by Patricia Evangelista
(Patricia Evangelista, who writes for the Inquirer, is admirable not only for her intelligence but for her deep concern for justice. She is one young lady worth watching. The following piece is heart breaking. I am outraged.)
She was 9 years old. She had big brown eyes and shiny black hair. She liked spider-fighting and watching “Wowowee,” and woke up at six every morning for the hour-long walk down the mountain to her second-grade class. Her teacher said she should study harder, and she did, because she was a little girl who wanted to be a nurse someday. She had a medal for “Most Neat” at the end of the school year. In the summer, she played with the other children, racing rubber bands while hopping in green-slippered feet.
Her name was Grecil, and she was killed, shot once on the elbow and once on the head. Her father did not believe she was dead until he saw the small shattered body laid out under the scorching sun at the PNP headquarters, the foot in a dusty green rubber slipper, the grimy rubber band attached to the foot.
Her mother says that she was sometimes naughty, but the military says she had been very, very bad.
On March 31, 2007, more than 30 men from the New People’s Army appeared in Purok 6, Barangay Kahayag in Compostela Valley, Grecil’s neighborhood. Five men went to her home, carrying arms and asking to use the family’s pots and pans to cook. Grecil’s father Gregorio allowed them. The NPA’s guns were long, he says, and he was afraid for his children. A Commission on Human Rights report verifies his claim, saying, “The residents had no other recourse but to abide [by] their request.”
On that morning, Grecil and her 6-year-old brother Dodong had gone to the river behind their house to bathe. Her two other sisters, both younger, stayed at home.
It was around nine o’clock when the military arrived. Grecil’s father Gregorio says there was no warning for the civilians to take cover, just three staccato bursts of a gun and then the rapid fire of machine guns.
The family ran down the mountain with the two younger children. “My wife asked me about Grecil and Dodong, I said they were safe in the river, they were bathing far away from the gunfire.” The shooting between military and NPA lasted two hours. Gregorio’s home, now riddled with bullets, was the target.
Gregorio left his wife and children with his mother-in-law in the village. He was on the way to find Grecil and Dodong when his son caught up with him. He asked the boy where his sister was; Dodong said she was right behind him when they heard shots. When he looked back again, she was gone. In an affidavit, witness Lorena Seguido said Grecil had run back to the house in the midst of the shooting.
No one was allowed up the mountain. Conflicting stories filtered down to the family. Three children were killed. One child was killed. Grecil was carrying a gun. Grecil was dead.
Gregorio was told to stay in the barangay hall. Someone from the military would come to talk to him. He waited until two o’clock, until he saw a minicab pass by, guarded by two APCs loaded with soldiers. There was a body in the minicab.
The next time Gregorio saw his daughter, it was in the PNP headquarters. Grecil’s godfather, the barangay captain, had carried her down from the mountain. In an affidavit, Barangay Captain Eulogio Bigno Almasa stated he, with others, had gone up to Purok 6 to assist the populace after they heard the gunfire. At the encounter site, they saw the dead girl lying on the ground. The back of Grecil’s head had been blasted off. Almasa claims no firearms were found near the body. The military watched as Gregorio cried and cursed.
Grecil’s death was initially reported by the military as that of an 11-year-old boy’s. On April 2, 2007, the Inquirer released a report based on statements from the 10th Civil Affairs Unit of the Army’s 8th Infantry Battalion: a 12-year-old child warrior in the New People’s Army was killed during heavy fighting between government forces and NPA rebels in New Bataan, Compostela Valley province. They identified her as Grecil Buya.
“Buya was spotted earlier armed with an M-16 rifle at the encounter site at Purok 6, Sitio Simsimin, Barangay Kahayag in New Bataan before the gun battle between a platoon of soldiers led by 2nd Lt. Francis John Gabawa and 30 NPA rebels under a Ka Maya and a Ka Pandi.”
The CHR released the military’s After Encounter Report of the operation, detailing the losses from both government and enemy. On the government side, one Pfc. Ruben Brecero, PA was killed in action. On the enemy side, there were two casualties, one was undetermined, the other was Grecil Buya—killed in action.
Soldiers told Gregorio they would prove that he was an NPA member, and so was his daughter. They told him they found the guns left by the NPA during the encounter in Gregorio’s home, and they had Grecil’s school ID. They said they were forced to shoot Grecil because she was carrying a gun. Her father said it wasn’t true, that all she carried to the river was a bar of soap in a green plastic bag. They said they would file charges of rebellion and illegal possession. They asked him repeatedly if he was going to file a case against the military. He did not answer—he wanted to mourn for his daughter first. The child had not even been buried yet. Neighbors claimed harassment. The soldiers tried to strike a deal—they would not file if Gregorio would not file.
