Letter to the Editor – Agitation: Prescription to civil war

Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. was reported as saying E.O. 464 can cause more chaos. That adds more spark to the political turmoil. The last four months saw too many bloated charges of "Garci tapes," stealing the presidency, cover ups, bribery, cheating, unpaid teacher wages, lack of credibility, distrust, devoid of morality, martial law, among others.

All these allegations-like dandelions from the ground-keep media business brisk. The heightened agitation created, thereby-particularly among the addicted street beaters-is directed for the overthrow of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The collective effect of the different charges as they are repeated, played up, blown up with the speed, and massive dissemination by high tech communications, is the build up of seditious hatred in the minds and hearts of the other sectors of society for the termination of the Arroyo presidency.

The leading agitators in the persons of Francis Escudero, Allan Peter Cayetano, Ronald Zamora, Rolex Suplico, Roilo Golez as with their servile multitude in Metro Manila do not belong to the numerous islands. At different times they raised various issues to sustain the high level of agitation against the President, expecting her overthrow or pushing her to abandon her duty as the duly elected president.

The non-islanders of Metro Manila do not care for the brutal effects of their planned takeover of the people of the numerous islands. Overall, the agitators in the opposition are standing on the platform of takeover.

On the other side is the platform of the Arroyo administration. On that platform stands the great majority of congressmen, governors, mayors of the Visayas, Mindanao, and greater parts of Luzon. Their concerns consist of the jobs, livelihood projects, and initiatives having direct impact on the lives of the people in their localities. That is the priority of great importance to them.

Maintaining the high level of agitation in Metro Manila for months and the period yet to come can predictably break into a civil war.

As correctly stated by Army General Fidel "Eddie" Ramos, 5 to 10 percent of those agitated in the military can start the civil war. This writer concurs well with that observation.

It is, too, possible for 600 Marines with tanks and artillery from Port Area, Manila to reach Malacañang in 17 minutes by a 2:50 AM assault and kill the president. Then they can takeover the government apparatus.

(It took Capt. Muammar Khaddafi to overthrow king Idris of Libya; Lt. Col. Gamal Abdel Nasser to deport Egyptian king Farouk; Col. Mengitsu to remove emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia; above all, ex-army corporal Adolf Hitler took over intellectual Germany.)

When the elected president is deposed, make no mistake that the Republic of Mindanao and the Visayas Republic as the upper Luzon Republic can declare political independence. As the battle lines are already drawn, there goes the civil war.

The bloody outcome will not just be being bloody but for how long. How many lives? If the limited Muslim rebellion in Marcos' rule exacted over 100,000 lives, do not belittle the cost in human lives when three republics would stand up to the agitators in Metro Manila.

Rosendo T. Brillantes, BSCJ, Ll. B., A.B.
c/o Hall of Justice
Capitol site, 6000 Cebu City