... and if there is a hell, will probably find themselves there when their day is done.
That is why they are a joke. A morbid, sick, gloomy, ugly, evil joke... but still a joke.
Jil,
I have very ill feelings toward the NPA and your right in saying they have accomplished nothing. Well I guess they have accomplished allowing their heirachy to live fat and allowing themselves to be used as a political tool by less than honorable politicians. In rural areas they actually pay the NPA to "solicit" votes for them.
Anyway one of my wifes memories of childhood involves sneaking out of their compound, hiding under a neighbors house and watching their men do battle with NPA when the NPA ambushed wifes compound in search of her grandfather. They didnt find him thankfully and soon afterwards martial law ended which prompted him to relocate to America.
My own memories involve the shooting of Victor Elipe at the Christmas party in 2002 and having a cousin shot 7 times in 2007 when the NPA decided to ambush their AFP convoy as it passed through the Mainet township. The cousin is a priest.
I will invite my buddy here to your blog to share his memories as he commanded a 85-100 man strike force of Scout Rangers in the jungles of Surigao sur before being brought to America by a state govenor here to head up her security detail.
Truly I wish NPA wouldnt exist but so long as money to be made in elections, extortion and etc poverty dictates they will continue.
Jil,
Out of curiosity whats going on with Randy Stirm case? I ask as had been wondering if any developments or rather time just allowed case to vanish as seems to happen so often in Philippines.
Anon 4:49,
Thanks for your comment. It's an excellent bit of information. I really don't know much about the details of the NPA's history, what they have "accomplished" and who they have harmed over the years. I look forward to more comments with more information about these thugs.
Anon 4:51,
Randy and Cherry went to Japan the day after the charges were filed against the people in Gingoog, as they received death threats. I don't know if they plan on coming back ever again... but their case is still going on as far as I know.
I think it is more than just politics in a lot of places that leads to savage, brutal killings. Politics, blended with religious fervor, seems to up the ante for violence.
Consider India & Pakistan, southern Thailand, the Middle East, Bosnia, etc., etc. Killing in the name of some deity is very fashionable nowadays. Actually, it has been for a long, long time! Remember The Crusades, anyone?
One exception might be the US. Most of the killings there are just the result of too many guns in the hands of too many people. There's no "holy war" in Oakland, California!
mataho in bkk
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