Wednesday, May 28, 2003

This is the nation's headline news today -- US pouring money, guns into Mindanao!

The United States of America has committed a "minimum" of 356 million dollars -- about 18.7 billion pesos at the current exchange rate -- in security-related assistance to the Philippines. This will be the largest military aid package the country has received since the US military bases in the Philippines closed down in 1992.

No wonder the government troops are battling both Muslim separatist rebels and Abu Sayyaf bandits (linking them to Al Qaeda while they're not), even there were rumors it's the military who were bombing some establishments and accused muslim rebels of terrorizing fellow Filipino people.

Somehow, if you will visit PNAC (Project for the New American Century) website, you will have a second thought about how the 9/11, the Iraqi war and the nationwide terrorisms here in my country have in common, not to mention the other terroristic attacks in other parts of the globe. There's something big in 1997... if I am not mistaken, it's the same year those local bandits started terrorizing Mindanao with its kidnapping spree. The next thing we know, our government was signing with the US government the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) in February 1998 for Phase I and in October 1998 for Phase II.

There were rumors told on both radio and TV commentaries of connivance between the military and the infamous Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG). It is hard for any ordinary citizens to accept that there are real people conspiring with each other for the world domination. This, of course, need time to prove its accuracy but, somehow, we as global citizens, should be wary and do not trust all the news we hear on TV. There's a lot of ways nowadays to know the truth behind those lies feeding to us by embedded journalist.

Meanwhile, it's been raining here for the past six days and death toll rises to thirty-two as tropical storm 'Chedeng' gathers strength while hopes dim for 30 people still missing in sea mishap in the collision between the San Nicolas and the Super Ferry 12 on Sunday on Manila Bay, about 182 others have survived.

Rainy season has begun and it's unfortunate the government has not move the opening of a new school year in September, as many suggested.
Posted on May 28, 2003 09:54 AM TrackBack