How hard is it to find out if the American troops are really on official mission in Zamboanga and if they are, that they are not overstaying?
That the news about it has been for days on the headlines of the Philippines most widely circulated broadsheet daily is reason enough for the government, especially the military and executive departments to look into it and clarify the issue. And now it is Zamboanga City’s represenative in congress bewailing it.
But nobody seems to be in charge. Or nobody seems to care. Not even the occupant of Malacanang has anything to say.
As it is, “Belle helicopters and the American planes (are) occupying one side of the hangar as if they already owned a certain portion of (our) airport”, bewailed Zamboanga Representative Climaco. DYN Corp., a private firm that reportedly takes care of the US troops’ supplies has extended presence there as well.
Apparently, not even US ambassador Kenney has a convincing explanation or even just an explanation for that matter.
Where they used to be just hunting Abu Sayyaf bandits in Basilan, they now occupy Western Mindanao Command.
The congresswoman from Zamboanga cannot get an answer. The local officals cannot get an answer. The people’s organizations cannot get an answer. Not from where one would naturally get it.
So what else is new? You would think that news and answers to questions of national import would fly thick and fast like they were showbiz news or text jokes, but no. You would think that every politician of all hues and government official of all levels would outdo each other in every press conferences and hearings assuring us of the integrity of our territory and rallying citizenry in defense of sovereignty, but no.
All we hear are a few vague answers that do not clear anything they might better have not been given at all. All we had are the muted voices of the government’s usually loud barking dogs.
Officials who do not understand the essence of sovereignty have no business running a government. and a country whose people cannot defend it with their lives have no reason for being.
But all is not lost. Satur Ocampo and company have filed a resolution in congress seeking to probe this anomaly.
Hopefully, it will bring to light who really is in charge. But then again, isn’t it already obvious?
Posted by diego rojo banaag 
