Favoring a mall?

Letters .

I PASSED by SM Downtown Premier a while ago and noticed that the barricade placed along the island in Recto Avenue in front of the SM entrance was removed. I heard in the news that the reason the barricade was placed by RTA there was the traffic obstruction that will be caused by vehicles that will turn left to the SM entrance.

I was surprised because I also saw several RTA traffic enforcers manning the entrance of SM Downtown as if they were employees of the mall. There were also traffic enforcers manning the opened island so that traffic obstruction will be avoided.

Wow! I could only admire the RTA for being too concerned about the flow of vehicles that enter the mall. This is not to mention the number of traffic enforcers at Osmena street also manning the entrance and exit of SM Downtown.

I could not help but wonder why RTA or the city government has given so much attention to this mall. Take a look at Corrales Extension between Gaisano mall and Gaisano city. The only regular enforcers in that area are employees of Gaisano who I know were deputized by RTA. Only a few RTA traffic enforcers are normally on duty in that area that is why traffic in that area is horrendous.

Since the opening of SM Downtown, the island was already closed because of the reason I heard in the news. As a motorist, I agreed to that closure for obvious reasons. Even as traffic signs like “no left turn” or “no U turn” or “use pedxing” are placed in that opening, does RTA believe these signs will be honored by drivers and pedestrians? Doesn’t RTA know that their traffic signs are mere suggestions?

Are the extra traffic enforcers assigned there to ensure that drivers and pedestrians will heed the traffic signs?  Now, isn’t that an indication that SM Downtown is in fact favored?

Why is RTA spending extra taxpayers’ money in order to ensure that the entrance of SM at Recto Ave. will be used by vehicles coming from the east of the highway?  –Romanito Contreras, romanitoconteras@gmail.com

Fact-Finding Mission?

THERE were reports that an International Solidarity Mission (ISM) has been conducting a Fact-Finding Mission in some areas in Mindanao. It is focused to discuss issues on extra-judicial killings and other human rights violations in relation to the implementation of martial law.

The said mission has started through a report from the social media – Kilab quotes reporting PNP detention of their foreign delegates. In support to that report, Davao Today has also published an article articulating results of their mission in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato.

However, a Facebook post of a Datu in Surigao, Datu Rico Maca, has shown that delegates to the Mission have violated Municipal Ordinances and the Mission is unknown to the residents of the area or to the Lumad.

Clearly, there are conflicting statements at hand. There are groups that support the fact-finding mission and there are other groups that are aggravated by it. Resolving it means dissecting some of the issues and statements we read. And let us start by understanding what is a Fact-Finding Mission and International Solidarity Mission.

By definition, fact-finding mission is one whose purpose is to get information about a particular situation, especially for an official group. The official group that is referred to here is the International Solidarity Mission.

I have tried to search the Internet of what this group is all about but there is no formal information what they really represent to, but it is spearheaded by Mindanao for civil liberties—a broad formation of church-based and caused oriented organizations. Some of these organizations are Kilab, Anakbayan, Karapatan and other groups.

In my opinion, the fact-finding mission here is to collect “data” on the alleged EJK and other human rights violations in relation to martial law for the people who composes and supports the International Solidarity Mission. Looking at the composition of the ISM and the people who supported them, I really doubt their being “official.”

Knowing the line of beliefs released by the leftist groups against the government, I doubt the reality and truthfulness of the mission.

Besides, what happened in Surigao as posted by Datu Rico Maca is already proof that people involved in the mission do not have proper coordination with the local authorities and even to the residents themselves. What have happened in Surigao, may have happened in Lake Sebu, and there is no Datu like Rico Maca who stood by the rights of the Lumads and questioned the validity of the delegates presence.

Majority of the Mindanaoans support martial law. Most, if not all of us are enjoying the fruits of martial law—presence of the government forces, peace in our community, increasing number of surrenderers from the New Peoples’ Army, action of the government towards development, seriousness of the government to end insurgency and others. We may admit it or not, we are confident and free even with martial law and the people who are against it are the people who are known supporters of groups who will be most affected with the declaration—the NPA.

Going back to the composition of delegates, what is the business of foreigners to our internal issues? What is their right to release statement and to discuss issues that are foreign to them? How can they understand our issues, that they cannot even understand the language?

Our country is not perfect. We have a lot of issues that concern us. We have still have a lot to do for this country to develop and to be considered as developed. I will not deny that there are a lot of injustices in our community. But! We should at least be fair to our government. And most and foremost, we should follow protocol. – Dianne Abella, abelladianne83@gmail.com