The ‘enemy’ is confused

ILIGAN City ― Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. said recently: “This is horrible!”

He was referring to an alleged “gentleman’s agreement.” Now, who are these gentlemen? FPPRD and a powerful gentleman from China named Xi.

Lawyer Salvador Panelo a die-hard supporter of Duterte was quick to say that “there is no such agreement between the two.”

Yet another lawyer, Harry Roque says, “There is such agreement, although that’s not the term it is called Modus Vivende.”

Now, what is this about? As I understand it, this has something to do with this land called “Ayungin Shoal.”

A writer from somewhere in Luzon says this country has several classes of land. Some lands are called “luli.” Meaning, “lulubog, lilitaw.” As in, now, you see it, now you don’t. Just like many of our politicians here. But this is not even: “luli.” Because this is forever “submerged.” So, this is “lumu” as in forever submerged? This “lumu” of an island if transferred at Taal Lake, cannot even occupy half of it.

So, then why make a big deal on it? By way of challenging China over it?

China, to note has been making angry noise and actions over it. Because of the actions too of this country over it. Principally over the re-supply missions of a ship called BRP Sierra Madre. Didn’t we learn back in basic physics says that “for every action, there is always active and physical reaction?”

Meaning, that China does not take it sitting down. It has to bump, the ship doing such a mission to that Shoal. There is even a joke that I heard that says,” Give a man some fish and he will live for a day, but teach him how to fish and his fishing boat will be hit by the Chinese Coast Guard.”

So, some other opinion writers say that this gesture of PBBM is the result of some dictator, called Uncle Sam. Meaning, this is a war between two powers, that Uncle Sam and China. And this country is just being used as a “weapon.” Meaning this country is just “weaponized.”

It might be remembered that PBBM said early on that this country would follow an independent foreign policy. As in a “friend to all, an enemy to none.” A few weeks later, he is perceived to be changing gears. Like allowing itself to be “dictated” by this Uncle called Sam. Hence, these “outbursts” include some “horrible” words. Complete with a “horrified” face as it is on the screen.

To note too, the EDCA or the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Alliance sites have been increased from four to seven to 11. And the perception of FPRRD which he said he was not in favor of during his term because there would now be plenty of sites that the Uncle could put their weapons, like nuclear ones. The additional sites, are mostly in the Visayas and Mindanao, like here in Cagayan de Oro. Not in the Ilocos provinces where PBBM hails because, ah, the reason is obvious.

There is a view that PBBM allows this country to be “puppeted” so that the payable of the Marcoses in some suit to the tune of P353 million dollars in some American court “would not be pursued.”

With these developments, and with that reported “trilateral agreement” among Uncle Sam’s President, Joe Biden, and this Japanese power and of course, PBBM representing this country, many of us are now confused. One of the strategies to win a war is “to confuse the enemy.”

But, there’s this quote regarding “the enemy” which says: “I have seen the enemy and the enemy is myself!” But the question is, who is the enemy? Is it Uncle Sam? Is it PBBM? Or FPRRD? Or Xi and or China? Or Japan? Or lawyer Panelo? Or lawyer Harry Roque? Or the others who have said in favor of or against the “horrible” stories? Or. VP Sara Duterte, who has kept quiet regarding this matter but is quick to defend the Pastor in Apollo Carreon Quiboloy? And the others who have joined to say some mouthfuls on the matter? There, I am now rambling in confusion. Like many of us. And this confusion might be killing us. Not necessarily softly. like some song…now let’s stop as well this confusion, or else…

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