Where do we go from here?

As hearings in both the Senate and House of Representatives continue over the Mamasapano massacre, it is becoming emotionally charged and from the responses among members of the House of Congress, the possibility of ever passing the Bangsamoro Basic Law, let alone the continuance of its hearing is clearly in jeopardy.

I used to call it a botched operation but now, with the video surfacing over social media about how our troopers, at least one, was clearly executed at close range, despite visibly wearing a government trooper uniform, that Mamasapano operation was a clear massacre.

The Palace has asked for the video to be pulled down and yes I totally agree, seeing how graphic the execution was. I could just sympathize with the family and friends of PO2 Joseph Sagonoy, the trooper who was identified in the video, still alive when the rebels found him and put two shots to his head.

The Mamasapano massacre has become so divisive as gleaned during the congressional hearing that it was evident that even our very own Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer had a hard time putting order into a room filled with very high emotions.

PNP OIC Chief, Gen. Leonardo Espina was the first one who broke down when he cut short Zamboanga Rep. Celso Lobregat who was asking the legal basis of the operation.

Espina tearfully asked for answers why an overkill happened when MILF rebels were already up close saw that the fallen raiders were government troopers. In the light of the ongoing peace talks, the execution of the SAF troopers, and Espina claimed there were about 20 of them that were executed at close range, just jeopardized the BBL and shows insincerity from the other side.

He also said the medico-legal findings showed that one of his men, still alive, was even stripped first of his bullet-proof vest before they shot him on the chest.

Espina, in tears, and clearly pointing to the OPAPP and the government peace panel, he had to say something in defense of his men who could not answer the inquiry. He was clearly an officer and a gentleman, and displayed a leadership that was laudable. And yes, even if there was a clear violation of the chain of command, the bottomline here is to ferret out the truth and seek justice for the fallen 44.

It was a direct contrast to resigned PNP Chief, Gen. Alan Purisima who continues to stone-wall and called for an executive directive to be allowed to tell the committee on what he and President Benigno Aquino III has discussed and what the latter knew of the operation.

Again, former SAF Director, Gen. Leo Napenas pinned down Purisima as the one who told him to refrain from telling his two superiors – Espina and DILG Sec. Mar Roxas and that the recently resigned cop chief will take it upon himself to coordinate with AFP Chief, Gen. Catapang.

Of course, coming from a closed door meeting with the President, Napenas took it as an instruction approved by no less than the commander-in-chief who was coordinating the operation and was taking a briefing from an already suspended officer. Legal or not on paper, the mere presence of the President in the briefing and who knew of the operation was a clear indication that it had his stamp of approval.

In a divided house, members thumbed down the request to have the President come before the committee but asked that Executive Secretary Jojo Ochoa be invited in his stead to shed light on the matter.

It was an also emotional Rep. Bai Sandra Sema who asked her colleagues to focus more on the resumption of the BBL hearings and to focus on the Bangsamoro people and not just the fallen 44 but it was clear that, even in Congress, their voices were a minority.

As this continues to be heard and aired in public, the hearing will just fuel and charged angry emotions from the public, and worse, our own government peace panel are not helping to defuse the tension by insisting on the coordination issue along with the AFP.

While legally they may have a point, that provision at this time is not acceptable to the public who are clamoring for answers why nothing was immediately done to minimize the casualties.

The really big question now is where do we go from here? Will we ever see peace reign in Mindanao? Will we ever see the BBL passed in this Congress? Until justice is probably served and will satisfy the greater public and families of the SAF troopers, the President will never get his wish to have it signed into a law before he steps down.

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Meanwhile, on Friday, the City of Bacolod will join other cities and nations celebrate World Radio Day to mark the first radio communication broadcast by the United Nations in 1946.

Spearheaded by Councilor Alex Paglomutan and the Public Information Office headed by Agnes Lira-Jundos, both former broadcasters, the celebration of the World Radio Day will highlight radio personalities that shaped our broadcast landscape here in Bacolod, both in FM and AM.

Media practitioners have been invited to remember and give honor to their colleagues including Louie Ledesma, the man behind “Among my Souvenirs” which many Bacolodnons can clearly remember and others who died in the line of duty as media practitioners.

While social media is fast overtaking print and television in delivery of news, in our country, radio broadcast media still remains as the number one in providing information to our countrymen particularly those who live in the upland and islands.*

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