Make no mistake about it, government irresponsibility is the reason why Andreas Notter, Eugenio Vagni, and Mary Jean Lacaba became hostages of the Abu Sayyaf Group in Sulu.
First of all, their presence in Sulu came about as a result of the government's inability to address the problems that have led to the rise of the Abu Sayyaf in that problems.
Being workers of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Andreas, Eugenio, and Mary Jean were assigned and bound by duty to undertake a mission to see to the welfare of prisoners kept in the Sulu Provincial Jail in Jolo. Some of the prisoners were members of the Abu Sayyaf Group, apparently captured by the Philippine Military. In areas of conflict, the ICRC deploys its workers to look after those affected by the conflict and ensure the humane treatment of prisoners on both sides of the conflict.
The prison which the three ICRC workers visited was in an area within the Boundary of Jolo and which was supposedly well under the guard of the Philippine military.
On January 15, 2009, the three workers were abducted by members of the Abu Sayyaf Group. Their abductors were able to get through several check points of the military.
Two weeks ago, things came to a dangerous juncture.
The military forces in Sulu, under the command of General Juancho Saban made a reckless attact on the Abu Sayyaf. In the process, they managed to inflict casualties on the Abu Sayyaf while suffering the loss of three marines and getting 17 others wounded.
It would have been called a victory of sorts for Sabban, just based on sheer numbers of Abu Sayyaf members killed versus soldiers killed.
But, what they forgot in the heat of the conflict was that the Abu Sayyaf were still holding the three ICRC workers hostage and could very well, kill them in retaliation for the military's attack.
Abu Sayyaf Leader Albader Parad, in fact, threatened to behead one of their hostages. It was at this stage that Philippine National Red Cross Chairman and Senator Richard Gordon was contacted by Abu Sayyaf Leader Albader Parad.
Now, under the circumstances, what would be the right thing to do?
Do you say, "Sorry, I can't talk with you because the Sulu Crisis Committee is in charge of your situation." Perhaps if you like passing the buck and laying blame, this would be your tact. However, Gordon is one person who believes that the buck stops with him and is ready to take responsible action whenever the task falls on his shoulders, no matter how difficult the circumstances are.
If he had ignored or rejected the communication from Parad it would have in all likelihood assured the beheading of one, if not all three of the hostaged ICRC workers; especially considering that they were placing the call right after they were attacked, apparently with the blessings of the Sulu Crisis Committee.
As the Chairman and CEO of the Philippine National Red Cross, Gordon was responsible if not DUTY BOUND to do all he can to ensure the safe release of the three hostages WHO ARE HIS COLLEAGUES in the Red Cross.
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, who has been known to involuntarily put his foot in his own mouth, was reported on April 6 by GMA News dot TV to have said that Gordon should be more CIRCUMSPECT. Apparently, the good Press Secretary should take his own advice first.
In the lead of the article, it was reported that:
Malacañang on Monday branded as “illogical" Sen. Richard Gordon’s claim that the safety of the abducted Red Cross workers in southern Philippines lies in the hands of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
“What kind of logic is that?" Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said in a press briefing in Malacañang."Those are very unfair... the statements that say the safety of the hostages are in the hands of the President. We should not forget that the ones responsible for this are the bandits who kidnap and take people hostage,"Remonde added, referring to the Abu Sayyaf bandit group.
I don't know if there is a translation for the tagalog word 'pamimilosopo', but this is what it is. Beyond that, it is shirking responsibility -- something we already have come to expect from the Arroyo Administration.
Mr. Remonde should be aware that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, as the highest leader in this land called the Philippines, is ultimately RESPONSIBLE for all actions of the Philippine Military as its COMMANDER IN CHIEF.
Moreover, Remonde also reportedly gave a low blow:
Remonde, despite his claims that he is not backing Teodoro, said he agreed with him when he said that the Sulu situation would be best handled by the local crisis management under Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan.
Remonde also warned personalities from using the situation for their personal gains.
“And in a crisis situation like this, dapat iwasan natin ang pamumulitika [there should be no politics involved], trying to gather brownie points because that will not help the cause of freedom and justice. It can only help the cause of terrorists who just want attention," he said.
I remember that quite recently word went around that Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro was among those expected to receive the annointment of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as her Presidential Candidate in the 2010 polls.
Who is playing politics and brown nosing here?
I sure hope he really isn't referring to Gordon, who after everything is just issuing appeals to save the lives of his colleagues. Kanino siya magpapalakas? Who is he trying to earn brownie points from for doing what he is duty bound to do?
Instead of taking the side of the hostages, Malacanang is taking the side of an inept Defense Secretary with moist eyes for the Presidency.
And, what galls me at this point, is the thought that the only person (Gordon) in the whole fray who is after the safe release of the hostages (nothing more) is being attacked by the Palace.
