“The message…is clear: We will not make compromises with terrorists,” says Secretary Gilbert Teodoro. On the other hand, Sen. Dick Gordon proposed that the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf be granted amnesty. Let’s hear what Paul Farol and Amiel Aguilar Cabanlig’s opposing points of view are!
PAUL FAROL SAYS:
I am not speaking for Sen. Dick Gordon and this is merely my own take on the much criticized proposal of amnesty for the Abu Sayyaf Group…
I've heard it said before that the reason why the Abu Sayyaf has not been eradicated is that the military has been held back at crucial junctures when it would have been possible to eradicate the Abu Sayyaf (or the MILF or the MNLF or the NPA) completely. Sure, blame it on the Commander in Chief… The phrase "all out war" has been with us since the Marcosian period and we still haven't killed Joma Sison or ended the communist threat -- which, by the way, had been a very good justification for military and other aid from Uncle Sam in the same way that "terrorist" organizations are a justification for having some American "help" thrown our way.
If people have a problem with granting amnesty for the Abu Sayyaf, why don't they have problems granting amnesty to communist rebels who were also accused of masterminding the killing of so many other people? I don't know about you, but Satur Ocampo shouldn't be a congressman and neither should Antonio Trillanes be a senator.
Between the Abu Sayyaf group and all the other groups that have challenged the government, I think that the ASG are more honest for the reasons for their actions as they have consistently asked for money without the rallies, media blitzes, political pronouncements and what not that qualify for indignant protests these days.
I think, one of the chief arguments against granting the Abu Sayyaf amnesty is that such is given to people who committed crimes in pursuit of a political belief…
When a member of the Abu Sayyaf Group puts down his gun and strips off his battle uniform, he looks just like any average person you'd meet in Basilan, Sulu or any of the other ARMM provinces. The average person in ARMM has to make do without the things we in Metro Manila have the luxury of complaining about…
Hunger, lack of education, lack of health care, and lack of development CAN ALL BE POLITICAL CAUSES. The Abu Sayyaf may be inarticulate and that may be because they didn't receive the education that would enable them to be articulate.
Then again, would we really want the Abu Sayyaf to have an ideology? Think about it and then think about it some more. If they start kidnapping or killing people to express their ideology, there will be no way for us to negotiate with them as true terrorists leave no room for negotiations and just commit the atrocity…
It is unfortunate that some of us find it easy to declare that an all out war is needed to rid ourselves of our problems with the Abu Sayyaf. With just an order, some officials of our government can send a hail of bombs and bullets into the hillsides and boondocks of Sulu. But is only when you see bleeding and broken bodies that you realize that bullets and bombs cannot tell the difference between the members and non-members of the Abu Sayyaf…
If people have a problem with granting amnesty, then call it something else... Call it a SAFE CONDUCT PASS.
As for Gibo, I don't like warmongers and as a Presidential candidate, he has already shown his penchant for DIVIDING more than UNITING our people.
AMIEL AGUILAR CABANLIG SAYS:
In the book entitled “The Philippine Navy” (1898-1996, p.337), it talks about the possibility of a long and lasting peace by way of proper leadership. I was lucky to experience the entire peace process when my dad was Commander of task force Sulbatz (now task force Comet). The 2nd Marine Brigade under his command was able to safely release kidnap victim (the very first) Hanz Kunzli without paying a SINGLE centavo. Their unit undertook a number of pacification campaigns such as the amicable settlement of warring factions, facilitated the activities of the Regional Consultative Committee and Peace Commission in Sulu and the activation of the Jolo Internal Defense Command (much like the NCRDC).
So you ask me, can it be done? I say YES... As long as we eradicate the Abu Sayaf criminal gangster!
I agree with Sen. Rodolfo Biazon denouncing the proposal of Dick Gordon, saying it was tantamount to an admission that the Arroyo administration was helpless in fighting criminality. Former kidnap victim Octavio Dinampo, a University Professor who chairs the Bantay Ceasefire in Sulu, said he was surprised by Gordon’s proposal.” Has the government turned 360 degrees over national policy, do they know that the ASG is not a political group?” Dinampo said. “Is kidnapping for ransom now a political crime?”
I remember when our Editor, Rain Barnido wanted to go to Jolo with Gawad Kalinga to help out the organization. I vehemently warned him of the dangers of going there without proper security. To make the long story short, Rain ended up not going. Even Gov. Sakur Tan of Sulu has said that “Many good things are happening here. Housing units were given, school buildings, farm implements, irrigation and many others to address the social issues here, but it is the Abu Sayyaf and their kidnappings that are being given attention, so it is just right that this group is finished.”
