Gov’t imprints all over

Man at the Market

Jesse E.L. Bacon II

12/07/2009

One need not be a rocket scientist to be able to conclude that the recovered arms and ammunitions in separate caches bearing government markings either in or near the mansions of the Ampatuans in Maguindanao must be an authorized transfer from police or military armories to the controversial family.

No less than the military and the police that conducted the raid in all the residences belonging to all the members of the Ampatuan family claimed that the size of the seized weapons could arm a battalion. Given the size of the seizure it is highly improbable that these firearms were moved out of the police or military armory where they came from undetected. The movement of such size of firearms out of the government armory could only be undertaken with the tacit approval of the authorities.

Since it was authorized, the only probable intention on the part of the authorities to release these weapons is to arm to the teeth the Ampatuans. The Arroyo administration will not voluntarily release this much number of firearms to the Ampatuans if it is not in conspiracy to their becoming warlords in their province. The Ampatuans’ being warlords in Maguindanao greatly benefited Mrs. Arroyo in the 2001, 2004 and 2007 elections.

The arming of the Ampatuans must be part of the whole scheme of the Arroyo administration in thwarting the will of the people through the ballot. This was what the “Hello Garci” tapes proved beyond doubt. The Maguindanao massacre of 57 innocent civilians, dozens of whom were journalists, is therefore not an isolated case or a spur of the moment decision on the part of its perpetrators but part and parcel of the plan of Mrs. Arroyo to make a mockery of the electoral process.

The massacre, to recall, was carried out, to prevent the Mangudadatus from exercising their right to challenge the Ampatuans in next year’s elections. While on their way to the province’s capital, the massacre victims led by the wife of Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu were stopped and waylaid by heavily armed men led no less by Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. in a remote area in Ampatuan town as the police and NBI investigations had so far shown. This is really no different to the thwarting of the will of the people in that province in the 2001, 2004 and 2007 elections.

The difference perhaps is the timing. In the case of the 2001, 2004 and 2007 elections, the people had already registered their will through the ballot but through massive fraud that will was viciously vitiated by those tasked to guard its integrity such as elections Commissioner Virgilio Garcellano and his operative Lentang Bedol, the provincial elections supervisor of Maguindanao during those elections. This time, however, the Ampatuans did not wait for the 2010 elections to come before they thwart the voters’ will. They attempted to nip in the bud the candidacy of a possible foe.

But providentially the move backfired. The once powerful Ampatuan family is now reduced into a defanged tiger that could not even freely leave their homes any time they want. But while the Ampatuans are now being made to pay the price for their folly of massacring 57 people, their benefactors in the police, the military and even Mrs. Arroyo, as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, are allowed to pontificate about the evils hurled against the Ampatuans as if they don’t share with them any guilt for the senseless murder.

The culture of impunity is indeed Mrs. Arroyo’s legacy to the nation that she wants to perpetuate by seeking a lower position in next year’s elections just so she can hang on to power through schemes beyond human imagination. Given the current situation, we can only hope that one of those seeking the presidency in next year’s elections is Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, he who has proven beyond doubt the character of a leader he is made of. Who among the crop of aspirants has instilled discipline in an otherwise undisciplined organization such as the police? Who among the crop of aspirants who has resisted the lure of the congressional pork barrel that studies had shown to be the source of corruption in both the House of Representatives and the Senate?

The antidote to the culture of impunity that we now have is a leader in the mold of Lacson. Unfortunately, the country’s prevailing electoral culture does not permit no-nonsense politicians like Lacson from being elected president.

(Reactions to jelbacon@yahoo.com)

Back to top

For comments about this website:Webmaster@tribune.net.ph
The Daily Tribune © 2006