Paranoias and Some Truths
After the merciless mass killing of innocent people in Maguindanao, we’ve witnessed a mix of pathetic, intense and amusing reactions and events. In its desire to bring out the light called justice to the victims and to show to the observing public and to the whole world that despite all impossibilities and strife it is still in control, the administration declared Martial Law in Maguindanao. While the pronouncement might have all its good intentions to satisfy the cravings of the public a taste for the truth and to serve justice once and for all, it also provoked stronger response and incidents from the already distraught crowd.
Who would not be frightened with “martial law” given our history and experience? Many of us were victims of the regime, many of us survived it, many have awakened and spent their youth with it, and the younger generations have read in their history books the wickedness and malevolence that was martial law. It is then understandable when people show unyielding disapproval for it.
Concerned groups and individuals also fear that the Martial Law will eventually be imposed throughout the country, and that this strategy has something to do with the upcoming election. Some other political concerns have been insinuated surrounding this declaration such as the President running for a Congressional seat in the 2010 election, and the possibility of a whitewash on the case of the indicted Ampatuans and the Maguindanao massacre.
When the Joint Congressional Hearing was held last week, people were disappointed that the President failed to show up. I think the absence of the President is expected, after all, she has complied with the Constitutional requirement to submit written information on the reasons for the declaration of Martial Law in Maguindanao. Her presence in Congress would have no additional value as everything has been written and when the Congress wanted further explanations, other officials involved in the decision were there and were able to provide insightful responses to queries from the floor. The only thing that other people might have been disappointed about with the absence of the President was the entertainment value of her appearing in Congress and being interrogated by excited members of the legislature.
People are now waiting for the decision of the Congress whether or not to lift the Martial Law in Maguindanao soon enough, or perhaps waiting for the Congress to draw more issues against the President and other government officials by taking this Martial Law thing as a timely opportunity.
With the declaration of Martial Law in Maguindanao, many more issues have surfaced. The government has started to search the many mansions of the Ampatuans spread all over in Mindanao and in Metro Manila for arms and ammunitions used in the massacre or any tangible evidence to connect them and other parties including the military to the atrocity, and in the process, the operatives realized how moneyed and affluent the accused family is. The abounding wealth and huge mansions of the Ampatuans are now the subject of investigation by the government and the object of awe by the public.
In Maguindanao, many local people have deserted their nipa huts and their farmlands, and many more started to pack up their little yet so sacred belongings such as cloths, farm tools, water pails, plastic basins, and salakot – perhaps the only things they possess, for fear of the eventualities of both the capture of the Ampatuans and the possible retaliation of any group or individual. Nobody would like to be caught in the crossfire especially when the only weapon you have to defend yourself with is a dull bolo – you’re lucky if you have a jungle bolo but that would not suffice either - and when the people who are supposed to defend you are the ones wrecking havocs everywhere. Who’s not affair of long guns and high-powered ammunitions passing by you every now and then? Certainly, the economic and social activities in Cotabato City, being in the heart of Maguindanao, have also been adversely affected by now, likewise with other adjoining areas. The effects of the Maguindanao massacre, likewise the proclamation of Martial Law, will be greater than what most of us could ever imagine.
While the actions and reactions are on going, and more issues surfacing, let us not forget what we are all fighting for – justice to all the victims. We might get clouded with all the surrounding issues and concerns against the President and the government that we lose sight of hastening justice to be served. Let’s focus on attaining justice now; the other issues later!
Feel free to send your comments to nic_agustin@yahoo.com.