Gilbert Teodoro is also right to seize the golden opportunity while the enemy is weak. Any military strategist would apply Sun-Tzu’s basic principle... Gibo says “Granting them amnesty will send the wrong signal that we are not able to deal with the severe demonstrations of criminality and terrorism. We might as well give amnesty to bank robbers, drug dealers and other common criminals. There is no distinction anymore. This CRIMINAL GROUP should be stopped at all costs. Just last week, 14 Marines that were killed in efforts to rescue Father Bossi were beheaded. Our soldiers and the civilians of Sulu may feel slighted or may even feel angry if an amnesty may be granted to the Abu Sayyaf. They are not a political group. They are ruthless bandits that must be STOPPED at ANY COST!
OO nga Paul... di bigyan narin ng AMNESTY si Hayden Kho?
This CRIMINAL GROUP should be stopped at all costs... Yes it's like stoping drugs. Do you give amnesty to the Gucci Gang?
AGREE WITH Gibo --- We might as well give amnesty to bank robbers, drug dealers and other common criminals.
Amnesty to TINYTIM and DJ MONTANO!!!!
They are ruthless bandits that must be STOPPED at ANY COST!
YEZZZ no PEACE to KILLERS!
Amnesty in the Philippines always equals to impunity. Hence, it doesn't work. Just look at the Marcoses, Erap, the Gucci Gang, etc.
Filipinos have a weird attitude towards the law. Criminals are always pardoned prior to the acceptance of guilt and a subsequent sentence. I haven't heard any apologies of Erap to the Filipino people for his plunder. Just listen to the crap he is uttering.
And so many people now defend Erap that he wasn't that bad actually because GMA is more corrupt. As if it were only the choice between the two.
I haven't been in many countries where the law is so much prostituted as here. And the worse is, it seems to be socially accepted.
Do you really think amnesty for the Abu Sayyaf will do any good? Who in this country stands for what is right and wrong?
Amnesty for the Abu Sayyaf means also amnesty for the politicians and military who collaborate with these gangsters. Do you really want this?
Do you remember 2000 the Sidapan kidnapping, where Aventajado was wiretapped by the German secret police, negotiating 40 % of the 20 million ransom for Erap, 10 % for him and 10 % for Angelo Reyes?
(see http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1082736.stm
The magazine's {DER SPIEGEL] report claimed that Mr Estrada had skimmed 40% from a $20m ransom package, according to conversations between negotiators and rebels tapped by German secret police. )
All this is just a big business.
No merci and pardon for the Abu Sayyaf and the corrupt politicians and military men. Catch them and bring them to a fair trial. If you want a clean Philippines , the Philippine society has to undergo this painful process of uncovering and dealing with its dark past and presence. Look at the murderer Lacson, who sits untouchable in senate. And nobody seems to care.
What the country needs is something what happened to postwar Germany. It is one of the few countries that faced its dark past and where you find memorials to this horrible past all over the country, most notably in the center of Berlin, next to the Brandenburg Gate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_to_the_Murdered_Jews_of_Europe).
Lift up your buttocks and get clean.
Before you forgive, there must be a fair trial, a just sentence, an acceptance of guilt and an apology to the victims.
Destroy them before they destroy you!
i think it is time that cool heads and the willingness to look at the problems objectively be the norm. there is no denying that the region is the poorest in the country. this situation breeds a lot of the problems we have at present. i understand, it is hard for the ego to give peace a chance. but we need to move forward. we need to get away from the old, tired and unsuccessful mantra that has taken so many innocent lives already. we need a mind shift. a new paradigm. think how peace was achieved between Egypt and Israel not too long ago. check your egos and bravados for the common good.
ASG is not a political group. They are blasphemous scums that uses the Koran as an excuse to rob, kidnap, kill and rape women.I spent most of my high school life in Mindanao. Yes, most of the people there do not experience the same luxuries and even basic services that we can avail here in Manila. But, most people there work their ass off just to make ends meet. They do not resort to kidnapping.
They are not a political group nor can be really called a terrorist group. They are bandits. PERIOD.
Give them amnesty then they gonna be like Misuari. Run for office then steal the coffers of the nation and build a palace and 1 mansion for each wife.
It is an eerie and macabre post when you talk about the Abu Sayafs and then post pictures of dead people.
