The Maguindanao Massacre

As of 8pm tonight, 46 people have been excavated from two different sites in Ampatuan, Maguindanao, Mindanao. They are mothers, fathers, wives and husbands, children, journalists, and filipino civilians who died for nothing but the selfish interest of one group.

Electoral violance reared its head early in the game, with the filing of the certificates of candidacy barely on a roll.

Almost half of the victims are people related to the vice mayor of Buluan. The other half are media practitioners who are just doing their jobs.

Accounts say that the military and local police declined requests from the media to escort them as they go about this coverage. Now, they're saying no such request reached their quarters. However, with a massacre this brazen, people are demanding that heads roll. The first batch of casualties include top ranking officers from the local police.

But this is not enough. Evidences point to Ampatuan, the governor of Maguindanao, as a political rival of Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu whose wife was among those dead, in the gubernatorial race. A backhoe, according to reports, was found in the hastily-dug graveyards allegedly used to dig out the craters which later served as graves. It bore the name "Andal Ampatuan Snr".



This is not the first massacre in the Philippines, neither will it be the last. What makes it chilling is the number of perpetrators indicating a private army, a cause that is possibly politically motivated, an alleged mastermind that is the incumbent governer of the province and the coldness in which it was perpetrated.

In the wake of the public outcry for justice against this brutal killings, Dureza, a cabinet secretary told Mike Enriquez on 24 oras that both families being close to the president, the people should expect that the [judicial] process will be fair. Well, isn't that what JUSTICE is supposed to be in the first place?

The Ampatuans are wealthy, powerful political figures who dominate ARMM as a clan reminiscent of feudal times. People say that money talks. Then, who is it talking to right now?




Picture from Michael Wosley's blog and Lauri Lipton

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A Chiz-y Presidentiable No More

The clock is ticking, it is only seven months before The Big Turn Over. And the road to the presidential elections is littered with candidates who have fallen before the race even began.

Months before the official filing of the certificate of candidacy, presidential aspirant Ping Lacson, stepped aside as old issues with the deposed president Estrada now-presidentiable again hounded him more rabidly.

Veep Noli de Castro also succumbed a few weeks after Ping. With the political situation very volatile, candidates switching parties faster than a speeding bullet, and an endorsement from the incumbent president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, De Castro was treading the political path very slowly, making sure that no misstep ends up blowing him to bits. However, he moved ve-e-ery slowly and missed the presidential train.

Today, a popular candidate once made the death bell toll. It is Chiz Escudero.




Chiz Escudero, a fledgeling senator, was once a district representative of Sorsogon who was at the forefront of the impeachement campaign against Arroyo. A very eloquent speaker, he is perceived as the least trapo (TRAditional POlitician literally, but trapo also translates into dishrag which most traditional politicians turn into) and is very popular among the idealistic Filpino youth.

Hoping to maintain an independent image, Chiz (I prefer to call him on a first-name basis) resigned from his party on the day that everyone was expecting him to make his formal announcement. Everyone was surprised, even his supposed running mate Loren Legarda. It spurred rumors that he will be running under Manny Villar's presidential bid. But, no, he went ahead and reiterated his previous statement against running with Villar. Chiz made it clear that IF EVER he would run for the presidency, it will be as an independent candidate, free from party affiliations and obligations.

The death of Chiz' presidential bid could also be a case bad timing. On the eve (not literally of course) of the Chiz' formal announcement of joining the presidential rat race, along came the twin disasters ketsana and parma. He decided to wait awhile and let the nation grieve first before the big announcement.Although that was a a fitting move for a gentleman and sensitive politician, putting the nation first before his own ass, but I also think it was a carefully calculated move to further bolster Chiz' popularity.

Anyway, today, Chiz's third (Imagine!) D-Day wasn't the bombshell everyone was expecting it to be. Early this morning he announced that he would no longer be in the running for the presidential bid, he wanted the presidency "but not at all costs". It would have been more dramatic only if it didn't coincide with the Maguindanao Massacre. Again, bad timing.

However, with Chiz dropping out, the ever-growing list of presidentiables, nuisance candidates and all, has trimmed down. And the nation has one less candidate to think about.

More importantly, with Chiz dropping out of the race, the opposition, busy with in-fighting themselves, has unintentionally become more united and more concentrated against the Evil Witch.

Now that's the silverlining in the dark, dark sky.



Thank you Michael Rodgers for the picture.

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The Amazing Race Presidential Edition

The Amazing Race Presidential Edition has just commenced!

Less than a year to go before the national elections, presidentibles have lined themselves up and declared, in words or in deeds, their intention of winning the highest electoral post.

Political analyst Tony Gaimaitan has counted 14 candidates for the presidency. That's easy you say, even a layman can surmise who's in the running and who wishes to be in the running. There have already been lots of talks, speculations if you will, as to who will team up with up, surveys of "winnable" candidates, a barage of tv ads (and radio blocktimers) that espouse so many pro-poor advocacies, and muscle-flexing of political machineries.

What are the perks of this job that people just can't resist signing up and pursuing this inspite of a meager salary?

One, winning this coveted price entitles you to your very own army. Nobody can just push you around (except those that you let) or say things that will be detrimental to you stature. Anyone who doesn't toe the official line gets booted out, for life sometimes, or just scared out their wits permanently by hooded motorcycle-riding gunmen in broad daylight.



Second, this entitles you and your family to countless government contracts that you can effect in office. Every government contract automatically allots a percentage of "goodwill money"
for you and the first family.

Thirdly, the winner of The Amazing Race Presidential Edition secures your place in a society
of bootleggers and speculators. You get to travel the world, all-expenses paid by the Filipino people's taxes, with the entourage of your choice. Experience hobnobbing with world figures and hope that their popularity rubs off on you.



And lastly, this ensures immunity for you and your family inspite of getting embroiled in the dirtiest of scams. As long as you hold the title to the crown, you can rule as long as you want, however you want to.


All you need is a well-oiled political machinery composed not neccessarily of the most intelligent and sincere public servants but those who are thick-faced and strong of stomach politicians who can devise the most devious legislations to make your crimes legitimate.


All aspirants must submit their entry forms on November 2009.

Heck, you can start campaigning now!

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