Who doesn't want that?

The wife of Australian hostage Richard Warren Rodwell, held captive by the Abu Sayyaf for 15 months has admitted to paying P4 million ransom for the freedom of her husband, and not P7 million as claimed by an unknown official. According to this official, the reason for the delay of Rodwell's freedom and why only four million ended up with the bandits was because several officials and middlemen allegedly took their respective cuts. But this was denied by the family of Rodwell. Now that he has been freed, showing signs of severe malnutrition but none the worse for wear, the family is now crying for justice, that the Abu Sayyaf swine be brought to justice, if not sent to the underworld.

Who wouldn't want that? Who wouldn't want to see the Abu Sayyaf completely erased from the face of the earth? Who wouldn't want to see them punished for eternity for what they have done to this country? How many times has this country been embarrassed, humiliated by these bandits?

Because of the Australian and Philippine policies with regards to not paying ransom to terrorists, the family of Rodwell was left to their own resources to raise the money. The wife sold their house, their business and their vehicle, along with asking for help from family here and abroad. Now all they want is for justice to be dealt unto the terrorists. The Philippine government owes them at least that!

It is really puzzling why the government, particularly the AFP, cannot seem to eradicate this bandit group, whom they claim have dwindled in numbers and resources, especially after the peace agreement between the MILF and the government was signed. Now, they have four million pesos in fresh capital. Not that it will win them the war, but at least it will embolden them to find fresh victims, since apparently families do pay ransom! Is the government going to wait for the next victim of the Abu Sayyaf? Is there truth to the rumors that the reason the Abu Sayyaf isn't wiped out is because there are those who benefit from their banditry?

Time and again the Abu Sayyaf has brought severe grief to the victim's families, and humiliation to the country. They have to be eradicated now. How can we be so bold and stand up to China, if our armed forces cannot even dispatch of armed bandits within our borders? If the government wants investors to come in, especially for Mindanao, then the Abu Sayyaf must go.

Enough said.