If that massacre of 44 (another newspaper counted 64 ) elite police troopers last Monday, took place in UK or in Japan, the Secretary of DILG would have tendered his resignation within twenty-four hours, and the President, as head of government, would have immediately apologized profusely to the Filipino people. But since this is the Philippines, what else could we expect but another investigation, which is to be done by what they euphemistically calls a Board of Inquiry. By whatever name it is called, this will be another diversionary entertainment, a ''moro moro'' to appease the angry Filipinos. Then, we forget everything.
We heard both Mayor Erap and Ex-Mayor Lim being interviewed over the radio. At last, the two found common ground, in denouncing the indecisiveness of this government, even in the midst of too many abuses committed against the government. Erap was fuming mad and reiterating his policy of all-out war against all rebel forces, whether MILF, MNLF, BMFF, Abu Sayaf or Islamiya, NPA or plain brigandists and robbers, kidnappers and extortionists. Mayor Lim is demanding that we take revenge immediately.
We need police leaders like Mayor Fred Lim and political leaders like Erap and Mayor Rudy Duterte. We cannot allow our frontline forces to be massacred like insects because their commanders are indecisive, and hesitant to bite the bullet, and our government frontliners are not being supported by intelligence operations. Why did we allow our policemen to serve a warrant without adequate support by the armed forces? Let Secretary Roxas answer that to the orphans and widows of the massacred cops. It was not a mis-encounter. Our leaders allow our troopers to walk into a trap.
Why would the Philippine government have to ask the MILF for permission to enter Mamasapano, Maguindanao ? Have we lost jurisdiction over that territory? Have we given up our national sovereignty? In September 2013, some 20 soldiers and 5 cops were massacred in the Zamboanga siege. On October 18, 2011, 19 troopers were massacred by the MILF in Basilan, some beheaded and mutilated. On August 29, 2009, 29 soldiers including two junior officers were massacred by the MILF in Zamboanga. Still, we sign a peace agreement with them.
With all these carnages and massacres, should we still contend ourselves with investigations ? On February 12, 1981, 119 officers and men of the 31st Infantry Battalion were hacked to death by terrorists in Pata Island, Jolo. Their bodies were mutilated and trampled upon. I can cite a lot more of grave assaults and affront against our people. And yet, the government seems not to be too concerned. It does not have any sense of outrage. The people therefore should let their voice be heard. Let us throw away the peace agreement and demand justice for our people..
The Filipinos are sick and tired with too many grave and recurring insults against both our government and people. We are now the laughing stock among Muslim ASEAN member nations. Our national dignity has been shattered, broken, battered black and blue, and our leaders merely react by creating another board of inquiry. God, have mercy on us.