Maguindanao Massacre: Of Laurels and Men

24 Nov. 2009: Maguindanao, Philippines.

November 14 …. November 22 …. the laurels just nested on the Philippine soil through Manny Pacquiao (Boxing history) and Efren Penaflorinda (2009 CNN’s Hero of the Year) … but the laurels are now simply overshadowed by banana leaves and worn-out newspaper pages, all stained by blood, tears, anger and pain ….

Often heard whenever a heinous, a gruesome, a seemingly impossible and inhuman crime is committed, is that the perpetrator is at that time (when the act was committed), the “actual” person … BUT … not in his human self … not in his lucid self … not a human being as we know it … that he was unknowing and not in-control of all the actions committed … that he was overpowered by overt circumstances as not to distinguish what is right from the wrong … what is moral from the immoral … what is legal from the illegal … what is humanly from the inhuman.  He is just not who and what he is … either he is crazy or a man in devil’s spell.

We hear and see the kamangly unfolding of the “Maguindanao Massacre” from the tube and the web. It is undeniably brutal and inhuman.  We wonder how can a man possibly commit such actions …. kidnapping … abduction… these are possible; mutilation happens (by culture, “per accidens” or crime), so is rape … so is killing … but ALL in crime … ALL to most victims …. ALL to number of victim WOMEN (mutilated limbs and genitals … as news detailed) …. ALL to so many …  at this time (election … quarter year-end … holidays) … in this country (of multi faith … mostly Christians) …. to civilians and journalists (and collateral victims) …  worst, an attempt to cover-up by burying, in the midst of nowhere, all the dead (54?), things (…including camera tripods..) and vehicles with a back hoe ….. The  ”Maguindanao Massacre” is simply an action by MEN, a human being, who opted to commit an inhuman action.

I saw the movie “Hotel Rwanda”. One depicting how a hotel manager helped both locals and hotel guests in the midst of conflict … genocide attempt to a tribe.  Machetes, clubs and guns were used.  Kidnapping, abduction, rape, murder … It was a massacre … It was a genocide … It was Rwanda …. and Rwanda is not like Maguindanao, not like the Philippines, and never should be.

…. to the victims … a prayer and a writ ….

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