Both villagers and barangay officials vouch for Grecil and Gregorio. The barangay captain claims he is 100 percent certain they are not NPA, that Grecil goes to school and that Gregorio plants, and sells tuba daily. Gregorio’s own father was killed by the NPA.
Gregorio and Pacita are now in Manila, filing charges against the military. They are here to clear Grecil’s name. They have no money and no lawyer, their children have been scattered for their protection, except for one-year-old Angeline, who clings to her mama and giggles with every beep of a cellular phone.
Army Brig. Gen. Carlos Holganza, head of the 101st Infantry Brigade, said at first that he was standing by the report of his men that the “child warrior” was killed in a “legitimate” encounter. “She was seen holding a long firearm,” he claimed. “On one hand, she was holding a long firearm; on her other hand, she was holding a mirror. She knows how to handle a long firearm.”
An M-16 A2 rifle measures 3 feet 4 inches. So did Grecil.
Holganza now says that he is inclined to believe that Grecil was not a child-soldier, but he will only apologize if other minor details would be clarified further. That an innocent child was killed is probably a minor detail, too.
To date, according to Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns, the death toll of children killed by the military during operations has reached 54. Seventeen children have been tortured, 69 illegally arrested, three raped and 63 beaten. This story is just one of many.
Her name was Grecil Buya, and she will always be 9 years old.
http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view_article.php?article_id=61778
What kind of military undertook this operation, tira lang tira hanggat may anino?! At matapos nilang makita na 9 na taon lang ang kanilang nabaril ay nagmamatigas pa sa kanilang cover-up! Ito ang isang salaysay na nagpapatunay na puno na ng mga buhong at halang ang kaluluwa ang militar sa pamumuno ni Tianak at Assperon!
Grecil Buya, isang bata na tinapos ng militar ang kinabukasan dahil lang sa utos ng mga satanas na Tianak at Assperon na likidahin lahat ang NPAs sa anumang paraan.
Ang mga miembro ba ng grupo na nagsagawa ng kahindik-hinddik na operayong ito ay mga ama? Meron bang mga anak ito? Bakit kahit isa sa inyo, mga duwag, ay walang kumikibo? Paano na lang kung ang mga anak ninyo ang mamatay sa ganito ring paraan (huwag naman sana)? Patuloy lang kayong tatahimik?!
Kung pati mga bata ay hindi pinatatawad ng pekeng pamahalaan na ito, mas mabuti pa ang magkaroon ng rebolusyon at ng madaling magkaroon ng pagbabago! Hindi ko mapigil na maluha sa estorya ng batang ito, at hindi ko rin mapigil na tuluyang ipagdasal na mamatay na lahat buhat kay Tianak, Assperon, Fartso (matuluyan ka sana), at miembro ng grupo na pumatay kay Grecil at sa lahat ng batang napatay at nagdudusa sa sa ilalim ng walang-pusong nagkukunwaring ina ng bayan, si Gloria Arroyo Pidal! Tangna ka!
I cried when I read this. I have a 9 yr old nephew who is so young and innocent! These so called NPAs are not by choice. In areas where lawlessness is rampant, I will not be surprised if young kids are trained for war. But a 9 yr old girl who would dare carry a gun bigger than her, this is unbelievable unless they are one of the “Super Twins” who would be transformed to older and bigger girls once they get their powers! So, tiyanak and assperon now have an instant solution to the killings. They do not liquidate people anymore and leave the scene of the crime, they now have the witness and the “ready made” facts to solve the murder on site. I can see the duo(tiyanak and assperon”) clapping their hands for a job well done!
There would be no NPAs and MNLFs now if the lives of the people in the countryside were consistently improved, if the pacts make by previous leaders were followed, if these groups are not contstantly challenged to show force. I am convinced that tiyanak has no genuine intentions to get rid of the problem of insurgency. Why? Because this is the only way she can have the international funds for the military come in(so she can feed her generals and be happy). She has to show that she is actively combatting the insurgents to score points so she can have the foreign aid again. Never mind if an innocent child is sacrificed!
Chi, tiyanak and her generals do not care a hoot on what is going on around them. They are in power and everything is their prerogative including eliminating all their enemies-young or old! Wala ng mga kaluluwa ang mga iyan!
Her name was Grecil and sadly she will be another one of the thousands of the victims of cruel reality and the impunity of which the authorities, the military and the police are inflicting upon the populace, including the very innocents, the Children.
