Peace at what price?

 

THERE is no doubt in anyone’s mind, including those who have expressed reservations and still others, like Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, who withdrew their support for the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, that efforts to seek a lasting peace in Mindanao should never end.

But at what price? To the extent of yielding the country’s sovereignty to a band of separatist rebels? But this precisely is what the massacre of the PNP’s Special Action Force is now reminding the drafters and supporters of the BLL. If a simple peace accord cannot be taken seriously by the MILF, what is to stop it from junking the BLL in the future just “to protect” more “claimed territories” in Philippine soil?

The insistence of the MILF that it was a simple misencounter is the height of insenstivity after evidence of massacre and looting of the fallen cops equipment and personal effects are plainly there for everyone to see. To even insist that the peace process be pursued while disowning any responsibility in the massacre is rubbing salt on injury inflicted on the victims and their families.

What is more worrisome is the seeming “business as usual” mood of Malacanang, hiding behind their hypocritical “civil” attitude while condemning the emotional outbursts displayed by many. Yet, it has not condemned those behind the massacre, much less demanded justice for the fallen commandos who were of the belief that their legitimate mission will be respected.

If the Aquino administration is simply after a timetable within which it can earn a Nobel prize, without seeking justice and accountablity for the MILF’s criminal activites, then it can expect the Filipinos themselves to boo Pnoy when he goes up the stage to claim his prize.

 

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Quo vadis Mr. Roxas?

 

WHAT would stop Mar Roxas now from running for president of the republic in 2016?

By not resigning as Interior secretary, Roxas has buttressed his plan to go for the country’s highest position in May next year.

Bypassed, ignored and treated like furniture in the government plan to nail down two terrorists in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, that resulted regretably from triumph to tragedy (44 Special Action Force personnel had died at the hands of Muslim secessionists), Roxas elected to stay put, swallowing ego and pride.

Others might have immediately resigned irrevocably for the shame inflicted on him by his very Boss, President Aquino, who favored a suspended police official (Allan Purisima) to map out the Maguindanao operation over Roxas and the country’s highest-ranked cop (Gen. Espina).

For, if Roxas were to leave the President, he’d be reduced to a mere private, no-clout citizen. Goodbye, Malacanang.

Indeed, ambition kills principles.

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