THERE is never a wrong time to focus on and doing what is right. To prompt, and if need be, reprimand the service of justice when grinding slow, and refresh the public minds of open wounds impressed with much frustration and pain. The families of the Special Action Force (SAF) 44 in the back-rooms waiting, their voices fading from the limelight, hope virtually denied?
The somber vision of a trail of flag-draped coffins of the SAF 44, borne on the shoulders of comrades and marched out of the bellies of the C-130 Transport planes, was a sight no longer confined to the personal losses of the families concerned. It metamorphosed into a national tragedy most, if not all, Filipinos embraced as their own. Transfixed eyes of a great viewing public, piqued by the absence of the “Commander-in-Chief” to render duty, and honor the heroes in behalf of a grateful nation, by assigning blame on a car show. Limp and the height of insensitivity – salt set on injury. It was a dark and heavy day for the Republic. The scene continues to replay in my head. The mourning remains, the officials and perpetrators of the dastardly act, who dismissed it as “pintakasi”, must bear the full brunt of new legislative inquiry with sanctions of law inevitable. President Digong must order the PNP and AFP to “tell-all” and “open the books”. Let truth shine as a legacy of the Palace. Punishment surely served, like drug pushers confronted with a committed Government.
Justice undone to one, is injustice rendered to all. A doubling of victimization at the personal and national level, with no closure over the trauma. While government is engaged in “peace talks”, it must commensurately seek for “confidence building” from the rebels. How can talks proceed if Justice Department openly announced it is unable(?) to serve the arrest warrants. The MILF etc. unwilling(?) to support enforcing State laws over their own suspects, or disabled over factional control. This must not be a “peace at all cost”, trampling over the helpless cadavers of a massacre. God forbid a political replay of PNoy and Mamasapano 2. (Erik Espina)