Over-indulgent, self-absorbed, cry-baby bloggers whose IDS and EGOS are more important to them than what’s really going on in the jungles of Sulu and Basilan, need to pay attention to the news instead of spreading propaganda sympathetic to kidnap-for-ransom gangs or otherwise try to rationalize or justify the organized criminal sociopathy of various insurgent terrorist groups. The suggestion that the ASG is not after millions of dollars in ransom and the rich payoff in terrorist propaganda, is not only naive, it insults the intelligence of ordinary Filipinos. The Manila Bulletin reports that Muslim religious leaders have condemned the Abu Sayyaf’s killing and beheading of two hostages in Lamitan, Basilan on Good Friday. Emillon Clemente and Cosme Aballe, both Christian males taken hostage less than a week ago in a raid on Christian villages, join a lengthening list of ASG victims barbarically mutilated in direct violation of Islamic teachings. Funny this isn’t headline news at the Philippine Daily Innuendo and the pro-insurgent blogs. This certainly does not bode well for the ICRC hostages, Swiss citizen Andreas Notter and Italian Eugenio Vagni. I think the Filipinos were specifically abducted recently in order to make an example of how easily beheading comes to the ASG, without of course wasting the high value hostages for the high stakes poker game ongoing with the government. A $5 million dollar ransom demand has reportedly been floated for the release of the two remaining hostages, or else. Meanwhile Ricky Carandang covers the brouhaha between Sen. Dick Gordon and Sec. Gilbert Teodoro.
But how is it really, that a small bandit group can hold at bay all the forces of the Republic of the Philippines and can even demand that troops and police withdraw from practically the entire island of Jolo? Any reasonable observer would have to conclude that Philippine sovereignty has been seriously challenged and degraded. It has been attacked at the very root of sovereignty, which is the ability to enforce the Law. For what we have here in the Red Cross hostage crisis is an ongoing terrorist crime as defined in the Human Security Act of the Philippines, in the face of which the Government has appeared to be not only helpless but even clueless about what to do. There appear to be several major violations of International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Conventions involved in this protracted hostage crisis.
And yet where are all the usual Defenders of Philippine Sovereignty? I have a theory. After the Subic Bay Rape Case blew up in the faces of the anti-VFA Lynch Mobs–what with Nicole marrying and leaving for America and recanting her rape story– it seems they are busy crucifying Chip Tsao whilst tearfully and or angrily demanding apologies for being called dense and pikon.
Popularity: 1% [?]
wait? so no one is beheaded right? so why this headline?!
sorry, i saw the link.
So what do you think about the Filipino sailors held by the Somalis? Should Malacanang pay ransom?
Hahaha! I’m sure they are TRYING to. But with the rescue of Capt Philips by US Navy Seals, the price has probably gone way up.
So would you stop rescue efforts?
Yep! Bad question. Where are the defenders of Philippine Sovereignty Anti-VFA goons. Where are the Tsing Tsao bashers?
The bashers and defenders are actually the pekeng-peryodistas. What we read in the pekeng-peryodiko is not a reflection of Filipinos.
The pekeng-peryodistas grandiour of illusion is they thOUGHT they are speaking for the majority WHEN THEY ARE ACTUALLY SPEAKING FOR THEMSELVES.
If ever we have a Thai-like-revolution, the order of the day is line up all peryodistas in Luneta. I’ll do the questioning. Someone does the shooting starting from the knee caps all the way to their coco heads.
The pekeng-peryodistas are dumbing the pilifinos. They pass off their opinions as the opinion of the majority.
Well, you’ve hit the nail on the head here, Renato Pacifico. I note that today and yesterday the PDI has been looking the other way and reporting on stuff that happened with Erap in 1999 (the BW scandal!). Likewise the Leftist bloggers who are still smarting from the Nicole fiasco and their best laid plans for the VFA.
Hi DJB,
If it’s of any importance, I’ve been following the events down South. Ang malungkot, FV is getting sidetracked if not bushwhacked by ego and SEO concerns.
