Lopez-Jaena
grandnephew dies

To members of the Graciano Lopez Jaena clan of Negros Occidental the news is that his grand nephew died Saturday night at his Capitol Heights residence of a lingering ailment.

He was the surviving son of Jose Lopez, Sr. and Lourdes Lopez, niece and nephew of the late Ilonggo national hero.

He is better known as the husband of Kit, a retired school teacher. He was the father of Tanya Lopez of the Negros Museum and the National Commission on Culture and Arts.

He was also my closest first cousin, one with whom I shared fond memories of childhood days in Hacienda Carmen of Granada.

I was fortunate in a having been invited by him for a farewell talk. I was not surprised. After all, he had told me that he felt that his end was near and he just wanted to share with me the few remaining moments in his life. He also asked for Nena Lopez Martelino, another cousin, who also had managed to talk with him before he expired last Saturday night.

There were other members of the Lopez-Jaena clan whom I failed to reach. I just wish that they read this column. Tony has passed way. Another clan member gone ahead to the Beyond.

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PNP Director General Nicanor Bartolome said it was hard to find retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan who had been receiving the same training as his hunters.

I think it's a lame excuse. In short, precisely because he had been training the same tactics and techniques of hiding as his hunters, the more reason why he should be easier to capture or arrest.

Precisely the pattern of movements and concealment that the APP had trained its people should serve as a cue to his hunters to plot out where he had gone and that gives them the chance to plot out counter-moves to his tactics.

When you know the moves of your enemy, you have won half of the battle, is a dictum of the military.

And in the present case, by precisely knowing the tactics and ways of Palparan, I am sure that his hunters should be able to plot out counter-measures. Not simply give up because he uses the same tactics he has been taught by the military to its officers and men.

What is important is the will to do it.

On the other hand, we also doff our hats off to Gen. Bartolome for his actions on the CIDG team of Batangas for their alleged involvement in extortion and other criminal activities.

Cleaning the ranks of the PNP of its undesirable elements had always been the hallmark of Bartolome's stint as PNP head.

It is often painful to hit hard at men under you. But Bartolome had never hesitate in throwing the book against erring PNP personnel.

Thus, he deserves a salute from citizens who are now assured that they have a PNP chief who does not tolerate dysfunctional personnel under him.

China seems to be playing a calibrated upgrading of the tensions over the Scarborough and the Spartlys.

In short, contrary to our perceptions, the country is not truly scaring us with her might. Otherwise, she could have sent down more powerful ships and weapons.

Instead, she seems to be raising the ante little by little. Just enough to scare us into voicing a call for more dialog.

While our local leaders are demanding a verbal response from the United States on what has been done was the timing of the Balikatan exercises which shows that the US army and those of several ASEAN countries are ready and girding for a shooting war without the bluster and bellicose statements.

A Chinese friend pointed out to me that China never had a warlike history. Instead, he or she prefers “negosyo lang”. In short, perhaps, something about the possibility of a joint exploration of the Spratleys and with China sharing in the proceeds plus a guarantee that there will be a full appreciation of sharing possibilities.

Well, for all it is worth, I contend that the latter view is more possible. That is at risk going to a war that could also pose a risk to what she could gain by asking the Philippines to sit down with her as discuss “economics” and “profits”.*

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