SOUNDING BOARD is an outlet for opinions on good and crazy things going on at home (wherever I may be). All are welcome. You are not expected to bring anything except your common sense & sense of humor.
'If the automobile had followed the same development cycle as the computer, a Rolls-Royce would today cost $100, get one million miles to the gallon, and explode once a year, killing everyone inside.'
-Robert X. Cringely (from geek wisdom)
SOUNDING BOARD
Friday, May 09, 2003
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Revisiting Abu Sayyaf-military collusion: same old story
President Gloria Arroyo ordered an investigation on the claim of Gracia Burnham that there was collusion between the military and Abu Sayyaf. This is like instructing someone to find a needle in the haystack - blindfolded.
Gracia Burnham was one of the American hostages take by the Abu Sayyaf in 2001. After her release, she published 'In the Presence of My Enemies' which describes her experiences as one of the hostages.
When an order to investigate is accompanied with an expression of confidence with the military, one doubts the objectivity of such a process. In addition, let us not be fooled by this sudden 'get-to-the-bottom-of-this attitude' by Malacanang as if this is a new issue.
'The Muslim community on Basilan is especially sceptical of the US role there, because they argue that the Philippines military is at least as much to blame for the endemic violence on their island as the various rebel groups. They point out several occasions on which the military appears to have colluded with, rather than fought, Abu Sayyaf - notably in June 2001 in the town of Lamitan. At the time the Abu Sayyaf faction holding the two American hostages and several Filipinos was surrounded - but troops were ordered to pull back and at the same time a large quantity of cash was handed over to the rebels to get two of the Filipinos released. The Abu Sayyaf gunmen slipped away, and held on to their American captives until the botched rescue attempt a year later.'
'Salonga has publicly stated that the Abu Sayyaf is a group of common criminals covered already under civil law. They have not been dealt with because of corruption. Payoffs are made to the local government and military by the Abu Sayyaf using some of the huge kidnap ransoms they collect.'
In October of the same year, the House Committee on National Defense cleared the military of the alleged collusion with Abu Sayyaf and dismissed the allegations as mere 'speculations'. Have the recommendations of the Committee been acted upon by Malacanang and the concerned agencies? Senator Ramon Magsaysay Jr., chair of the defense committee, stressed that since the committee submitted its report in August last year, 'the concerned agencies had yet to say what they have done' to the recommendations.
Make no mistake about it. This collusion issue has been with us for quite some time now. So will this new investigation lead us closer to the truth? I hope so, but only if Malacanang displays political will - if ever it has one.
posted by Allan at 11:48 AM (GMT+8)
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