If you care to:
http://midfield.wordpress.com/2009/04/14/the-sulu-hostage-crisis-nears-breaking-point/
DJB,
You can discuss anything at FV or in your blog any topic that suit your fancy, but you cannot dictate to anyone to write something other than what suit their fancy too. You seem to wallow in the idea that anything you discuss is the most important and you are quite flustered to find that others would not follow your lead. As Ding said: Each according to his own devices and that is the spirit of democracy.
JCC,
Puhleeze: HOW in the world can I police anybody else’s choice of what to say or publish? Who do you think I am?
C’mon Dean, don’t be bashful — if only you could, you would, n’est-ce pas? D as in Deo?
Well Anna, I know someone who ain’t bashful this morning. But speak English, si’l vous plez. France is back in NATO, but around here you are “pa-feeling intellectual” unless you indulge in the curious dialect called Swardspeak Bloggeranto.
Best served on radio, better on TV.
Dean,
You never cease to amaze me! Often, you are good with your facts but there are times when you seem to be clueless!
“France is back in NATO,…”??? Dean, France has always been in NATO! For crying out loud, France NEVER left, I repeat, has NEVER left NATO… as in N-E-V-E-R! Just because Gen Charles de Gaulle kicked out NATO hqs from Paris doesn’t mean that France left NATO.
I think you’re confusing the whole thing with France joining back NATO’s military structure/command.
Matter of fact, France has been fighting in Afghanistan since UN mandated NATO to fight in Iraq. (Go back to Bosnia, etc., France’s Rapid Reaction Force was there as part of NATO contingent.) Tee hee!
“since UN mandated NATO to fight in Iraq.”
Ngeeek! Wrong!
Sorry, meant “since since UN mandated NATO to fight in Afghanistan.”
I hate to read a piece of writing from an author who thinks that his submission is unimportant. If it is not important to the blog author, why should it be important to cvj or to nielsky?
okay dean,
i am with you on this one. let us put up our own commado and rescue those hostages… or let us storm malacanang, replace GMA – declare martial law or revolutionary government, round up corrupt government officials, police, and judges and shoot them all at Luneta Park. then when we have the country under control let us round up the ASG, NPA and other scalawags and shoot them all at Luneta Park…. do you think we can do all these things? :)
Nation of behaders!
You must mean a Beheaded Nation.
Breaded bacon?
Dean, are you trying to tell me that Gloria has become even shorter? That she’s now even shorter than her 4’9″ height?
Goodness gracious me… that is one hell of a beheading!
Nation of Pikon :D
beheaders
Indeed, I share your view DJB.
Why indeed did it all appear to be ‘counter-culture’to apply straightjacketdly the full force of the law if that requires the full might of joint military-police offensive?
The territory does not run away – and they are all found in the map. What is happening with military intelligence then? What happens with so-called police visibility? Why can’t the military take care of our internal security? In the end, what is happening to the country, lady President?
In favor of the greatest good of the greatest number, to me, just my view, it is better that the 2 hostages become collateral damage provided however, every single ASG involved in this kidnapping be laid to rest.
The solution is nothing in the realm of politics. It’s simple really – let MGen. Sabban do it.
Primer,
I think in part this “paralysis by analysis” is caused by the very powerful bloc that implicitly supports the terrorist ends if not necessarily their means. By such justification and propaganda support, ANY guerilla force can last for decades and claim popular support by mere survival!
The Mass Media and Leftist Bloggers, in their pro-peace anti US campaign, has paralyzed the National Will and the police authorities are more afraid of DZMM, PDI and ABSCBN than they are of the terrorists.
It’s like that species of wasp that first paralyzes a caterpillar, then lays its eggs in the prostate body–which is to be eaten alive by its Babies. Fresh Meat. That’s what the Philippines is.
It’s all about ransom…Sayyaf will not take them other than for money, but the danger is also there because the JI is now calling the shots — Manila had in the past allowed payments of ransom to the Abu Sayyaf and in several occasions (Sipadan and Italian priests’ kidnappings) government people themselves transported the ransoms to the terrorist group.
