AFP officers to be court-martialed?

BY ATTY. BATAS MAURICIO

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “…A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word!” (Proverbs 15:23, the Holy Bible).
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AFP OFFICERS TO BE COURT-MARTIALED RE: BASILAN BLOODBATH? The 7 p.m. network news aired by government-run FM radio station DWBR on Saturday, October 22, 2011, carried one item that could excite “military adventurism” once more.

 This was the news that the Aquino government is studying the possibility of subjecting to court martial proceedings the AFP officers who were responsible for the deployment of the 19 officers and men who were killed by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Al-Barka, Basilan.

Coupled with the pervading anger against the decision of President Aquino not to wage an all-out war against, and suspend peace talks with, the MILF, the thought that AFP officers would even be court-martialed in connection with the Al-Barka incident could certainly provoke strong resentment against the government which, if not properly handled, could turn out into something bigger.

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“MILF TERRITORIES”? WHAT ARE THESE!!! Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon is right: it is now time to clarify what is meant by the phrase “MILF territories”. Does this mean that these territories are no longer under the sovereignty of the Republic of the Philippines, over which the AFP has no right to exert its authority? This is treason of the highest order, if the truth be told.

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POVERTY IN MINDANAO MUST BE ADDRESSED NOW: And while we are all pre-occupied with the supposed atrocities of the MILF against officers and men of the AFP, is someone in the Aquino government now doing something to address the continuing economic deprivation of our people in Mindanao? 

Some people laughed at our proposal to pour in economic projects for Southern Philippines, but then, removing poverty there is the one decisive step that could end all conflicts in the area. The reason why people continue to support MILF is that, they have been poor all their lives, and there is no other hope for them.

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NEW PHILHEALTH CHIEF STARTING ON THE WRONG FOOT: Sorry, Dr. Eduardo Banzon, the new chief of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or Philhealth, but the way to give our people the health care system they deserve is not to make insurance frauds a priority of your administration. 

If you ask me, what should be aspired for by any new Philhealth chief is this: ensure that each and every Filipino who has no health insurance coverage yet, for one reason or another, would now become a Philhealth member. That way, when they need medical attention, they could get it for free or, at least, for a lesser price.

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CONGRATS, DINKY SOLIMAN: I am not a fan of Secretary Corazon Soliman of the Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD), but I am compelled to congratulate her for her efforts to provide livelihood and job generating projects to our countrymen, like the World Bank-funded projects for residents of Rosario, Cavite. Mabuhay, Dinky, for teaching our people “how to fish”!

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Court-martial vs. AFP officers?

INSPIRASYON SA BUHAY: “… Nakakasumpong ng kaligayan ang tao sa isang maagap na tugon---at tunay namang napakabuti ng isang napapanahong salita!” (Awit 15:23, Bibliya).
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COURT-MARTIAL VS. AFP OFFICERS RE: PATAYAN SA BASILAN? May balitang inilabas sa pang-alas siyeteng network news ang government FM radio station na DWBR noong gabi ng Sabado, Oktubre 22, 2011, na maaaring maging ugat ng isa na namang “military adventurism” o pag-aaklas ng mga sundalo. 

Ito ay ang sinasabing pag-aaral ng gobyernong Aquino kung pupuwede bang sampahan ng court martial proceedings ang mga opisyales ng AFP na siyang nagpadala sa 19 na opisyales at sundalo na napatay ng Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) sa Al-Barka, Basilan. 

Kasama ng galit laban sa desisyon ng Pangulong Aquino na huwag giyerahin ng todo ang MILF, at huwag suspendehin ang usapang pangkapayapaan, ang isiping mako-court martial pa ang mga matataas na opisyales ng AFP kaugnay ng patayan sa Al-Barka ay lalo lamang magpapalala sa sentimiyento laban sa gobyerno na kung hindi maaayos, ay magiging ugat pa ng mas mabigat na pagkilos.

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“MILF TERRITORIES”? ANO ITO!!! Tama si Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon: panahon na upang liwanagin kung ano ba ang ibig sabihin ng “teritoryo ng MILF”. Ibig bang ipakahulugan nito na ang mga lugar na ito ay wala na sa ilalim ng kapangyarihan ng Republika ng Pilipinas, daan upang wala na ding karapatan sa mga  ito ang AFP? Sa totoo lang, kataksilan itong maituturing.

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KAHIRAPAN SA MINDANAO, DAPAT NG TAPUSIN: At habang pinagkakaguluhan nating lahat ang sinasabing kalupitan ng MILF laban sa mga sundalo ng AFP, mayroon bang opisyal ang gobyernong Aquino na kumikilos na upang tutukan naman ang patuloy na kahirapan sa buhay ng ating mga kababayan sa Mindanao?

May mga taong nagtawa sa ating panukala na buhusan ng mga proyektong pang-ekonomiya ang Hilagang Pilipinas, pero sa totoo lang, ang paglaban sa kahirapan ay isang matibay na paraan upang matapos na ang lahat ng labanan sa lugar na ito. Kaya nagpapatuloy ang suporta ng marami sa MILF ay dahil sa kahirapan, at wala na kasing iba pang pag-asa pa para sa kanila.

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BAGONG PHILHEALTH CHIEF, TILA MALI ANG DIREKSIYON: Ipagpaumanhin po ni Dr. Eduardo Banzon, ang bagong hepe ng Philippine Health Insurance Corporation o Philhealth, pero kung nais din lamang niyang mabigyan ng tamang pangangalaga sa kalusugan ang ating mga mamamayan, hindi dapat inuuna ang pagtutok sa insurance fraud o kalokohan sa insurance.

Sa totoo lang, ang dapat pinagsusumikapang gawin ng sinumang bagong Philhealth chief ay ito: siguraduhin na ang lahat ng Pilipino na wala pang Philhealth insurance, anuman ang dahilan, ay maging miyembro na ng Philhealth sa ngayon. Sa ganung paraan, kung mangangailangan sila ng medical attention, may makukuha sila ng libre o sa mas mababang gastos.

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CONGRATS, DINKY SOLIMAN: Hindi po ako tagahanga ni Secretary Corazon Soliman ng Department of Social Welfare and Development pero binabati ko siya sa kanyang pagkilos upang mabigyan ng pagkakakitaan ang ating mga kababayan, gaya ng World Bank-funded projects para sa mga taga Rosario, Cavite. Mabuhay, Dinky, dahil tinuturuan mo ang mga taong “mangisda”!