Warning: Evil Revisited (Maguindanao Massacre 1st Anniversary)

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" - Martin Luther King Jr.

The massacre of 58 men and women including 32 journalists on November 23, 2009 in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao will forever be remembered.  The victims pleaded for dear lives but were granted death. Mutilated bodies, eyes blown off their sockets, female genitals whacked in a taunting orgy of gory -- graphic images of death you will plead did not happen in your lifetime. For all its monstrosity, even the most ruthless of criminals do not deserve such a tragic piece of history. These are but innocent people going about with their lives, yet received the harshest method of death in the hands of the evil blood-thirsty Ampatuan clan.

Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu had the slightest hint that his intention to challenge the primacy of Ampatuan clan in Maguindanao could trigger the wrath in them and unleash the most evil deed one could only pray did not happen. The dead were 58 innocent men and women including those unfortunate motorists who happened to be in close proximity with the Mangudadatu convoy. The brazen act of concealing the bodies in a hastily-dug hole by a government-owned backhoe is proof of an utter contempt of the law unimaginable in a democracy.

From the words of the people themselves of the third most impoverished province in the country that is Maguindanao, "the Ampatuans are the law" and that "they own practically everything even the souls of the people". It's either you say "yes" or you get killed the next few seconds. Such is the magnitude of fear that even a Mangudadatu now sitting as governor of Maguindanao province, very few residents dare speak of the atrocities that marked decades-long rule by the Ampatuan clan. However,the culture of impunity that has become a way of life for the powerful Ampatuans did not just happen spontaneously if not for the blessing of the Arroyo government, which until now does not own up to its role as modern Frankenstein. Their ruthless rule of the entire province has seen its peak during the Arroyo presidency, as quid pro quo for delivering a clean slate victory for the administration in the 2004 and 2007 elections.

One year on and the victims' cries for justice  continue to reverberate down our cold spine - its grandiosity of an event now seemingly forgotten. We are back to our fetish self of craving for anything current and relevant. This demeanor though is understandable because we seem to have lost our faith in our justice system. Now pundits believe that the multiple murder case against the beastly Ampatuans could drag through many years, and now we are resigned to the fact that even justice fears to tread the path of the oppressed. Yes, even Satan's deputies are accorded the fairest trial  and still possess the temerity to mock the law of man. That being said their dominion is seemingly irrefutable over those who worship gold and riches at the expense of true justice.

Being the hapless spectators that we are, we can only collectively sigh in utter disgust how these brute criminals can dispense influence even behind bars. Their all-reaching tentacles are without boundaries preying on those whom they sense to let out a scream of their evil exploits. How many deads have been accounted for at the behest of the primary evil inside his cell? There is no denying the fact, that Andal Jr. is still capable of taking down anyone who could jeopardize his steely determination of laughing his way out of  jail. He has the best pool of lawyers behind him out to die for their master, and his billions. These billions of pesos plundered from state coffers are the very same bulks being used to hypnotize the most brilliant of lawyers to ensure their freedom. And only time will tell if the most evil amongst us defeats Lady Justice, and if that dispensation arrives, the moral fortitude of that generation will no longer pose a challenge to the myth that is justice.

Until when are we going to weep with contempt at the slow dispense of justice? Until when are we going to witness criminals and plunderers go free and welcomed as hometown heroes in a wanton travesty of justice? And until when are they going to feast with their loot if the law of nature refuses to intervene? We have witnessed the unthinkable yet the wheels of justice seem stuck in oblivion. Insatiable greed and an unquenching  lust for power proved to have driven people to shrug off conscience and usurping remnants and bits of innate human compassion.

We weep for those whose voices were silenced by the guns of the murderers. We lament for those who happened to be at the wrong time and the wrong place. The women who despite begging for their lives imploring their god received a painful death and their dignities violated. We grow weary due to hopelessness because we see partakers in the assault of democracy and complicit to the murders of the innocent, continuously disrespect the wailing souls of their victims - their arrogant taunting smile even becomes fixtures in the halls of Congress. No remorse, not a miniscule of sympathy for those they had murdered and the relatives.

To Andal Ampatuan Jr., Andal Ampatuan Sr. and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo: Let us revisit the spectacle you have created,  so that you can party once more and reminisce the time you shared a crisp laughter together while gulping a wineglass that runs over with the blood of your preys. You have certainly entertained the thoughts that you are beyond the reach of the law.  You are a fool to believe that you won't live to see the day of your downfall. In your delusion, you are convinced that you are entitled to possess the riches of this world at the expense of those who are powerless living under your shadows. You all have enriched yourselves to ensure the children of your grandchildren will have their plenty even when you're all long gone. But those innocent who bore the brunt of your blood-thirsty soul had their lives stolen abruptly from their loved ones in a  most savage fashion. You are no better than the brute beasts of the field that devour any living being that their eyes have set upon. And with reverence fit for royals, you are cordially welcome to take a peek and giggle at the magnitude of your triumphs. Enjoy your time your royal highnesses!

Where Do We Go When Our Keepers Are Our Enemies?

"The title ascribed to it as keeper of law and order should be a comfort and refuge for those who seek them but is slowly becoming a travesty of the institution it stands for."

Fifty-eight innocent civilians murdered and another one still unaccounted. All died mercilessly at the hands of habitual criminals. Five months of agonizing wait for justice to take hold seem to be eternity. And yet, that tiny shred of  hope for the victims and their families abruptly dashed. The hope that in this age of moral decadence, unheard of greed and lust for power is seldom a virtue worth-keeping. Such can be said  when justice seems elusive to those who have less in life. Where do we go when our own keepers are our enemies? Who will protect the oppressed when their oppressors are those who vowed to protect them?

