Even as this corner happily congratulates the men and women of EDGEDAVAO for copping three of five major awards (including Best Edited Community Newspaper) during the very recent Philippine Press Institute (PPI) Annual Conference in Manila, the more pressing issue that hugs the headlines todays is the ASG/Maute-ISIS brutal raid of Marawi.
Considered to be the national center of Islamic faith, Marawi a city that awes me, surprisingly was not spared of violence authored by its’ very own brothers in religion. Why Marawi?
This question persists and has not been satisfactorily unanswered as of this writing. Many dead bodies of civilians have been found to have been executed.
Now, there are voices who are shouting themselves hoarse in protest of the martial law declaration by PRRD. Mind you, these are coming from Luzon (specifically from sectors identified with the political opposition based in Metro Manila), from people who are not residents of Mindanao and from sectors (trolls and lackeys) who are totally ignorant of the prevailing conditions and circumstances thereat.
Yung iba naman, sumasabit at sumasakay lang.
It is no longer odd to know that foreign militants based in Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore identified with terrorist cells in the Middle East have been “visiting” the country off and on from way, way back.
AFP authorities report that, aside from the native Maute clan members, they have spotted armed aliens among the ranks of the terrorist raiders. This unsettling report prods us to think that the Marawi bloodshed is no longer just a simple domestic concern.
There is, in my mind, now an international flavor blended into the terrorism recipe that necessitated the declaration of martial law in Mindanao by PRRD. The Marawi conflict is no longer a simple terroristic act but a rebellion cum invasion.
How naïve can we get?
With the Abu Sayaf Group of Isnilon Hapilon merging with Maute and holding up the ISIS banner to inflict indiscriminate terror on this part of the archipelago, it is not far-fetch to assume that these marauders will move elsewhere as a tactical ploy against the government.
But, lest you think the rebels are having their way, PRRD is on top of the situation and the government remains in control. Though a surrender and dialogue have yet to be achieved, the objective to isolate and contain Marawi has been made possible by presidential proclamation 216.
I think the rape and plunder of Marawi was made as a test of their (Maute/ASG) capability to pursue the jihadist objectives of their Middle East-based leaders before they get their ISIS certificate of membership and chapter-hood in this part of the world.
The government media entities – PTV4 and Radyo ng Bayan – should flex their media muscle in as much as the flow of accurate official information is concerned.
There are unofficial information and black props undermining the government and military capability emanating from sectors opposed to the Duterte government. They are having a grand time in the broadcast and print media sympathetic to the yellow cult and a freewheeling space in the social platforms.
This is the major reason Filipinos get caught in confusion, what to believe and who to believe.
They are easily swayed to join the bandwagon mentality because they follow the flawed logic that where the more people go, that is where they should go too.
Government media officials should learn to pattern their strategies during the Marcos years when then Information Minister Francisco Tatad ruled both the airlanes and print media space, echoing every now and then the salient points of Proclamation 1081. In time, the citizens, without even trying, became able to memorize lines like “Sa ikauunlad ng bayan, disiplina ang kailangan.”
This is not to encourage media censorship, though.
Instead, we suggest a radical re-programming and manpower and technical strengthening of PTV 4 and Radyo ng Bayan as well as re-organizing its present crop of personnel to include the recruitment and contracting of new progressive, credible talents (disregard the civil service law that limits the capability to hire talents outside of the standard compensation allowed by law).
Excellently thought of and organized media strategy and sustained support are very necessary to enable PRRD to bring the government closer the Filipinos for a united stand against religious extremism, violent terroristic activities and insurgency. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