Sen. Francis Escudero said Thursday that lack of ammunition would hamper the military’s campaign against the Abu Sayyaf ...he says "I pity the soldiers because they do not have enough bullets to defend the country and even themselves against separatists and terrorist groups."
Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno said that the international community ”will not look kindly” at Gordon’s proposal.
There is something seriously wrong with Gordon but I want to hear from Trixie and Rain!
hay naku Paul granting amnesty would give other kidnap-for-ransom groups elsewhere the bright idea of relying on such amnesty. I have to agree with AMIEL!
OA si Gen.Jalandoni eh di naman lahat na AFP nasa combat noh and the strength ofthe ABU SAYAF is only around 300 men...Based on logistics doctrine, a soldier must be issued at least 3 loads of ammunition: One in his personal possession, another in the company supply and the last in the battalion supply; not to mention the strategic reserve in the ammunition depot.But Jalandoni said reports he had obtained showed that “our stock has reached below the one basic load and therefore could be regarded as critical. At the rate of consumption of our combat troops in Mindanao, we find our soldiers needing the said ammunition.
I AGREE BIGTIME! Gordon is delusional!
katsky_ph888 said..."Yes, most of the people there do not experience the same luxuries and even basic services that we can avail here in Manila. But, most people there work their ass off just to make ends meet. They do not resort to kidnapping."
Previous tactics employed in Sulu against the Abu Sayyaf were based on the doctrine of simply containing the threats. Under the new tactic, however, there will be no let up in the operations against the Abu Sayyaf until the military assesses that they have whittled down at least half of the militant's ability to fight.
"We should be more decisive, meaning in every engagement, enemy casualties should be 50 per cent or more," reports quoted Dolorfino as saying.A significant change in how the government forces confront the Abu Sayyaf took place last year after the marines were given full responsibility for Sulu's security.Previously, the marines shared responsibility with the army in ensuring security in Sulu. This set up had resulted in inter-service rivalry which often affects the conduct of operations.
The marines now have full security responsibility in Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi... Just like SULBAT.
Paul says between the Abu Sayyaf group and all the other groups that have challenged the government, I think that the ASG are more honest for the reasons for their actions as they have consistently asked for money without the rallies, media blitzes, political pronouncements"
Hahaha this statement is idiotic!
amnesty for DJ Montano... He has been in self-exile for 5 years now!
That's why Estrada should be hanged along with his military commanders in Mindanao!
The magazine's {DER SPIEGEL] report claimed that Mr Estrada had skimmed 40% from a $20m ransom package, according to conversations between negotiators and rebels tapped by German secret police.
Oo nga .. the Sulu sea is one of the most beautiful and perfect for tourism. Patayin na yang Abu Sayaf para matapos na!
OK, there’s the rescue of Italian Eugenio Vagni from terrorist captors in Mindanao as top news of the week (tell that to Ariel Querubin). But, any way you weigh it, the revival of the PNR, long given up for dead, is the recovery story of the decade, if not of our lives!
bakit nakikialam sa national security si gordon? kakainis!
Isn't it supposed to be 180 degrees? instead of 360 degrees? :)
I think we ought to stop referring to ASG as TERRORIST because the word conjures a group with certain idealism fighting for a cause.
The ASG is a criminal group that's why they are consistently asking for ransom. They donot have a core group anymore but splinters that operate separately with (one or two) politicians implied consent.
MEANING = its a business
kidnapping is a criminal act
rape is a criminal act
murder is a criminal act
all crimes are committed be it by ASG in Sulu or the politicians in Manila and similarly none have ever meet justice because in the Philippines Justice is forced to dance at WOWOWEE.
the only good thing that came out of Gordies mouth was not what he said but the thought of us thinking about an alternative approach to curbing criminality be it in SUlu or Manila.
Do you guys realise that most of these so called ASG are what we called "DAYO" non natives.
Third,
Read the sentence again, baka hindi mo lang arok. Oks lang iyan, pati ako minsan nahihirapan umintindi ng Inglis.
As for the situation in Sulu, here's the thing.
After Secretary Gibo made a declaration of an all out offensive against the Abu Sayyaf, wala pa ring movement ang military natin.
Also, masyadong strong naman ang words na all out offensive, especially if you consider that our military can only sustain attacks for only 48 hours -- after which, ubos na ang lahat ng ammunition nila.
Nevermind the fact our air force and navy are virtually useless, save for ferrying troops -- if troops can be ferried at all.
Tayo lang ang bansa na IISA LANG ANG C-130 na gumagana.
