January 8-15 (2010)

There are many instances that government action is not only defying logic but is also making people laugh. Just recently, as a consequence of the November 23 “Maguindanao Massacre”, former Maguindanao Governor Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr., ARMM Governor Zaldy Ampatuan, and others were charged with rebellion. For heaven’s sake, when did they fight the government in their lifetime? It is on the record that they have never sided with the MILF or MNLF; they were preoccupied in amassing wealth and to stay in power forever. The government used this family for years in its counter-insurgency campaign against the MNLF and the MILF. (In fairness, however, Datu Andal Ampatuan has never considered the MILF as his enemy, only those units of the MILF whom he has scores to settle with). The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) organized their paramilitary forces, trained, funded, and armed them to the teeth. Imagine having to accumulate 3,000 high-powered firearms in a mere decade of power? Come to think of it?

Here’s the second rib-tickling act of government. To dismantle private armies, the government organized the so-called independent Commission on Private Armies. This is baloney, if not an idiotic decision! To dismantle armed goons by a toothless agency, whose only power is to make resolutions and let the government implement them? It is like a cat playing its own tail. Whoever advised the President on this has no intention of really getting rid of the private armies in the country. “If you want to kill an idea, throw it to a committee,” said a very popular maxim among legislators.

Why is there a need to organize a body to investigate the existence of private armies when the AFP and PNP can handle this very well? After all, these two agencies of government are in the forefront in arming these warlords, politicians, and capitalists; they are the source of their high-powered firearms and ammunition. Why spend the money of the state to a useless agency when it can be done by the AFP and PNP?

The men appointed to this commission are of high caliber and integrity. We never question their credentials; in fact, we commend them for accepting a “mission almost impossible.” This alone is litmus testing for people who are bold and daring; those who accept defeat only after trying. Indeed, only few men of this breed are in our midst today.

However, in their own approximation, can they do it? It is better for them to think twice before attempting. While everything is possible, only few are probable. Only winners earn medals and commendations; only success has many relatives. Losers hardly have one relative.

But to make their mission easier, here’s an unsolicited advice: Ask the AFP and PNP everything about these private armies. “Use a thief to catch another thief.” They know these private armies from A to Z. They have all the data needed; then recommend to the President that they will be tasked to dismantle these private armies. They have the men, might, resources, and technology to do it; after all, this is the job of the PNP especially.