Troops seemed to be helpless in battling the Abu Sayyaf — look at their casualties in Basilan and Sulu — considering Sayyaf terrorists had no logistic means other than their previous guerrilla training when they were with the MNLF. Most of the Sayyaf members were former MNLF rebels!
Too bad, even the US troops cannot do anything in Sulu to stop the Sayyaf, even their infra-red and thermal cameras and cell phone intercept cannot keep track of the kidnappers and their JI cohorts, not even the US unmanned aerial vehicles or drone!
It is more important now to neutralize the group holding the two ICRC hostages because of the presence of key Sayyaf leaders and JI personalities in Sulu. At least four JI militants – Mauiya, Dulmatin, Patek and Zulkifli – are said to be with the Sayyaf group holding Andreas Notter and Eugenio Vagni. And these four JI terrorists are walking bounties – $18 million rewards from the US government. And that does not include the bounties of Sayyaf leaders Albader Parad, Doc Abu, Radulan and the others…
Government should convince the Sayyaf to arrest the four JI, hand them over to Filipino and US authorities, release the two hostages and in return they get the bounties plus a possible amnesty on the condition the Abu Sayyaf kidnappers will lay down their weapons and enjoy the good life with their families…
At last, a voice of reason in a sea of capitulationists!
“Government should convince the Sayyaf to arrest the four JI, hand them over to Filipino and US authorities, release the two hostages and in return they get the bounties plus a possible amnesty on the condition the Abu Sayyaf kidnappers will lay down their weapons and enjoy the good life with their families…”
Sounds good, but. the ASG kidnappers lay down their weapons, they will be kidnapped by their former handlers who in turn will demand their share in the bounty. Not to mention the AFP generals who will claim they are instrumental in the negotiation process and therefore need to have a share. By the time the AFP and GRP barracudas are done – those ASG will be back in the kidnapping business. :D
Perhaps the criteria we ought to impose on any proposed action on THIS kidnapping is that it must, even marginally, produce a smaller likelihood of the NEXT kidnapping for ransom.
Wishful thinking will not do it, I concede.
DJB,
“The Mass Media and Leftist Bloggers, in their pro-peace anti US campaign, has paralyzed the National Will and the police authorities are more afraid of DZMM, PDI and ABSCBN than they are of the terrorists.
You mean if not for Mass Media and the Leftist Bloggers with their pro-peace anti-US campaign and cops terrorized by media those hostages will have been rescued or released by now?
Jeezus h. you’re using hostage situations and decapitated heads as cannonballs for your war on anybody who doesn’t agree with your pro-US anti-terror ideology.
I say pay ransom if you must, just get those hostages back safely. Would you follow a no ransom approach if, say, a member of your family were kidnapped by the Kuratong Baleleng?
First things first. Get the hostages back as quickly as possible. And then you go after the kidnappers, making sure they never get to spend a dime of their loot.
If you cannot get those kidnappers after they have released their hostages, then what makes you think you can get them while they still have their hostages?
If you have neither the means to prevent kidnappings nor the means to capture them then you just have to swallow your pride and pay uo because that’s about the only chance you got to save the lives of hostages.
Cut all these macho chest-beating. We don’t have Navy Seals or a Delta Force. The message of the ASG to our inutile government is “Put up or Shut up!”
The stupidity of no-ransom policy – that we don’t pay ransom because ransom will only encourage more kidnappings- is obvious. There is no let-up in kidnappings is there? And it’s not because we pay millions in board and lodging fees. It’s because the odds of getting away with it favor the criminals.
Three shots. Three terrorists. One ship captain freed. One shining example. It can be done. Let’s not leave any options off the table. You say just go ahead and pay the ransom. That’s what got us here MB.
Yup… it can be done… by the Americans. The PI’s AFP is a different story.
As a Philippine official statement on 98 Filipinos held by Somali pirates goes “said The Philippines does not have the capacity to launch a military offensive against the pirates, but could seek assistance from the United States, the official said. “.