And just like most others, who were before Grecil and there were many, there will be cover-ups, denials, and outright lies to deny the taking of a life of a Child. There will be no independent investigations, no effort at all on the parts of social Justice to find out why, but just more heartaches and laments. And where are the Oppositions?
Ganyan talaga buhay sa kabulukang bayan ng Pinas. Mas mura pa buhay sa bala.
And while we’re at it, why don’t we cite the Payatas disasters and various other disasters that claimed thousands of lives yet warranted no more than a day or two of headline news in our papers and blogs?
Why single out this one? Is it because it has a bit more political impact to discuss? Because it involves the army? Because it provides an opportunity to make one or another politician look bad?
Deforestation-induced mudslides and trashslides have kill thousands of Pinoys as well. And just like children caught in crossfires, the happen again and again and again and again ad infinitum in the Philippines. Yet there is no change year in and year out.
It is the height of hypocrisy to express indignation for a death like this in Mindanao, yet in the same vein think nothing of the street kids that live and die under flyovers just outside our doorstep that we pass by in our airconditioned cars everyday.
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– 😀
The military demonstrated how it is losing the battle for the minds when they misfired in reporting that the 9 year Grecil Buya was a child soldier and the troops had to shoot her because she was firing at them. The girl was slain, evidently caught in the crossfire but the military saw it an opportunity to spin around to buttress their claim that the insurgents are employing child-soldiers. But the people know the truth and no art of lying can win minds. Because lying is the norm in the administration, the spin could have been concocted by the AFP brains thrusts but the script was ill-prepared. As a result, the storm is now raging seeking justice for Grecil.
Nagmamagaling pa silang ini-report sa Central Command ang encounter with the picture of dead Grecil, lying and holding an M-16 almost his height. The media took the military report hook and sinker with added details that Grecil was good at using the M-16 and continuously shooting the soldiers. Kung katulad man lamang ng baril na ginamit ni Cho sa Virginia Tech, baka kapanipaniwala pa, but an M-16? Can we believe the version of the miliary that during the running battle, the insurgents will entrust an M-16 to a little girl to do the firing?
benign0 Says: April 22nd, 2007 at 12:45 pm
Ganyan talaga buhay sa kabulukang bayan ng Pinas. Mas mura pa buhay sa bala.
And while we’re at it, why don’t we cite the Payatas disasters..
Mang Benigno, I would like to refer you to this post:
Ellen Says: April 15th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
It has long been the pactice of some people here to break the flow of discussion by introducing off-topic comments. I don’t alltogether prohibit off-topic comments if it’s breaking news. But off topic comments just to derail the discussion is something else.
Ang ganitong uri ng insidente ang isang dahilan kung bakit nakakapaghikayat ang kabilang puwersa doon sa kabundukan.
Bugbog sarado na ang bayan sa ransack, hamlet, torture, abduction at rape. Nagsasawa na ang masa sa lasa ng cedula, tadyak ng combat shoes, bayo ng puluhan ng armalite, nauubos na ang aso sa kanayunan. Gising na Bayan mataas na ang araw. STOP THE KILLINGS!
“It is the height of hypocrisy to express indignation for a death like this in Mindanao, yet in the same vein think nothing of the street kids that live and die under flyovers just outside our doorstep that we pass by in our airconditioned cars everyday.”
Most of the bloggers here are crying out for change. If one cannot read the indignation (for the fate of “the street kids that live and die under flyovers just outside our doorstep that we pass by in our airconditioned cars everyday.”)people here are expressing as they cry out for change, that’s a classic example of quickly passing judgment without scratching the surface.
Citing Grecil’s case was a way of stirring warm emotions to a rather cold reality where dead bodies no longer evoke explicit indignation because they have become all too common. It dares to prove the point that in the midst of whatever political turmoil we are in, we still have the capacity to be touched by such meaningless killings of innocent children.
Why are we crying out for change? Because we already have too much Grecils who were killed by the very guns that were tasked to protect them; because we already have too many Ormocs and Guinsaugons; because we already have millions of invisible street kids whose lives and futures are endangered- and all we get is a government that steals the very soul of the nation whose ideals it has sworn to embody, aided in no small way by people who espouse Darwin’s concept of evolution: if one is not fit to fight for his own survival, let him die.
Grecil, Ormoc, Guinsaugon, the street kids: they are but effects. We need to identify and address the cause.
