Salute that marine!

By Ermin Garcia Jr.

Next time you meet a Philippine marine, take a moment to look into the eyes of the marine who has dedicated his or her life to protect yours. Chances are you will find the inspiration to do more and be prouder to be a Filipino.

Those steely marine eyes have seen bloodied Filipinos and comrades-in-arms die in battlefields to protect your right to a secure, decent and comfortable life. They face the enemies bravely in order that politicians will learn to serve the communities well.

And when they and other brothers and sisters in the military service lay dying, you can be certain they believe they are not dying in vain.

But in exchange for what, you might ask? For a paltry sum of P240 a month as combat pay to supplement an already death-defying monthly salary, subsisting on an P8 meal budget.

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SHEER DETERMINATION. This was the case of 20 marines who lost their lives in Patikul, Sulu in a 3-hour gunfight against the Abu Sayyaf. They fought hard and well to put an end to terrorism in our midst and only looked forward to a P240 combat pay at the end of the month if they are lucky to be alive.

Major Gen. Nelson Allaga painted this forsaken life of a marine before his audience during the Mahal Ko ang Pilipinas conference last August 30. He said he hopes to build a Marine Corps that will be considered “the premier force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines” on sheer determination and an empty stomach notwithstanding. Unfortunately, it will not happen during his watch.

The Marines is one of the nine sectors that presented a detailed “road map” on how they will achieve their vision for the Philippines organized by the Institute for Solidarity in Asia (ISA), an independent, not-for-profit, non-partisan organization founded by Dr. Jesus Estanislao, former Philippine finance chief. It aims to hasten the country’s march towards true nationhood through responsible citizenship and good governance.

But after all is said and done, and until we see true reforms in the handling of the military sector by our politicians, our marines and their fellow soldiers will continue to die alone in the battlefields, while our politicians merrily sing their way to the banks.

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A FOUNDATION FOR FALLEN PANGASINENSE SOLDIERS. But more than saluting and praising these courageous young men and women, I can only pray that the unbelievably pathetic state that our marines and other men and women in uniform are in today will finally end with the prosecution of the corrupt officials in government, they who unconscionably and unscrupulously steal from our uncomplaining soldiers.

And I wish that the more comfortable and affluent among Pangasinenses will soon put their monies where their mouths are by setting up foundations for families of fallen marines and soldiers who died in action.

A guaranteed college education for the children of the martyred men in uniform is the least that Pangasinenses (and all Filipinos) can do to repay the soldiers’ sterling patriotism and courage.

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HEALTH SEC. PINGKOY SHINES. There was a seemingly minor story that came out of Malacanang Palace (anything that doesn’t directly lend praise to President Arroyo is minor) last week. It announced the top 10 government agencies who lent greatly to the government’s fight against graft and corruption.

And on top of the heap was the Department of Health! Naturally, I was personally pleased for it vindicated my own sentiment about Secretary Duque’s dedication and commitment to good governance in spite of his loyalty to Mrs. Arroyo.

If I may say so, Sec. Pingkoy’s orientation makes for a good material for the province’s governorship.

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PNP’S JUETENG GAME. Yes, believe it or not, jueteng came to a complete halt for two days last week! No, it isn’t true that the jueteng operators and their protectors in the PNP finally decided to come clean before Archbishop Oscar Cruz.

The police chiefs quietly sent word to the jueteng operators in their respective jurisdictions to help protect their careers by getting lost for two whole days, and for as long as the task force sent out by PNP chief Oscar Calderon was in town sniffing for bad guys. After all, being relieved for jueteng could taint an otherwise perfect attendance record in the service, a factor for promotion.

And as expected, soon as the killjoy members of the task force marched on to their next mission, the jueteng operators were gamely allowed by the police chiefs to resume their illegal operations. It was that familiar “I scratch your back, you scratch mine” working its wonders as usual.

Then came a tired old song from the provincial director – “Fight jueteng or else…!” What a joke.

This is only a microcosm of what’s truly ailing the country. Lokohan lang!

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