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Netnet Camomot

TO martial law or not to martial law. That’s the question. We can ask that again once the 60 days are over for President Rody Duterte’s martial law, and we should thank the framers of the 1987 Philippine Constitution for putting that 60-day limit in, otherwise, will the incumbent president keep his promise that his martial is the same as former President Ferdinand Marcos’ martial law?

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And did your brain somersault while reading that first paragraph? It has martial law all over, like the cheese a baker sprinkles on ensaymada.

A lady senator has been reduced to memes especially after her TV interview on martial law and its requirements. She tried to explain rebellion and invasion. I also got confused with her explanation, but I have this minute brain that needs at least eight years of law school before a “whereas” could sink in, so, it’s a given that any legalese could confuse me.

I’m not going to write about what those requirements are. Go ask your lawyer if you want the details on that.

There’s more to the Marawi siege than what is revealed through tri-media and social media. It’s like God–you have never seen Him but you believe He’s there. What you see, though, may shock you–drones are helping not only the military and the Maute group, but also videographers whose videos of the Marawi siege have been shown on TV and posted on social media. They look like war movies but this is actual combat where real people, and not actors, are either chasing the enemy or the ones being chased. May resemble a hide-and-seek game from afar. Until you realize those bombs have killed soldiers and terrorists who are our fellow Pinoys fighting each other in a senseless war, using weapons that are meant for the country’s real enemies such as aliens from other planets perhaps?

But the real enemy is neither ET nor ALF. The real enemy is when a person starts to believe that what he believes in is the only belief worth believing in. He wears blinders in a bad way, not to focus on his goals, but to ignore and not listen to and understand any other beliefs.

When someone tells you that the missionary position is the only position allowed by the Bible, keep as far away from that person as possible. He has been reading between the lines and is now dangerously selfighteous.

An antique non-fiction book may have been written by someone with his own vested interests to protect. But who are we to question one’s beliefs, right? As long as he’s not killing or harming anyone with his beliefs. Hmmm, please define harming.

There’s no sign for the Marawi siege to end this week. Even the military has learned to refrain from promising for it to end soon. If it goes longer than the Energizer Bunny, be afraid, be very afraid. There’s a reason why it won’t stop, and it may have nothing to do with ideologies anymore. Wait, did this even start because of an ideology?

Raising one’s own flag has never been as important as it now in Marawi. For the terrorists to choose black as the color of their flag and uniforms may seem minimalist, but people actively involved in armed conflict have no choice but to practice minimalism. They always have to run from one hiding place to another, and backpacks filled with clothes of all colors will simply become additional burden in addition to the food, bullets, and guns which are the main ingredients for their survival.

Besides, colorful clothes may make them easier targets for snipers. The secret is to discreetly run from one hiding place to another. Tip: make holes in between buildings–no need for doors and windows. Well, that’s what the military said when asked about the terrorists’ strategy.

And, here’s one more: the terrorists are allegedly using shabu. To keep them going and going like an Energizer Bunny on a perpetual sugar rush.

When the military found shabu in what used to be the terrorists’ lair, their suspicions were somehow confirmed.

There are office workers who also use shabu to keep them awake, when coffee is not enough. Oh, well.

Any addiction is harmful. Make sure, though, it harms only you and no one else. Once it’s also affecting at least one other person, you have to learn to move forward without the addiction.

Is terrorism also an addiction? You know, addicted to fighting for a misguided cause? When you’re too angry and have finally found an outlet for that anger?

Aren’t you tired of all these questions? Oh, please don’t be tired. Keep asking questions. Let’s see if you’ll find the answers on the 60th day of this 2017 martial law.

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