@#$#@#$%$^&* mga demonyo!
ano na ang pinatutunguhan ng ating hukbo? sila ba’y mga asal tao pa o mistulang impakto? sino ang maniniwala na ang isang siyam na taong gulang na batang babae ay magkakalakas ng loob na humawak ng armas kahit pa sabihing nakaranas na siya ng matitinding dagok sa buhay at na-brain wash na ang kanyang isipan? isang malaking kabaliwang palabasin na isa siyang batang rebelde upang pagtakpan lamang ang krimen at makaiwas sa pananagutan kung sino man ang may kagagawan!
In history, the war between Filipinos and the colonizing US forces started when an americn guard gun-downed “one” Filipino over the bridge in Manila. The peasant movement in 1950’s and 60’s went in rampage after an ambushed of “one” high ranking officer of the HMB.
Ngayon, kabilaan ang patayan and it seems kiling is becoming a culture of acceptance, nakakatakot!
“In history, the war between Filipinos and the colonizing US forces started when an americn guard gun-downed “one” Filipino over the bridge in Manila.”
Sad fact is: we have a name for the American private who started it all- William Grayson – but just who is this “one” Filipino…
Sorry po kung OT… kakainis lang talaga kapag walang pagpapahalaga tayong maramdaman kung buhay ng isang Pinoy, pero headline news pag ‘Kano ang sangkot.
The combatant unprofessionalism of our military is a proof that they are an organization trained with an indoctrinated, kill and framed and they make believe the victim is an insurgent, like a nine year old innocent girl. Civilians and noncombatant are not lawful target if you understand the military rules of engagement Gen. Esperon.
If justice were serve to this little girl (whom the military called, little amazona) Esperon and those soldiers responsible would be tried for their crimes and imprisoned. Evidence of that simple assessment is so rich and such common knowledge that a little girl could not barely carry and fire, and discharged a rapid bullet coming from a barrel of an armalite. I am loss to understand how anyone in the military can condone the cowardly bludgeoning of little children, they rammed immoral killing with impunity, through the doors of honesty, decency and fairness in their mission to catch an NPA. A little girl against a platoon of idiot soldiers. To cover their illegal acts they are brandishing the father of the little victim as NPA rebel. On the other side of the coin–If the father would not file a charge, the military would not also file a charge of rebellion–Bullying and fighting fire with fire! Mga Ulol at sundalong gung-gung!
I can’t help buy cry first then cursed the people who did it afterwards! For as long as the leaders like Tianak and Assperon are up there, sad stories like this would continue. Grecil is not the first and won’t be the last. As long as Pilipinos won’t unite and put an end to this brutal rule, there won’t be an end!
I can only CONDEMN the fake Tianak and her TUTAS lead by Assperon!
Pareng Cocoy,
Siguro kung ako ang ama, hindi na rin ako maghahabla. Mag-ubusan na lang kami ng lahi. Anak ng ….! Pinatay na nga, kung anuano pang kabulastugan ang kakathain mabigyang katwiran lang ang pagkakamali nila. Kung inamin man lang sana ang pagkakamali at humingi ng tawad sa mga nasaktan, baka maging bukas pa ako sa pagpapatawad. Ngayon lang siguro ako magbibitiw ng mga masasamang salita rito: ang kakapal ng mga mukha, mga balakyot, mga hidhid, mga demonyong nagkatawang tao!
Nakakapagpakulo talaga ng dugo!
BenignO:
“Why indignation now? Why not 5 years ago, or ten years ago — regardless of what politician or what political party is in vogue. The injustices have always pervaded Pinoy society.”
Articles that express or evoke indignation like this NOW does not mean that the indignation has just been felt NOW.
“Politicians and generals come and go. But injustice is here to stay in Pinoy society at medieval scales.”
True. And I agree with your analysis in the other thread. But how do you get others, the majority for that matter, to see your points if they are presented in a way that alienates the very people who may benefit from them? I am not asking you to embrace a populist stance as changes are initially expected to be resisted. However, I believe that you, and most of the bloggers here, have the capacity to introduce an unpopular but necessary change in a more acceptable and convincing manner. No matter how noble your ideas may be, if they are introduced in a manner so repelling, they get shot down even before they take off. And, this does not only apply to the Filipino psyche. If it were only a Pinoy phenomenon, I would never need to include a Managing Change session in seminars I do for non-Filipinos.
“To even think that this scale of injustice will simply disappear or even significantly be reduced when Arroyo and her generals go (which it seems is always implied as an underlying message in articles like these) is to say the least shortsighted and ridiculous.”
Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. You may have seen that implication, I did not. The outrage I felt after reading the article was the outrage of a father senselessly losing a young daughter who even gets blamed for her death. To me, Grecil is more of an emotional than a political item. I can only grieve with Grecil’s father.
