Remember the deaths of the SAF44

How time flies. Yesterday was the fourth anniversary of the infamous massacre that took place in the town of Mamasapano in Maguindanao where 44 members of the PNP Special Action Force were killed in action. They were brutally murdered by Muslim rebels belonging to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and thus ended the law to create the framework agreement for the Bangsamoro Islamic Law that was totally ruined under the leadership of then President Benigno “PNoy” Aquino.

Thankfully, the ruined peace deal got back into mainstream after the election of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte as president. The law got a new lease on life and went into high gear with no less than President Duterte endorsing to the 17th Congress the immediate passage into law of the proposed Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) that was recently approved in the Mindanao referendum. But until today, people like Aquino have cases filed against them for the untimely deaths of the 44 SAF troopers, but as always, justice in this country is always delayed and therefore considered denied!

* * *

Last Monday the New York State Assembly passed the Women’s Equality Act, once again sending the legislation to the New York State Senate that just approved the abortion of babies up to nine months old. This happened during the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, which allowed abortion in America. But legalizing the killing of unborn babies up to nine months is really murder even if it is state-approved.

In America, it is a crime to kill an eagle even if it is still inside an egg, but it is okay to kill a nine-month-old baby even if doctors can already ascertain the baby’s gender and health. Why has this been allowed? I’m sure that God will seek some kind of punishment for New York! Lori Kehoe, Executive Director of New York State Right to Life said: “In a day and age when females can be killed in utero simply for the crime of not being male, it is a mockery of what our feminist foremothers stood for to try and force this on New Yorkers. Women’s rights must begin in the womb, or women have no rights at all. Like the majority of New Yorkers, we oppose expanding abortion-on-demand through all nine months of pregnancy. We stand strong in supporting the right of every individual to have that first right, the right to life.” This is a major issue happening between the Republicans and Democrats and why so many people hate President Donald Trump who is against abortion!

* * *

With the year 2019 being a mid-term election year, no less than President Duterte has admitted to drawing up his own list of senatorial bets. "May ticket ako. Nandyan na. Yung sumuporta, yung sinuportahan ko noon. Mahirap namang hindi ko gawin ngayon (I have a ticket. People who supported me and people I supported previously. It would be hard for me not to do it now)," Pres. Duterte said.

In that meeting, President Duterte encouraged his audience to vote for four candidates; former political affairs adviser Francis Tolentino, former presidential aide Christopher Go, former PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa, and folk singer Freddie Aguilar. In a chance interview after the event, Duterte said his senatorial ticket will also include Senator Sonny Angara, Senator Cynthia Villar, Taguig City Representative Pia Cayetano, and Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos. "Of course, they supported me and I have to support them. That's the right thing to do," Duterte said.

Duterte admitted there were disagreements among his allies on the candidates who would be part of the senatorial slate. He said they should support candidates who deserve to be in the government.

The president also assured the public that government forces will remain neutral during the 2019 elections. "The armed forces and the police will be neutral. I promise you, it will be done. They will not favor any candidate. I am the president. I am a politician. I may campaign for those who helped me along the way during the crucial moments of my life," he said. So there you are, the president has declared that he will be supporting his senatorial candidates.

* * *

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