Words are not in abundant to best describe how savage, repressive and immoral this present administration can be. When tons of evidences against the murderers are being blindly and deliberately ignored, it is hard to decipher what kind of human being is this DOJ Acting Secretary Alberto Agra. His order to drop charges against two of the major suspects in the Maguindanao massacre came as a shock that sent waves of anger and frustration across all sectors of the society. This decision did not only effectively jeopardize the mass murder case but also insulted the dignity of the victims and their families.

This resolution by the DOJ chief to exonerate Zaldy and Akmad Ampatuan from the mass murder in Maguindanao is the latest blow to the integrity of the judiciary. Despite piles of evidences that would directly implicate the two, Agra is just adamant to review the evidences on his table and insists that his was the right decision. His decision however came just a day after he assured families of the victims that he is painstakingly reviewing the case. His quick judgment on the case is strangely a thing to do and  implies stinking conspiracy in the works. Let us be reminded that Agra served as lawyer for Gloria Arroyo in her election fraud cases involving the massive cheating in Maguindanao that delivered 12-0 for Gloria's senatoriables, and the same that egged FPJ in the preceding election.

Despite government prosecutors' protestation on Agra's decision, the Acting DOJ Secretary is proud to boast of his arrogance that, "when others' turn to become DOJ secretary, they can do what they want but since I am at the helm, I can do what I want." This unheard of arrogance and cockiness devoid of reason, by a lawyer and  justice secretary, is utterly contemptible and disgusting. This is an ominous manifestation of how this moron can ruin the integrity of a justice system of a country if he is allowed to continue serving in the judiciary. His words echo his real motives of not serving for the interest of many but for his own selfish agenda. And the cost is so dear - justice for the fifty eight victims. How much was the plunder? The criminal Ampatuans are awash with cash, billions of them, and Agra is just perfectly aware of it.

The silence of Gloria on this issue however, is expected and it would be sounding strange if she orders a careful review of his decision. This is the kind of conspiracy, a criminal conspiracy in Gloria's administration that had already the nation subjected to a complete betrayal and feeling of dissent. Why would she not speak up on the matter if she thinks there were lapses committed by her subordinate? Doesn't she feel for the families of the victims? Doesn't she believe that due process should be given its chance? And if not, doesn't she think that any repercussion from this so-called judicial sacrilege could lead to her precipitous and untimely demise from Malacañan? Now, anything is possible given the anger and faithlessness by the people in her government.

If in the judiciary itself, there now exist a growing dissent and a growing spirit of rebellion, it is not far-fetched that this unprecedented degree of abomination towards the government could lead to a civil war. All things considered and this is entirely becoming a possible scenario. All because of greed, greed and more greed.It is nice to say in words that the Department of Justice is the sword and shield of law and order. The title ascribed to it as keeper of law and order should be a comfort and refuge for those who seek them but is slowly becoming a travesty of the institution it stands for.

Many had hoped including myself, that the gravity of Maguindanao massacre with which the culture of impunity that existed was laid bare, was strong enough to ignore that could prompt the government to get its act together and bring the criminals to justice. The president did  the expected, expressed her condolences to the victims' families, and preached justice as the only way forward. Five months since the massacre, rumors of imminent acquittal of the murder suspects were a thin possibility, based on incriminating evidences available. But what started as a fervent hope and faith to our justice system suddenly crumbled on the announcement by the Justice Secretary that two of the major suspects are innocent.

Being a Filipino, there are zillion hosts of reasons to be proud as one. But with the advent of Gloria Arroyo and her crooked ilks, I am fully equipped with reasons to think otherwise. I was once fond of her. Her intellectual exploits behind that tiny frame that impressed Bill Clinton at Georgetown are no-nonsense. But the emergence of Hello Garci, massive election fraud, Fertilizer Scam, ABN-ZTE deal, inexplicable wealth gain, human rights violations, midnight appointments prior to elections, large-scale graft and corruption in every government agency, and countless other graft and corrupt practices done with impunity under her watch, words do not satisfy my description of this immoral, greedy and unjust government.

As for this creature called Agra, your day will come Sir. You are a travesty of the institution you were called to safeguard. You are a disgrace to every human being called Filipino. Your gross defiance of every logical and legal assertion, and deliberate show of arrogance is proof of your gutter-drawn origin, where power and fortune do not equate with honesty and humanity. Where has your conscience gone? You certainly know for a fact that you are having a time of your life. And you are smart enough to realize that it will not be for long. While it is understandable of a starving croc to grab every ounce of meat and shred offered to it, the sight of your bloated frame letting out a burp, feasting on a kill is beyond one's grasp. You preyed on the pains of those who lost their loved ones. All because of greed, greed and more greed.

No one has asked for your compassion and favor. You may not have them because you did not experience grief of any kind. What is only asked of you is for true justice to be administered. But all the pleadings went to naught, nary a word of remorse. The very institution you were tasked to protect now stinks with injustice, its stench has reached the sphere beyond. Your utter disregard for justice to take its course is your ticket to perdition. Yes, certainly you will have your day, the day of reckoning, when the blood of those murdered will be upon your head for  conspiring with the murderers and partaking with their loot - the precious lives snatched from them without mercy. Plunderers and murderers, that day is drawing nigh!