“As I said before, because our “Opposition” has always drawn its appeal to the electorate on an effort to oust whatever or whoever incumbent, whatever semblance of “unity” becomes vaporware the minute elections are over.”
Agree. But doesn’t this show how good the opposition is in “introducing” change? Doesn’t this show how a “popular” government can be made “unpopular” by another government-in-waiting (the opposition) by capitalizing on the former’s blunders as a means of convincing the people that change is needed? We may need to take the cue from the opposition after all…
naknampating talaga! hindi ko rin nga mapigilan. paano ba naman, lutang na lutang ang kawalang damdamin at animo’y manhid na walang pakiramdam sa dalamhati ng magulang ng pobreng batang naging biktima ng kabuktutan!
manahimik na lamang sana at huwag nang maghayag ng hungkag na katwiran. palibhasa siguro ay isang singaw na walang maituturing na kamag-anak o baka naman kaya isang nilalang na itinakwil na at walang nagsasaalang-alang kaya humahanap ng papansin sa mga litanyang walang katuturan.
nakakaawa.
Mrivera:
may mga pagkakataon na insesitive si Benign0 sa mga nararamdaman ng nakararaming sambayanan.
sa tema na gusto nyang iparating ay hilaw pa o wala pa sa maniba ang pinoy society(gaya ng ibig nyang sabihin sa medieval scale).
ipinapakita rin ni Benign0 na mataas na level na lipunan ang kaniyang ginagalawan?
western educated ka ba Benign0?
Benign0, kung nasaan ka man naroroon ngayon?Bakit kakaunti pa rin ang nakakaunawa sayo?
Subukan mo na pumarine ka sa Kamaynilaan o saan mang primerang syudad dito sa Pinas at LUMUBOG KA SA MASA nang lalo mong maunawaan ang mga pinagsasabi mo?
Talagang napakalaki ng pinagkaiba ng PERYAHAN sa DISNEYLAND kung theme park o amusement park ang pag-uusapan? getreal pare!
“Subukan mo na pumarine ka sa Kamaynilaan o saan mang primerang syudad dito sa Pinas at LUMUBOG KA SA MASA nang lalo mong maunawaan ang mga pinagsasabi mo?”
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Why is it that it is always the call for the more fortunate to stoop to the level of the less fortunate in order to gain some wisdom?
I think the poor have more to learn from the rich than the rich have to learn from the poor. After all, the rich and their ancestors probably did something right (which is why they are rich today). The poor probably did something wrong (which is why they are poor today).
If there was something really to be learned from being poor, then there’d probably be a lot of students from rich countries studying in the universities of poor countries. But the fact is, it is students from poor countries that always aspire to study in the universities of rich countries.
“Lumubug ka sa masa” sounds a bit like something that draws its thinking from that all-too-familiar Pinoy trait that we’ve grown to know and love all too well — crab mentality.
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– 😀
Benign0, mahilig ka rin pala kumain ng hindi ikaw ang nagluluto. Iiwan na lang ang pinagkainan sa hugasan?
ni kahit kailan man ay hindi ako naki-talangka sa anumang pinatutungkol mo dito.
Ang ibig kong sabihin sa itaas ay social immersion o pumunta ka mismo duon sa Compostela Valley at makipag-ugnayan sa mga kapitbahay ni Grecil.
Hindi ko nais na ilayo ang usapan, dun sa mga kamag-anak ng pamilya ni Grecil pagpaumanhin na ninyo kung “rubbing salt to wound”.
Benigno, inapproriate ang ang signature na “colon” at “D” mo.
Biktimang bata ang usapan dito.
“Why is it that it is always the call for the more fortunate to stoop to the level of the less fortunate in order to gain some wisdom?”
Wisdom can be found in all levels. To think that the wisdom of the more fortunate is more than the wisdom of the less fortunate is to say that wisdom only comes with fortune. A just and humane society is that which balances between the wisdom of the rich and that of the poor. Our society is as it is today because the whisper of the rich is louder than the yell of the poor.
Since when has it been wisdom to enrich oneself and forsake, no, exploit, the weaknesses of another?
“Lumubog ka sa masa” is not meant to pull one down the way crabs do. It only calls for those who have more to feel how it is to have less, even nothing, before they start talking about the causes and the effects of having nothing.
BenignO:
“Anyways (and I am being on topic here, ma’am – though I do wonder what your basis for doing rub-outs is), let’s just say in fairness to all here, that you are probably right that there’s wisdom to be gained in the exploration of human tragedies such as the one narrated in this article. What is missing in most cases (specially in an envuironment where a political spin can be put in just about everything) is context.”
