FROM THE BARREL OF MY PEN/12/16/05
By Gonzalo “Jun” Policarpio

BATTLE BELONGS TO THE YOUNG


Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s die-hard political appointee, de facto DOJ secretary Raul M. Gonzales, seems to be having fun in bullying his fellow seniors who call for his master’s resignation. When the Manila Police used a fire department’s water hose to disable a septuagenarian activist, former Philippine vice president Teofisto Guingona, from marching peacefully towards Malacanang, he clapped his hands in gleeful approval. Just a few days ago, he ordered his henchmen to physically pick up for detention and interrogation an octogenarian, Ret. Gen. Fortunato Abat, who also calls for Gloria’s ouster by announcing his willingness to temporarily take over the government.

Despite the fact that the old man without any semblance of an army merely showed to the press a piece of paper proclaiming himself as president of a transition Philippine government, Raul Gonzales perceived him to be a threat to his master Gloria. He believed so because he said he connected him to Marine Captain Nicanor Faeldon, a former leader of the so-called Oakwood Mutiny, who recently escaped from detention.

In a video recording released to the press, the young military officer denounced Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of “being corrupt and ruthless and will do anything to stay in power.”
He also stated that he escaped to “join the fight for a credible government…” He however denied any involvement with the movement of Ret. Gen. Abat.

Now, who’ll be next in the line of Filipino senior activists for reforms in the government to qualify as a target for “calibrated pre-emptive response” by Raul Gonzales and GMA? Another septuagenarian, Eddie Ramos, I presume. Definitely there is a connection between Ramos and Abat some years ago on a commander-in-chief-defense secretary relationship. This remains to be seen.

Here’s my point: let “Old Soldiers” such as Ramos and Abat and the rest of the seniors including Raul M.Gonzales and Eduardo Ermita enjoy their twilight years not necessarily in their “twilight zone.” LET’S RESPECT THEM FOR THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS IF ANY AND FOR THEIR BELIEFS. THE BATTLE FOR THE PHILIPPINES NOW BELONGS TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION AS THE HOPE OF THE NATION IN SEARCH FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE.

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