Of [Manila] Pen and Suffering

a reaction to the Manila Pen Standoff, 29 Nov '07

Roughly more than four years after the Oakwood 'Mutiny', an equally familiar scenario transpired in Makati, right inside the posh Manila Pen. While public opinion as rolled in the media speaks against Sen. Trillanes', et. al. actuations, I'm with him in his consistent and principled stance in condemning the Arroyo regime. Whatever means or outcome it may have reached,I'll be equally affirmative of his actions. At that point, the end justifed the means. For in a government and supposed 'democracy' where the leader's credibility and moral ascendancy cannot be accounted for, it is a penultimate act to assert our rights at any cost. This is not to say necessarili bloodshed, but this is counter-fighting evil, the tyranny of the state against its own people. Teeth for teeth if that it counts for eventual change.

A traitor (Arroyo government) has no place in this world. And Trillanes being the ideal soldier, who in his capacity served the military righteously, has the right to perform his duty of protecting the people, in which he is there for. This is after all an inevitable case of STATE (people) versus State (established govt). And by human convention, true vox populi sustains.

It is saddening to note that people has become attuned with the government's reactionary position such that any externalities that would come in their backyard, should be contained. That's how the government do it, at the cost of blatant violation of human rights and extra-constitutional policies. The deliberate arrests of media persons and the imposition of curfew is undue and uncalled for, an exageration of a citizen's legitimate claim and demands. Ultimately, the government, through its armed forces has sabotage the economy, the right to information, the right to redress grievances, and right to freedom of expression.


"Dissent without action is consent"

Sen Trillanes, KUDOS!