Context it is. This is the reason why I do not wish to put a political spin at Grecil’s case, except to say that her killers were supposed to be her protectors in the first place. To add a political dimension to an already gloomy, but intimately private affair such as this, would only add insult to injury.
nelbar Says: “may mga pagkakataon na insesitive si Benign0 sa mga nararamdaman ng nakararaming sambayanan.”
nelbar, mawalang galang na. kahit minsan ay wala siyang pakundangan sa kanyang mga pagdusta sa sinasapit ng mga kulang palad at ang pagiging BATO niya sa sinapit ni grecil ay isang patunay na ang tingin niya sa mga kapuspalad ay mga layak na maaaring sipasipain kapag nakakasagabal sa kanyang lalakaran.
siya ang klase ng taong nakatuntong sa ulunan ng sinuman at gustong titingalain sa kanyang kinalalagyan.
i don’t know if i can sleep soundly tonight after reading this. as most of us here are parents, or we have nephews and nieces – we don’t even have to look past; that even in our neighborhood corner, innocent children are always used as an excuse. Easy victims that they are, poor barrio folks are always easy target for the lame excuses of our pathetic military bunch. even the police force in the metropolis target street urchins when the so-called ‘whatever-city’s Pride” reputations are at stake.
to Grecil and all the innocent victims of this unjust fake administration and the previous lame admins – we offer our fervent prayers for them.
ka enchong,
kung ilalagak sa harapan ni benign0 ang nakalulunos na bangkay ni grecil, sigurado akong duduraan pa niya!
johnmarzan,
nagkakatotoo ang iyong mga tinuturan tungkol dito sa mabunyi mong “kaibigan”. sana “makahanap” pa tayo ng katulad niya bilang patunay na ang taas ng pinag-aralan ay minsang nagiging dahilan upang ang isang tao ay takasan ng katinuan.
eto pa ang isang katulad na pangyayari:
6-ANYOS IN-ARMALITE
Ni NILO MARASIGAN
Utas ang 6-anyos na anak ng isang barangay chairman nang paulanan ng armalite rifle ng mga ‘di pa nakikilalang suspek habang kahimbingan ng tulog sa Zamboanga del Sur.
Hindi naman na pinangalanan ang nasawing bata kung saan naiulat na kritikal ang ama nitong barangay chairman na si Rodrigo Gimban at inang si Lourdes sanhi ng tinamong bala sa katawan.
Batay sa report, alas-11:00 kamakalawa ng gabi nang biglang sumulpot sa lugar ang tatlong armadong kalalakihan at pinuntirya ang natutulog na mag-anak sa may Sitio 6, Barangay Sumpot, Dimatali, Zamboanga del Sur.
Dead on the spot ang batang Gimban habang kagyat na nasaklolohan ng mga kapitbahay ang mag-asawa nang tumalilis na ang mga salarin.
Inaalam pa ng mga awtoridad ang insidente upang matukoy ang posibleng motibo ng krimen.
http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/apr1907/main.htm
What an injustice? But under the administration of a criminal herself, what can you expect? All others, and not herself, becomes the enemies of the state, for she is now the state!
My condolence and sympathy to the family of Grecil. Hers is not the only story of injustice that I have heard since the short woman grabbed power. Funny but these crooks seem to have fetish for nine-year-olds! I remember reading an article written by Fr. S. Cullen, the Catholic priest saving children in the Philippines on the 9-year-old kids being sentence to death for having been caught peddling drugs that they have actually been forced to sell by master peddlers who even have police and government connections.
As one who works for the police over here as interpreter, I cannot help but be shocked and find these stories unbelievable!!! But they apparently happen “Onli in da Pilipins!”
Over here, Ellen, it is unthinkable for police to be planting guns on dead corpses of children who are by law, adults included, not allowed to carry guns. When police or even the military make this kind of atrocities and mistakes, even the head of the military and/or police will be held responsible legally and otherwise even just to restore public trust in the police/military institution and the government itself.
Can’t help cursing these creeps! Mamatay…..ummph….!
Sorry, this should have been, “WHAT AN INJUSTICE!!!”
Mali, Magno, baka nga walang pinag-aralan ang taong iyan. Nagmamagaling-galingan lang. Kita mo nga puro cut and paste ang ginagawa!!!
Baka pa nga hindi tao ang salbaheng iyan e. Baka disembodied spirit na nagpapanggap na may katawan. In short, IMPAKTO!
