The same old tragic story

That learning from experience as the voice of wisdom and the best education may not be often true. Surprisingly, it's the animals that take lessons from experience, rather than the innately intelligence-gifted human beings who tend to forget.

Take the tragic ambuscade last July 10 of truck-riding Marines in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan which snuffed 14 dead, ten of whom inhumanly mutilated, and wounded nine others. One of them was Cebuano PFC Reuben Doronio Jr. from Borbon, whose pregnant wife is now sadly widowed with their unborn child orphaned and fatherless still in the womb.

In the AFP and PNP cold statistics on the endless fight against the NPA and the Muslim insurgents and plain bandits, the government repeatedly suffers casualties in ambush of vehicle-riding troops. How often have these one-sided skirmishes occurred taxing the young soldiers and cops bushwhacked like sitting ducks or clay pigeons?

One has lost count of such tragedies, but the "ginormous" fatality - a new word supplied by Atty. Bimbo Suico to weld "gigantic" and "enormous" - is not learning from experience. Past ambuscades had taken place in Bohol, Samar, Negros, in Iloilo quite recently, several times in Luzon, and many more in Mindanao, Basilan, and Sulu.

Imagine, government forces are mainly led by PMA graduates/alumni honed in military science and tactics. And yet, they keep repeating tactical blunders of moving their men in "no man's land" without security measures to avoid suicidal massacres. As in the Iloilo ambush, reinforcements for Tipo-Tipo got waylaid before reaching their embattled comrades. Such is the simple strategy of the rebels, mostly unschooled from military/police academies, unlettered, and hastily trained to squeeze the triggers and fire grenade launchers.

The best counter-move is combat helicopter escort or air support. Lately, there were about 10 military 'copters given by USA. Why are they not assigned to AFP field units, instead of non-combatant use by top brass in ceremonial functions? If there was such whirly bird to bail out the out-manned Tipo-Tipo victims, the story would have been different.

Aggravating the tragedy, the Marines had been equipped with dud - as in pfft - mortar shells. The bitter truth is that the insurgents appear better equipped with many portable grenade/rocket launchers, not dud mortar ammo, and perhaps better radio facilities, and are experts in guerilla warfare. And, with some weaponry and ordnance having government markings.

Folk hero Ramon Magsaysay had cowed the Huks with his "carrot and stick". Col. Valeriano of the "Nenita" fame and Gen. Ileto who fathered the Scout Rangers that put terror to NPAs in their mountain lairs, are their exemplars. Why not take lessons from their successful exploits?

Over and over has president GMA vowed "all-out war" against the NPA, the insurgent Muslims, and the Abu Sayyaf. Her "ultimatum" to bring them to their knees was over a year ago. Her term ends in 2010, but the enemies of the state remain standing… The leadership also vows to equip the AFP with modern and fast sea crafts, new fighter planes and helicopters, better tanks, and well-equipped soldiery.

All empty promises… Meantime, soldiers and policemen die in unfair and one-sided skirmishes, only enriching body bag suppliers and the funeral business. And lengthen the list of grieving parents, widowed wives, and orphaned children, ad infinitum. Combat medals and ribbons, brand new flags, eulogies and 21-gun salutes are empty consolation to the dead heroes and their bereaved families. Why not just give our fighting men a fighting chance now? Not in memoriam!

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