A very dangerous sentence

By Cesar Gorillo

WHILE pursuing a lasting solution to the Mindanao rebellion involving the MILF, President Aquino suddenly rattled off the sentence, “the Armm was a failed experiment.”

These were words were enough to send a very disturbing message to MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari whose efforts to negotiate a lasting solution with the then President Ferdinand Marcos were simply downgraded in one sweep by no less than the President of the Republic.  The Armm was negotiated through the mediation of then Libyan President Moammar Khadaffi and it went through a lengthy legal process ending in the plebiscite in which the residents of Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato City voted to be part of the newly created Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or Armm for short.  Chairman Nur Misuari then headed the region as its governor and billions of pesos were poured out for the development of the region under then President Fidel Ramos.

Suddenly, a splinter group known as the Mindanao Independence Liberation Front or MILF cropped up headed by Hashim Salamat.  That gave the government another headache.  The government had no alternative but to negotiate with the new group.  Lately, however, a new Framework Agreement was signed between the President and the MILF. That left MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari in the dark and asking, “What happened to the Armm?” Then the bombshell was dropped by Noynoy: “the Armm was a failed experiment.”

That started the problem. Misuari was all over the media denouncing the peace agreement as having left out the members of the MNLF.  There was never any response from the government as if Misuari never existed.  He was already seen on TV with his men who were fully armed with the latest modern equipments shouting for independence.  It was as if the government need not worry.

And then the attack happened.  The MNLF were all over the seaside barangays of Zamboanga City.  Many lives have been lost; several military and civilians were injured and the danger to the economy in Zamboanga City and to Philippine tourism is staggering.  And with all the hostages nowhere to be freed, the danger of a quagmire is staring right into our faces.

I know Noynoy never meant any harm in uttering those words.  But those seemingly innocent words cut deep into the sentiments of Chairman Misuari who had been left out all along as he never figured in the negotiations.

In statesmanship, anything a President utters in public must be taken out of a prepared speech and after being drafted by experts for fear that certain utterances will have very serious implications on the affected parties.

But it seems Noynoy has the habit of shooting from the hip and could even say words with huge implications impromptu.

As a result of the apparent snub of Misuari coupled by those words, “failed experiment,” the Philippines is now witness to another nightmarish potential quagmire, the Zamboanga attack.

The only solution is diplomatic or military.

And that is another story.

••

He was one of the greatest prophets of Israel and, as such, was responsible in warning the people of God what was to come.

Aside from the warnings, this prophet was also responsible in correcting the people’s errant ways in order that they will not displease God. But despite his warnings, the people went on with their ways and these did not please God whom Hosea loved so much.

One thing unique with Hosea was that he had no wife.  He was a bachelor and prayed fervently that God will give him a wife that will be very ideal for a well-known prophet like him.  He had harbored in his heart that because God was so generous, He will definitely give him what he asked for. That definitely the Lord will give him the best woman of Israel:  beautiful, respected and faithful.

Finally the Lord answered his prayers and he was given a woman by the name of Gomer who was a prostitute.  Ever obedient to God, he learned to love Gomer the way a faithful husband does.  And he thought Gomer will change her ways.  But he was entirely wrong. Gomer left her for another man.  And when he asked God what to do, God instructed him to look for her which he did.

Finally he had the courage to ask God why and God told him that Gomer was like Israel, a nation he loved so much but which turned against him time and time again and which he continued to woe and love despite her unfaithfulness.

Each one of us has been sinning against God many many times.  But God is God of second chances who will always give us the chance to go to  heaven until the the last breath shall have left us.