“Go slow with the Ampatuans” is a message that the handlers of the Maguindanao case should not take sitting down.
The message carries a threat against life. I agree with DOJ Secretary Agnes Devanadera that being there on the lead must pursue with the case. Should not take the issue personally. This an acid test for the government to prove to the people, once and for all, that this government meant business. That the full force of the law is not only for the poor and the innocent. Everybody see how powerful and influential are the Ampatuans.
The government with all its powers and resources have no reasons to quiver in fears, otherwise, if the suspects still gets off the hook, in view of the reported mishandling of evidences, would only goes to show that our prosecutors do not have the capability to pin the suspects down. But the way we evaluate the progress of the investigation at the moment, the speed and results are within the proper timeline and the prospects are in the right track. Finding the suspects later not guilty, could mean a different story to tell.
But there is question being raised. Why did all these had happened? What triggered such a wholesale killings? Why such an influential family of politicians within the Cotabato area have resorted to this kind of political strategy? Could there be some lapses on the part of the government? Or could it be simply that the Ampatuans do not want to be challenged in the 2010 elections? Or they have sensed that their political hold in that province is bound to end, with the new shift of automated system of election?
Maybe yes, maybe no. There must be good reasons why did it all happened. Only the time could tell, what is all about. Cotabatenos can prove to all and sundry, that the Ampatuan family have been there for a long time, who gained respect and admiration by its people for leading a clean, peaceful and respected governance. Whose leadership has been responsible for its progress, growth and development of what is Cotabato province today.
There are lapses on the part of the government, by their leniency on the issue of private armies. This is where the government became a failure. Inutility on the issue of arms buildup in that province. Such a happening could have been avoided had the government not been so soft about armaments of the civilian populace. This is where the authorities have failed. The thing is that a worst situation has come and the death of 57 people who serve as its rallying point. Comes now the issue for the government to give justice each to the 57 souls, including innocent journalists who died because of these lapses.
EAGLE'S EYE
By Vic del Pilar
EMAIL VIC: delpilarvic@gmail.com