Training our youth through the SK or the BMLI?

A few days ago there was a regional conference held in Negros Oriental with the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK). Four SK officials from Lapu-Lapu City were caught with a variety of offences, one for vandalizing the hotel rooms and holding a pot session together with a woman inside the room. These are just among the many problems plaguing the SK for which I’ve joined the chorus seeking its abolition. After all, we’ve seen more negatives than positives with the youth in the SK.

In April a year ago, Jane Cajes, a former SK president was charged before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas for lack of transparency in hear dealings and for allegedly flaunting her wealth though she denied these allegations. She is the daughter of Trinidad Municipality Mayor Roberto Cajes and she would fit the exact description that the SK has been used or misused by politicians for their own political advantage, though the SK, like the barangays are supposedly apolitical. But we know too well that most barangay captains swear fealty to the incumbent elected officials lest they get no political largesse.

If this is happening to the SK in Central Visayas, I’m sure that the SK is experiencing problems all over the country. The main purpose of the SK is purportedly to train new and future leaders coming from the youth sector. But I have always said that the billions in funds that the Philippine government allocates for the SK should be channeled to more worthy programs like the Boys and Girls Scouts of the Philippines. I can only hope that Vice-President Jejomar Binay would spearhead the move to abolish the SK.

Speaking of the SK reminded me of the hot controversy wherein President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III finally admitted to have given P5 million for the Bangsamoro Management and Leadership Institute (BMLI) purportedly “to train future Bangsamoro leaders.” This brings us to question whether or not the Bangsamoro recognizes the Philippines as a sovereign state because the last time I heard, the MILF doesn’t want to obey Philippine laws? This is why despite our laws banning high-powered firearms outside your home, MILF regulars carry their arms just like soldiers of the Philippine Army.

If the SK was a failure in training our future youth leaders, what then can we expect from the BMLI? Chances are high that they would be trained to kill more AFP soldiers! Meanwhile a couple of days ago, in response to rumors, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP) Sec. Teresita Deles denied that there was P31 million payoff given to the dreaded Alex Boncayao Brigade (ABB), but the next day, we learned that P5 million was already earmarked to be given to the ABB? Until when will we endure the lies propagated by sycophants and Rasputins in Malacañang?

Talking about having peace with terrorists, at least in Spain, the Basque militant separatist group called ETA that waged a decades long terror campaign suddenly decided to call it “quits” and unilaterally put an end to its campaign of bombings and assassinations and decided to embrace a democratic resolution to their differences. This was the big new as I arrived in Paris a couple of weeks ago.

So what we would like to hear from P-Noy and not from his lying spokespersons is, what are we getting in return for his giving financial aid to the ABB or the MILF? So far, nothing! Not even a renunciation of their terroristic activities, not even a call to lay down their arms. I wouldn’t mind giving these groups some of our tax money for as long as we can see proof that they truly want a genuine peace and have changed their objective in overthrowing our established form of governance. Instead, those terror groups are lining up at the teller because Malacañang is doling out money as perfectly depicted in The Philippine STAR’s editorial cartoon last Thursday.

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Our readers have responded with so many angry emails with negative comments on P-Noy. Allow me to reprint this one. “Sir Bobit, Pres. Aquino, thru his Deputy Presidential spokesperson, Abigail Valte, warned those who are providing protection to former military comptroller Jacinto Ligot and his wife, who are both wanted for alleged tax evasion will face prosecution.

“On the other hand Pres. Aquino remained silent when Sen. Ping Lacson was listed as a wanted felon, and was issued a warrant for his arrest by the DOJ. P-Noy never issued a warning that those coddling Sen. Ping will face prosecution. He never initiated an investigation as to how he (Lacson) was able to get a new passport since his original passport was cancelled. Come to think of it — why is media silent regarding this issue? Are they not interested to know the truth? Just asking… Bernard Pacheco Olongapo City.”

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For email responses to this article, write to [email protected]or [email protected]. His columns can be accessed through http://www.philstar.com.