I once commented on the plight of the poor, I was branded a communist. Talk is cheap and mere words will never effect change. The opposition is what it is, the opposition. There will never be unity if any administration will not effect any form of change.
As for Grecil, she will just be another statistic in the government list. A statistic that they will try to define in their own terms to belie the truth. What is sad is that this administration only takes into account figures and not reality.
Oh yes I am touched as I have been fighting for the rights of children. Their plight is my advocacy. I wouldn’t be fighting this regime if not for the children whose future is compromised. No one has the right to ask me what I have done for the countless faces around me. So to say that I never did anything is unjust.
People like Benign0 should dip his hands in the filth of society to understand what he writes. As long us you plainly sit in that comfortable chair of yours and write of things you never experienced, you are useless. In other words, you are inutile. Insensitive would be an understatement.
A full investigation should be conducted by the military. The Brigade Commander, Gen Holganza, his Battalion Commander and the team leader of the operating troops should submit themselves for investigation. I am sure the Inspector General of the Philippine Army as well as the Division Commander are already conducting their respective investigations on this Grecil Case.
Having been im combat up to the present, the soldiers have the tendency to shoot at anything that moves from the direction of the enemy. If Grecil ran towards their house in the course of firefight, then it appears that Grecil was a “victim of cross fire” between the troops and the reported NPAs.
What is worse is that, the soldiers have also the tendency to fabricate a story to cover their mistake and don’t have the “balls” to accept and tell the truth.
These soldiers who are involved in this encounter should be discharged from the service and their officers be made accountable.
The topic here is Grecil. Don’t fall into the trap of some people of diverting the discussion from the issue at hand.
We are not so few pala pala in making angal to Mang Benigno’s continued assult on the bloggers here. Na-banned na pala siya sa maraming forum. Ito ang ating isang basehan:
Johnmarzan Says: April 22nd, 2007 at 11:59 am
as for benign0, he’s been banned so many times in other forums already for causing trouble. but i don’t advocate for this serial troll’s banning yet unless he does something really stupid (which is likely to happen anytime soon…).
considering his previous troublemaking actions in other similar forums and how he spams the forums and blogs to get people to visit his site, he should be on a short leash.
BK: Puro imbestiga wala namang silbi. Pathetic! But like what you said, these erring soldiers should not just be discharged dishonorably but also be made legally responsible for their negligence, inefficiency, incompetence, etc. In short, they should be sent to jail, and the family of their victims properly compensated, financially and otherwise.
Time to discipline them the way they should be disciplined so they will know how to be what they should not be presently!!!
I should add, the Cheat of Staff should be the first one to go!!! Sabi nga, “Command responsibility!”
Time and time again, I have been suggesting than to get some results out of an investigation it should be done by an independent inquiry with the power to subpoena all parties, including the sitting chief of the AFP, the cabinet members and even the President. A military investigating itself is only good for internal matters and disciplines. And the main purpose of an Inquiry of inquest is to dig deep into the case as to why it did happen and find the appropriate solutions that it will never happen again or prevented to happen again in the same circumstances.
So, if the President has the courage to look at the issue of the loss of a Life of an Innocent Child, I challenge her to call a No-Holds-Barred inquiry and Damn all those who are guilty and it doesn’t matter if it goes up to the very top, Herself..
Cover up dito, cover up doon. Wala na bang alam ang pekeng presidente at ang kanyang super alalay Assperon kundi cover-up?!
From a civilian’s point of view, this cover-up of killing a child in a crossfire is not acceptable, but the negative effects can be softened by the military’s immediate apology to the child’s parents. Kaya lang, ang militar hanggang wakas ay pa-macho pa rin, para bang merong mawawala sa kanila na isang ball if they offer an apology. Pwede bang hindi sila maunawaan ng mga tao, e sino ba naman sa mga iyan ang may gusto na pinapasyalan ng mga NPA?! Wala!
And deprensya, sa ilalim ng commander-in-cheat, ang buhay ng mga tao ay lima singko. Walang pakundangan dahil pati ang “I am sorry” line niya ay pa epek lang! Ang sarap magbigay ng party kung si Tianak at Assperon ang tatamaan at *&&^% ng balang ligaw!
Whatever expletive words we, fathers, tell to these soldiers for killing an innocent child is useless. How many more innocent children will be victims of cross-fires between the military and supposedly NPAs?
Never in the history of military investigations that truth were revealed to the public. The military and police are well-known in fabricating stories as a cover-up for their mistakes. Worse is they were already caught with their pants down and still deny their deeds.