Posturing lang iyang pinagsasabi ni Gibo.
As for Amnesty, may procedure po ang pag-apply sa AMNESTY.
It involves ADMITTING na may pagkakasala ka sa batas ng Pilipinas, then kelangan pang i-review ang application for amnesty, and then, finally, igra-grant pa ang amnesty.
BAKA NAMAN NALILITO KAYO at ang nasa-isip niyo is CONDONATION or PARDON.
Gaya nitong si Erap, binigyan ng PARDON -- pero hindi naman inaadmit na meron siyang pagkakasalang nagawa, EVEN AFTER BEING CONVICTED.
I agree that we need a mind shift and a new paradigm in order to move forward, but we can't achieve this by making stupid decisions that we will regret down the road.
Pulverize the ASG asap and expose their protectors to the public! We should never trust these people.
Agree with Boldie...
1.kidnapping is a criminal act
2.rape is a criminal act
3.murder is a criminal act
Picture please!
hay naku Paul granting amnesty would give other kidnap-for-ransom groups elsewhere the bright idea of relying on such amnesty. I have to agree with AMIEL!
I have to side with Amiel... Punish the CRIMINALS!
Hahaha... I know that picture Amiel. That's BGen. Gene Clemen of the 3rd Marine Brigade - former aide-de-camp of your dad.
Medyo self promoting pero OK lang. Gene Clemen is a good and capable General.
btw kawawa naman si Ariel Querubin naunahan na mag-heneral nilang lahat!
regards
recede
Paul says "posturing lang iyang pinagsasabi ni Gibo."
Paul Gibo took the CGSC and later cources from the NDCP when Cabanlig was President.
Anung alam ni Gordon sa Defense aber?
I think Gordon is the one posturing cause his mouth is faster than his brain!
PICTURE BOLDIE!!!!
Paul says "Nevermind the fact our air force and navy are virtually useless, save for ferrying troops -- if troops can be ferried at all."
Hay naku di mag-aloccate si Gordon ng mas-malaking defense budget para tapos problema. Puro dak-dak kasi sya eh!
pvt. ryan
I would have to agree with Amiel on this. Granting amnesty to those thugs would show that we are weak and unable to deal with criminality and terrorism.
No dice, Dick.
Me TOOOO!
I would have to agree with Amiel on this. Granting amnesty to those thugs would show that we are weak and unable to deal with criminality and terrorism.
No dice, Dick.
agree!
john regala said...
PICTURE BOLDIE!!!!
Cummon Amiel... It's all in Vitug's book- your dad's former deputy Gen. Bill Ruiz took advantage of the situation along with his UP brod Robert Aventejado... As though you don't know!
PAUL FAROL SAYS:
"If people have a problem with granting amnesty, then call it something else... Call it a SAFE CONDUCT PASS."
Give safe conduct pass to ASG so they can kidnap and rob people at will? This is the most retarded article I've read on this blogsite.
-atong estrada
Nakakatakot po ang litrato nang patay na sundalo.
Pwede picture po ni Boldstar po! Yong nakakabuhay sa dugo ng mga Victorina readers.
agree with john regala and dennis da silva
PICTURE BOLDIE!!!!
TAMA SI AMIEL O...
Senator Rodolfo Biazon has backed a local official’s call for an all-out war against the al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf, as he proposed tapping civilian volunteers for the offensive...Biazon said socio-economic programs by government and non-government organizations could not be implemented effectively in the region as long as the Abu Sayyaf continues to operate. “Now that this concern had been removed with the release of Vagni, the government must mount an all-out war against the terrorist/kidnappers,” he said in a statement on Monday...“Everything must be done to pursue and destroy the terrorist group. This effort should be supported not only with personnel and logistics required but also with intelligence funds,” he said.
agree with john regala and dennis da silva
PICTURE BOLDIE!!!!
Gen. Eugene Clemen (in victorina photo) commander of the 3rd Marine Brigade, said the operation will be discrete to avoid disturbing the civilian populace of Sulu.“Our operations have been tactically changed using all the equipments we have to hunt down the Abu Sayyaf."
Kaya yan Paul... Trust in your Marines!
Dolorfino said he has ordered Task Force Comet BGen. Eugenio Clemen to change the strategy.“What’s happening is a war of attrition. It’s like we’re biting off the Abu Sayyaf with the hope they would be crushed. But that should not be the case.”“It should be decisive, meaning with every engagement, the casualties on the enemy’s side should be more than 50 percent. That’s a very drastic change in our mode of fighting them,” Dolorfino said.