MB,
It’s nothing to do with machismo. Guerilla warfare and terrorist insurgency are technologies of war. They can be combatted with other technologies of war that are smarter and attack the particular tactics employed. In general I think we ought to seek the assistance of our allies, especially the US, Australia and Britain, in deploying new high tech systems to help resolve these tragic situations. Maybe some kind of robotic vision sniper with lethal force and deadly accuracy. You would not be against that on political or ideological grounds would you. It wouldn’t involve the use of foreign troops at all.
mb, hundreds, if not thousands, of people in the world get butchered everyday by the evil hands of terrorists, kidnappers, pirates, despots and run-of-the mill lunatics, not to mention collateral casualties caught in the crossfire between the forces of the good and the evil. a life lost is one too many, and all possible means of saving it must be pursued. but paying ransom is like hosing a deadly flame with gasoline in an idiotic attempt to put it out.
i say, let’s mourn and honor those who die and let not their death be in vain. instead of ransom, let’s invest in strengthening our capability of meting out justice to these evildoers, even to the extent of making the whole of mindanao a virtual hell for them to be. if the american navy seals can do it, so can we with proper personnel, training and equipment. let’s make the “odds of getting away with it” impossible for the murderers.
OFF TOPIC.
Nick,
I just read “your comment is awaiting moderation.”
Do we have a board of censors now?
When did we appoint Consoliza La Guardia and Manoling Morato to the editorial board of FV?
so can we still call this FV a filipino voices?
Beheading, stoning, amputation of arms, female circumcision are
part of Islamic religion. It is part of the Islamic mode of
punishment. It is many centuries old. Yet, it is still in practice on
Arab Islamic countries.
Tasio:
You mean they also have something similar to the Old Testamant’s prescriptions such as:
Any person or animal that touches Mt. Sinai shall be stoned to death or “shot through.” Exodus 19:12-13
A child who hits or curses his parents must be executed. Exodus 21:15, 17
If an ox gores someone due to the negligence of its owner, then “the ox shall be stoned, and his owner shall be put to death.”. Exodus 21:29
“Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.” Thousands of innocent women have suffered excruciating deaths because of this verse. Exodus 22:18
“Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.” Is it really necessary to kill such people? Couldn’t we just send them to counseling or something? Exodus 22:19
Wash up or die. Exodus 30:20-21
Those who break the Sabbath are to be executed. Exodus 31:14
Surely you are not comparing the workings of Justice in Arab countries with the activities and methods of the Abu Sayyaf? When the Abu Sayyaf beheads a hostage, that act bears only the most superficial resemblance to a Saudi capital execution using the same method.
capital punishment for capital offense or capital crime Tasio. what is wrong with that? is that not practical? is that not an effective crime deterrent? But it is said that if the wronged party forgives, then the criminal is acquitted.
excuse me, there is no female genital mutilation in Islam. that is only an old African cultural practice misattributed by Ayaan Hirsi Ali to Islam in her feminist advocacy in Africa.
but wait, Islam’s capital punishment is conditional and circumstantial. for instance, when a Muslim stole food in the context of mass poverty, cutting of hands is suspended. Ooops, shari’ah is for the Muslims, not for anyone unless any non-Muslim victim agrees to settle his/her case through it.
“But more than 60% of the worldwide population live in countries where executions take place in so far as the four most populous countries in the world (such as People’s Republic of China, India, United States and Indonesia) apply the death penalty and are unlikely to abolish it soon.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment
As such, the workings of ASG is not attributable in anyway to Islam’s administration of justice. Instead, by intention, the former is the opposite of the later. Their victims can also sue for beheading too of ASGs anyway.
Tasio tlg txt ng txt wla nmn syt.
DJB,
“Three shots etc. Let’s not leave any options off the table.”
Precisely.
Let’s not leave ransom off the table if that’s what it takes to save the lives of the hostages. First things first. Save the hostages, pay ransom if necessary and then we go after the kidnappers, make sure they don’t spend a dime.
Ransom is not what got us here, DJ, It’s weak law enforcement.
We don’t have the means or the will to prevent crime from happening and we don’t have the will or the means to bring criminals to justice. Criminals know the odds are in their favor. The edge is what motivates them to do what they do.
I’ve written about the beheaded victims based on your list so they will always be remembered somehow even if just online. However, my readers don’t really want to participate in the discussion. Just too shocking for them.
