Ducky Paredes

“(A)t the age of 13, 14, 15, I was already among the revolutionaries involving several encounters facing the military,”

by Ducky Paredes

Some Marines put up this sign during the wake of some of their comrades who were killed in Mindanao:
“It’s the soldier – not the reporter – who has given us the freedom of the press. It’s the soldier – not the poet – who has given us the freedom of speech. It’s is the Soldier – not the politicians – who ensures that we live freely and peacefully. It’s the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is eventually draped by the flag. ”
While I can understand their feelings and do sympathize with them, I must disagree with them. No one gave us these freedoms. If we owe these to our soldiers, wouldn’t that also mean that soldiers can take these away from us?
Just as many objected when one of our Presidents proclaimed that she had won for us our freedoms, I must point out that we cannot owe these freedoms to anyone – soldier, politician, the press or anyone else. They are our right by having been born as humans.
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I quote from a speech of Basilan Congressman Wahid M. Akbar. I believe that the speech is an important one especially coming from someone who has been intimately involved with our war in Mindanao, Here it is:
“I am Basilan. I say I am Basilan because I was delivered to this world by my beloved mother through the aid of traditional midwifery like the other natives and most natives of which such practice is still adopted up to now in the remotest barangays among the uneducated people and the poor ones.
“I say I am it, because I went through every level of their way of living and walks of life. In my early age my family transferred from Lantawan municipality to Maluso municipality at a certain barangay named Gaunan Island, I learned swimming and fishing at the age of six (6) because my family was poor, just like any other ordinary boy there. I had no choice but to learn fishing at that early stage, again, just like the other children in all coastal barangays. When I went to school at the age of Seven (7), I used to report to my classes even without slippers, again, just like them. After reaching the fourth grade I had no choice but to transfer to capital town of Maluso. Initially, I had to pay the motorized bancas every morning when we go to the school and every afternoon when we return. So, to avoid paying the same, I had no recourse but to devote my time during Saturdays and Sundays at that tender age working as a “bangkero” of the motorized bancas. I also had to sell popsicles (Ice Drop) for additional income.
“In 1970, when the war started in Mindanao I had no recourse but to join my father as revolutionary at the age of thirteen (13), so at the age of 13, 14, 15, I was already among the revolutionaries involving several encounters facing the military, listening to the deafening sounds of artilleries and canons and the roaring sounds of mortars and bazookas and facing the rain-like bullets of the enemies.
“In 1974, my father returned to the folds of the law because of discriminatory practices among the rank and files of the MNLF. And because President Ferdinand Marcos then, sent feelers to convince him to return to the folds of the government.
“Throughout my life I was a laborer, I was a driver, I was an operator of heavy equipment, I was a bakery owner, I was a fishpond owner, I was a fish broker, I was a banana broker, I was a cigarette smuggler, I was a coconut harvester, I was a rebel, I was a student of an agricultural school at the Gregorio Araneta University Foundation then. I was an activist against Marcos, we were even imprisoned for forty (40) days at Bicutan, Taguig. I was a student for Islamic Theology in Syria for five (5) years, I was a preacher, I was the deputy commander of the 2nd Mobile Army of MNLF which my commander is the DOLE-ARMM Secretary now based on my recommendation to the Regional Governor of the ARMM.”
“My 5 senses, my bone, my flesh, my blood, my skin, are progeny of Basilan.
“Basilan now comprises 9 Municipalities and 2 Cities. My father is the Father of the Province of Basilan because it was one of the demands of my father from President Marcos then to convert Basilan City into Province. While the creation of the Two (2) Cities after being municipalities was authored by the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives with respect to him. I would like also to express my deepest gratitude to each and every member of the House who supported the creation.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Al-Barka Municipality in which the previous incident occurred, such as the intrusion of the Marines into MILF area despite the ceasefire agreement between the MILF and the government. I say this is intrusion because there was no coordination made to the sitting local government officials prior to their entry into the area. This uncoordinated act on the side of the military is an act of negligence; shows lack of foresight and perhaps may even show lack of professionalism. Had they, perhaps coordinated with us, we could have even appraised them on the actual situation obtaining thereat, which could have even prevented the incident therein.
“On the beheading of the 10 Marines, I vehemently state that said act is not only condemnable to the sane people but even condemned plainly and clearly by Qu’ran and Hadith.”
“Mr. Speaker, the beheading of the ten (10) Marines was prominently mentioned in the news; however, they conveniently forgot to mention the tying-up of the Imam and mode of killing him by stabbing his neck with a soldier’s bayonet after being shot.
“Again the intrusion and transgression of any party either from the Military or MILF after being agreed upon is also an act of ignorance. And this kind of behavior can never be and will never be a catalyst in gaining the hearts and minds of the Muslims. And cannot also serve to soften the stands of the military to the part of the Muslim rebel.”
“Billions and billions of pesos were spent by the government in search for peace, through war! war! Mr. Speaker, my distinguished colleagues, through WAR! Through terrible sounds of artilleries, through thunderous sounds of mortars and bazookas, and the unimaginable numbers of bullets from the barrels of machine guns. Lots of damage has been inflicted on both sides, lots of casualties afflicted on both sides, lots of properties destroyed. Numerous women became widows from both sides, numerous children became orphans from both sides, and many civilians either died or suffered injuries. Lots of taxpayers’ money was also spent In short, the collateral damage to the province was huge. Yet, the resistance and stubborn mentality of some rebels are still there, and the solutions to peace through war had become an expensive yet a disastrous monotony.
“Billions of pesos were budgeted to military personnel, logistics and ammunitions in order to kill Filipino Muslim rebels, to punish them in the search for peace, but where is peace now? It still remains to be elusive.
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Readers who missed a column can access www.duckyparedes.com,/blogs. This is updated daily. Your reactions are welcome at duckyparedes@yahoo.com
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hvp (08.27.07)