Pinoy Buzz has posted a beautiful piece on his thoughts about the situation in Sulu. He juxtaposed this with Senator Richard Gordon’s proposed amnesty for the Abu Sayyaf Group, which, as we all know, was already rejected by Malacanang.
I am of the opinion that Gordon’s proposal had some merit and that it should have been given more time to be explored. Malacanang shouldn’t have dismissed it just like that.
As I said in my comment to Pinoy Buzz’s post, the Abu Sayyaf problem has clearly become a political problem as well. The idea of giving amnesty to a group that has gained notoriety for atoricities such as kidnappings and beheadings is not as palatable as, let’s say, granting pardon to a former president convicted of plunder. Joseph Estrada had and still has a strong following. The Abu Sayyaf is largely despised. This could be the reason why Malacanang took the safer route and just rejected the proposal. Perhaps it did so just to avoid the hail of criticisms detractors of the Arroyo administration are all too willing to dish out at the first sign of opportunity.
I just hope this little setback won’t stop Senator Gordon from coming up with radical, out-of-the-box ideas to address this country’s most pressing problems.
I really think Gordon’s proposal should have been explored more. In my understanding, the senator merely presented an alternative to the present course of action, which as recent history will show us hasn’t been effective at all in stopping the Abu Sayyaf. If it wasn’t unceremoniously shot down maybe some adjustments to the original idea could have been made.
Just to be clear, I am not for the granting of amnesty to all the members of the Abu Sayyaf. In my opinion only the least guilty among the bandit group’s members should qualify for amnesty. I am, however, for the option of eradicating the Abu Sayyaf menace through peaceful means. If only the government didn’t get too fixated with the word ‘amnesty’ and just used Gordon’s proposal as a springboard for more brainstorming on this issue.
I guess it would just be a waste of time to dwell on this after all the government has already decided to stick to a military solution. Quite interestingly though, this government is not even sure what to call its military solution. All-out war? No, that conjures images of ultra-violence. All-out law enforcement? That’s more like it.
Same banana different name. Just don’t say amnesty.
Thank you for your kind words.
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Not to be an Internet tough guy, but wouldn’t granting them amnesty legitimize the group?
Also, I think Gordon contradicts himself here. I really liked how he said that those guilty of breaking the law should be punished, with no pardon given. Or does that only apply to politicians?
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lpgd Reply:
July 18th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
wouldn’t granting them amnesty legitimize the group?
if by legitimize you mean giving them the chance to re-join mainstream society without having to answer for their crimes then i guess it would. however, i’m not really in favor of granting amnesty to all abu sayyaf members. the group’s leaders as well as it’s members who were actively involved in beheadings and other heinous acts should not even be considered for amnesty. they should get the punishment they deserve.
anyway, what i really expressed support for was gordon’s attempt to present a possible alternative. obviously gordon thinks the military approach is ineffective. i’m inclined to think that as well. how many years has it been since the military started going after this bandit group anyway? a new approach may be in order and it doesn’t even have to be anything like gordon’s proposal.
Also, I think Gordon contradicts himself here. I really liked how he said that those guilty of breaking the law should be punished, with no pardon given. Or does that only apply to politicians?
i have no direct knowledge of such a statement from gordon but i’m inclined to think that since he is a politician he may have probably said something to contradict a prior statement of his. regarding guilt and punishment, of course that should apply to everyone. but then again, i think there are certain situations where making exemptions may be the prudent thing to do.
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..amnesty for least guilty??i don’t think so..i thinhk we should exercise the law equally..whether guilty or least because in the sense that..least guilty are indeed guilty also..
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lpgd Reply:
August 12th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
equal justice for all eh? if only that were true and if only the same military approach would once and for all put an end to this abu sayyaf problem.
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