Holy Week prayers

In Jolo, at least 30 more bodies were fished out of the sea yesterday, victims of yet another maritime disaster. In Basilan, the fundamentalist group Abu Sayyaf and a vigilante band exchanged threats of executing hostages. Over in Cagayan de Oro City, 14 people were injured in two bomb explosions. The bombings were blamed on the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, prompting the secessionist group, which denied the accusation, to cancel peace talks with the government. Meanwhile, in Metro Manila, eight people were killed in an explosion in Baclaran.

It was no way to celebrate Palm Sunday. Activities in this predominantly Catholic nation normally slow down during Holy Week, as Filipinos go on vacation and attend to matters of the spirit. Instead the military is again on red alert amid persistent rumors of destabilization attempts. The rumors were fueled further yesterday by exiled communist leader Jose Ma. Sison, who said he favored the ouster of President Estrada and his replacement by Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The Vice President at least tried to diffuse tension upon her arrival yesterday from the United States. She had nothing to do with a shadow Cabinet being pushed by some quarters in the opposition, she said. And she intended to stay in the Estrada Cabinet. For a while there will be peace on this front, which is what this week is supposed to be about -- a period of calm and contemplation.

There could be a political ceasefire this week. Even those who are flooding cellphones with anti-government jokes through text messaging might take a break. But peace, even in the near future, is unlikely in Mindanao, where guerrillas are waging an insurgency in the name of a different faith. Tension could escalate this week if some hotheads carry out their threat to execute hostages. There will also be no peace for a long time for those who lost their loved ones in the Jolo sea tragedy and in the Baclaran bombing. Those who long for peace have much to pray for this week.