I was doing this column with my TV tuned to ANC watching my favorite show, “Air Safari” of Capt. Jose Mari “Joy” Roa that showed last year’s Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta a.k.a. “The Weekend of Everything that Flies.” It reminded me of the invitation of Capt. Joy Roa to join him for the 19th Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in Clark Air Base in Pampanga.
A couple of years ago, I joined Capt. Joy and get my first balloon ride (that’s one off my bucket list) and that was an unforgettable experience for an aviation buff like me. Let me tell you that there’s no one in this country who promotes the aviation industry except for Capt. Joy Roa, with whom I share the same passion for aviation.
The Philippines being an archipelagic nation is perfect for aviation because the majority of our islands can only be reached by aircraft or ships. When we were kids, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) would have demonstrations by the Blue Diamonds on their fighter aircraft which at that time used F-86 Sabre Jets and later they used the F-5 Freedom Fighter and we’d go to the Lahug Airfield to see those planes fly low over the airport. Alas those days are gone.
Today the only aviation event happening in this country is Capt. Joy’s 19th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta and kudos to him, he has singlehandedly been doing this for 19 long years now. If only Capt. Joy had the support of the Philippine government, aviation would be huge business in this country. More power Capt. Joy!
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Sunday evening over ANC, we saw that exclusive ABS-CBN report of Commander Haraemen, MILF 7th Brigade operations officer, who (he brazenly showed his face for the cameras) openly admitted that it was the men under him that figured in the firefight with the Special Action Force (SAF) of Oplan Wolverine that resulted in the killing of 44 SAF men. Now we have a face to blame and perhaps the Philippine National Police (PNP) should now put a price on his head and try to arrest him.
What gets my gall is that Haraemen still insists that it was a misencounter and declared that the MILF did not harbor any terrorists. Here is a man who tries to wash his hands of responsibility for the bloody carnage that killed 44 SAF policemen and he expects us to believe that he didn’t know that Malaysian Terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir a.k.a. “Marwan” was living in his backyard? Come on Haraemen, tell that yarn to the Marines!
Of course Haraemen won’t give you any reasons or excuses why we are seeing videos or photographs of his MILF men desecrating the dead bodies of the 44 SAF policemen. It was his MILF men who obviously off-loaded those damning videos over YouTube or Facebook… and for what purpose? To bolster the image of the MILF? On the contrary, whether he likes it or not, the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is dead in the water, thanks to the MILF for turning its back on whatever is left of the peace process.
At this point, I find it inconceivable that the Aquino regime has not regain its composure about this national crisis. So far, no one from the MILF has returned the arms and equipment of the dead SAF soldiers. In fact we saw that TV interview of an armed civilian who lives in the area who said that armed groups not belonging to the MILF also joined the firefight.
This masked man proudly showed on TV a high-powered Armalite and radio or satellite communications equipment of a fallen SAF soldier. So how come there is no effort by the PNP or the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to start a vigorous campaign to retrieve the weapons taken from the fallen 44 SAF members, while at the same time, they should rid this country of armed groups roaming in parts of the Philippines declaring it their territory? Indeed, P-Noy has become inutile to lead this nation.
Meanwhile reports have already been leaked about the involvement of US contractors (they are hired guns by the US military that operate clandestinely in countries where they are welcome) were involved in Oplan Wolverine…and some pundits from other newspapers already wrote about this in great detail. While these reports have not been officially admitted by the US Government or the Philippine government… it is high time for P-Noy to come clean on the role of the Americans on that ill-fated mission. What really was the role of the Americans in Oplan Wolverine? Are these stories being leaked out true or not?
To add to the woes of Pres. Aquino he has another crisis in his hands, when the Supreme Court through Associate Justice Antonio Carpio has identified no less than Pres. Aquino and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) as the “authors” of the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), which was declared “unconstitutional.” Carpio said, “As authors of the constitutional act, they have to answer for such act.” Actually this was the crisis that plagued the Aquino regime before the SAF crisis blew in his face!
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Email: vsbobita@mo-pzcom.com or vsbobita@gmail.com