@ momblogger – before you are accused of gross hypocricy – can you prove to me that you are not actively and verbally supporting through some of your behaviour online, the type of criminals associated with the raising of "dirty money" – often used to fund terrorist activity?
stfu.
stfu n00b.
In any Religion, if you believe what are all writen in the Holy Books.
You will surely do these things:
(1) You will bomb people who does not share your religious views.
(2) Being paranoid in commiting any imaginary sins.
(3) You will not look at the opposite sex. Because it is a mortal
sin.
(4) You will not believe anything, except from your Holy Book.
(5) You will go crazy, paranoid, or with mental depression because
of the guilt of sins.
(6) You will always fear in displeasing your God. Then, ending up
in Hell.
1. Well, NOT in the case of Islam Tasio. The Qur’an says:
"Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects Taghut (evil) and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trust worthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things. " – Qur'an 2:256
"To you be your religion, and to me my religion (Islamic Monotheism)." – Qur’an 109: 6
As I have been saying, don’t detach these bombings away from the context of western colonization and imperialism. Not religion but American foreign policy and its local cohorts breed suicide bombers.
2.Ask psychologists and psychiatrists Tasio and they will tell you paranoia has clinical dimension, hence a mental illness. Meanwhile, being conscious always of not committing sin against anybody is mental health. Don’t you know that most people who suffer from paranoia, schizophrenia, manic – depressive syndrome, so on and so forth are those whose lives are tragically immersed in the quagmire of worldly things so that when nothing is left over them to return to – including psychological reserve, they have nothing too to couch upon other than committing suicide? And don’t you know that the west has the beating record of suicide cases in the world?
Out of haste, you seem to overlook the reality that religion, say Islam, aims to refine people’s conscience, towards attainment of spiritual happiness; and, for treatment of spiritual maladies. The Qur’an says, “Those who believe, and those whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah: for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction.” – Qur’an 13: 28. As such, Dr. Breil has said, “A truly pious person never suffers any mental disorder.” Also, Dale Carnegie said, “Psychiatrists realize that strong faith in and adherence to religion are enough to banish the sense of anxiety and nervous tension, and to heal similar sorts of maladies.”
3.You will not look at the opposite sex LUSTFULLY or COVETOUSLY Because it is a mortal
sin.
4.“You will not believe anything, except from your Holy Book.” Is this not practical and realistic Tasio? Say, if you are a staunch fascist or communist, would you crave salaciously for some democratic literatures to guide your way? My goodness!
Oops, not to become gullible with respect to any book, say a religious book, to believe on, apply this test:
How do we know that a revelation like the Qur'an is the word of God?.
The criteria for truth can be easily understood by all:-
a.RATIONAL TEACHINGS: Since God bestowed reason and intellect on mankind, it is our duty to use it to distinguish truth from falsehood. True undistorted revelation from God must be rational and can be reasoned out by all unbiased minds.
b. PERFECTION: Since God is all perfect, His revelation must be perfect and accurate, free from mistakes, omissions, interpolations and multiplicity of versions. It should be free from contradictions in its narration.
c. NO MYTHS OR SUPERSTITIONS: True revelation from God is free from myths or superstitions that degrade the dignity of God or man.
d. SCIENTIFIC: Since God is the Creator of all knowledge, true revelation is scientific and can with-stand the challenge of science at alltimes.
e. PROPHECY: God is the Knower of the past, present and future. Thus His word of prophecies in His revelation will be fulfilled as prophesied.
f. INIMITABLE BY MAN: True revelation from God is infallible and cannot be imitated by man. God's true revelation is a living miracle, an open Book challenging all mankind to see and prove for themselves.
http://www.missionislam.com/discover/compulsion.h...
5.Please refer back to my # 2 answer.
6.“You will always fear in displeasing your God. Then, ending up
in Hell.” What a self-repulsive, hence an outright inconsistent statement! Review it man!
Reyna Elena,
I need to pay you a visit, neighbor!
are we still on this? i thought for a while that we were done with this. as iratedpirate said: it has been milked for all its worth.