Yes .... COUNTERSTRIKE!
DICK has forgotten the Confucian saying that “HUMILITY is the solid foundation of all virtues!
In response to my Fan Mail on this blog, (har har har):
IN RESPONSE TO THIS:
Gen. Eugene Clemen (in victorina photo) commander of the 3rd Marine Brigade, said the operation will be discrete to avoid disturbing the civilian populace of Sulu.“Our operations have been tactically changed using all the equipments we have to hunt down the Abu Sayyaf."
MY RESPONSE:
During the all out offensive specifically targeting only the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WERE DISPLACED.
The same thing has been happening since 1995. Wherever the military operates against secessionists, people are displaced.
IN RESPONSE TO THIS:
Give safe conduct pass to ASG so they can kidnap and rob people at will? This is the most retarded article I've read on this blogsite.
-atong estrada
MY RESPONSE:
You're the one who came up with the idiotic idea that a "safe conduct pass" would allow the "ASG to kidnap and rob people".
Safe conduct passes generally allow immunity from arrest or harm when passing through an area.
Generally, these are given to people who at some instance were declared enemies of the state in order to enable them to talk with the government representatives when negotiating either an agreement or surrender.
IF WE REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT IT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WHAT THE MILITARY IS REALLY AFTER IS TO GET THE ABU SAYYAF TO SURRENDER.
OTHERWISE, THEY'D BE AFTER THE ABU SAYYAF TO GET REVENGE FOR THEIR FALLEN COMRADES.
ONE WAY TO GET THE ABU SAYYAF TO SURRENDER IS TO KEEP ON BOMBING THEM UNTIL THEY DO.
ANOTHER WAY IS TO ENTERTAIN THEIR INTENT TO SEEK AMNESTY and ASK THEM TO SURRENDER FIRST!
Ang hirap kasi, kapag napuno na ng amoy ng publura ang utak, nahihirapan nang mag-isip at puro pagkalabit lang ng gatilyo ang alam.
Sige mga manong at manang, banat pa!
I'm sorry Paul but criminal should be incarcerated, arrested, jailed or killed... NO IT'S OR BUTS and stop siding with you BOSS dahil wal sya KAKAMPI!
A series of events caused the Abu's to be what they are. This includes rogue Marine officers, bad leadership and MOST OF ALL MEDIA!
There's too much blood in the Abu Sayyaf's hands. Images of beheaded kidnapped hostages and ambushed soldiers is a recurring nightmare. Amnesty will never be right. A total unconditional surrender and waiting the verdict after still affording them due process of law is the only acceptable action against these terrorists other than total war until its annihilation from the crevices of this earth.
WITH REGARD TO THIS:
Paul Gibo took the CGSC and later cources from the NDCP when Cabanlig was President.
Anung alam ni Gordon sa Defense aber?
I think Gordon is the one posturing cause his mouth is faster than his brain!
MY RESPONSE:
The problem is that sometimes we say education is worth more than experience or that experience is worth more than education.
I don't think you can credibly speak about war unless you've been through it or at least commanded men right on the field of war.
Has Gibo ever served with our soldiers on the frontlines of a battle?
Perhaps, his only perspective on the conduct of war is that given to him by the education he received. But is that enough?
Can Gordon credibly speak about war?
I don't think he can.
But he can speak credibly about peace. He can speak credibly about development. He can speak credibly about turning a no man's land into a land of opportunity -- Olongapo and Subic, that's proof that he can do it.
Peace and development in Sulu does not exclude the possibility to bringing people to a court of law to answer for their crimes. Far from it.
It means bringing in as many police that is needed to protect the population from any criminal threat. It means bringing in a court of justice in Sulu to try all those charged with criminal offenses.
It means bringing schools and livelihood opportunities, so that people in desperate situations won't have to resort to using guns to get what they need.
Now, we just have to decide, DO WE WANT GIBO'S WAR or GORDON'S PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT?
I just hope it isn't too late.
Now, we just have to decide, DO WE WANT GIBO'S WAR or GORDON'S PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT?
WE WAN"T GIBO's WAR! After that Sulu will have a long and lasting peace!
Haaay! Sige na nga Anonymous, sumugod ka sa Sulu at isama mo si Gibo.
tanga pala tong si Paul Farol eh.. ay wait, staff pala siya ni gordon. no wonder
OO nga Paul mali ka 10000%