What the heck are they doing? (opinion)

What could have been the worst political massacre in history was actually deemed to happen sooner or later---- with a well-bread warlord under the administration’s care.

Philippine Star columnist Jairus Bondoc said Arroyo was the one who unleashed these warlords because of her “utang na loob” syndrome where she gave a free hand to the Ampatuans to return a 12-0 vote in the 2007 elections.


"How could Andal and his heavily armed band have acted with such impunity? No less than a Malacañang source answered: ‘He already had horns; Gloria Arroyo let them grow longer.’

Warlords rise because abetted by the President, with shortsighted army and crooked police generals. The Ampatuans came to control Maguindanao, Muslim Mindanao’s largest province, ever since Arroyo became Commander-in-Chief in 2001. A good number of town mayors are sons of Andal Sr. by different marriages, sons-in-law, and grandsons. Zaldy, a son, is governor of the Autonomous Muslim Region. The Mangudadatus are related by blood and affinity.

Arroyo returns the favors by letting them rule Maguindanao like a fiefdom. All economic initiatives need the Ampatuans’ assent; state funds are released through them. Even the posting of police and military generals are cleared with them."

I liked Bondoc’s article about the Maguindanao Massacre because it really reflects what was happening in Mindanao. It was Arroyo who nurtured these “barbarians” to commit such heinous acts for their political ambitions, and it was her fault that these mass killings have happened. In fact,it's no longer about what happened between the massacred journalists and women; it’s more than that. It was a reflection of the corrupt practices that has besieged Mindanao when Arroyo stepped in power.

What irritates me most was the inability of the militaryin arresting the Ampatuans. Ted Failon on DZMM earlier asked why the military doesn’t just arrest the Ampatuans since there was evidence pointed against them. When Ted Failon was suspected to have killed his wife last May, he was immediately arrested by the PNP, but when everybody suspected the Ampatuans, a government official just went on a visit. What was the difference between the two? What’s with the special treatment? The PNP has the initiative to detain any possible suspects within 36 hours for possible evidence, but the DOJ turns a blind eye and said “procedures must be done.”

It was also reported a few years back that Maguindanao was one of the poorest province in the country. Behind the run down shanties of the residents lie lavish mansions of the governor and his sons. Funds that were meant to rehabilitate the province have been placed in the pockets of these officials who rule them with terror because, according to Bondoc, even the police are under their control.

There was also a report last 2007 of residents being threatened to vote for the administration party. It’s not surprising because it was technically impossible for any province to vote the same people without using force.

With all these problems being fanned out because of this incident, I pray that justice must be served. Justice without Malacanang’s blessing.

*photo taken from airamerica.com