Another innocent life has been sacrificed because of the intransigience and arrogance of the military establishment. I agree with BLACK KNIGHT when he says: “These soldiers who are involved in this encounter should be discharged from the service and their officers be made accountable.”
Mang Vic
Your suggestion to create an independent investigating body is good but it has been done many times already and the latest is the Melo Commission. Because thiskind of body is created by the President including the appointments of its composition, it’s findings and executive report is always suspect. It’s a far cry from similar investigating body in other countries including Canada because people behind the investigating body in our country is always beholden to who appointed them. It’s happening and perhaps it not unknown to many including Ma’m Ellen.
Take the case of the Melo Commission. In the past thread, we discussed its shortcomings when its report was not made public. Even an International Investigatng Body was denied at first to have a copy of the report. It’s obvious that there’s an unseen hand orchestrating it to hide the report because there’s something in it which will seriously implicate personalities in the AFP and surely by command responsibility, the Malacanang occupant.
In this particular case of Grecil, the Commission on Human Rights is already investigating it. We are yet to see how it will end up.
sleepless, well, in case the President or anyone needs more ideas on how the Inquiry will work, I will add another suggestion. The head of an Inquiry could be appointed by any person in Authority. It could be the Congress in session, the Secretary of Justice or the President Herself, or the Chief Justice of the SC. Now let the Head assemble his own commission of counsels, forensic experts and investigators and provide all parties of interest their own counsels and a timetable for conduct of hearing will be established. And the commission reports should be submitted to Person who called its establishment, to the Congress and to the Public, including the Press. We did it so many times, as you have observed, the Gomerry commissions, the Justice O’Connor Inquiry, etc, and everyone of them worked as intended.
The fact is that Grecil died from a bullet wound. The fact is that she’s only a child. The soldiers admitted or fabricated that Grecil carried a rifle; and that she’s a rebel (which is highly unbelievable). That’s why the shot her dead.
The fact is that there was a clear violation of the ”rules of engagement.” In combat operations, it is paramount to spare the non-combatants particularly children from any harm even if they are inside enemy’s territory or their relatives.
i will never accept the justification that Grecil was ”caught in a crossfire or a collateral damage or a child rebel” much more if she happened to be my daughter.
It was not selective targeting nor recklessness. It was a MURDER.
Mang Vic
I submit that Canada has enviable system in governance, among them the investigating bodies as you mentioned. Aminin natin, malayo pa tayo kumpara sa mga mayayamang bansa, but as I wrote in many instances here in the blog, I always believe that darating din ang panahon, time will be kind to us, everything will be changed, for the better. Every other nation in the world has its ups and downs and God willing, the Philippines will survive from its worse. That is as long as its people has the unwavering faith in their motherland. I, still, am one of them and will always be. That’s why I’m going home to vote.
Sleepless, I am an incurable optimist just like you. I hope and hope for the day when the Filipinos will just say, enough is enough and take control of their lives!
Vic, investigative bodies created by a bogus, corrupt and highly irregular president will not be credible at all. Look at the Mayuga and the Melo group. Did they solve any problem? Nada! I am almost so desperate to think that maybe the EU, US and all our International allies will come in and see the glaring military injustices in our country! It is sad that a few tiyanak gangsters in the military are giving the majority of still good and functioning military men a bad name! BK, how can you pinpoint who the mastermind is on this horrible crime of killing innocent children when there may be a blanket order to shoot anybody who are in the vicinity of the operations on hand? Besides, if crime was committed by the men in uniform, they can cover for one another anyway, those in the same league with the two hemorrhoids. If there is one who would have the conscience to come out and say the truth, they end up in the grave or in prison! This is the tiyanak way, isn’t it? The tiyanak has lost all her credibility to control anything in the country, from our lives to our properties. Our economy has gone down the tubes. Most of the bloggers here and the subscribers are some of the over 10 million Filipinos who are keeping our economy afloat by our remittances. We are the ones giving the tiyanak the high peso to dollar rating (which she alleges is her own doing). Without us the tiyanak is nothing! NOTHING! She has no form of governance at all! All she knows is to give out “bones” (money & position) to her ever loyal lap dogs. This is what she has a PHD degree on, not economics. What then do you expect to happen in the entire Philippines, zilch!
I can smell something with the litany of deplorable incidents. Is this tiyanak’s way of pushing the envelope so chaos will prevail and she can decree a “MARTIAL LAW”. She had been so itchy to do this for the longest time! With the two hemorrhoids, an insensitive senile siRAULo and reTIRED generals around her, she can as well declare one (particularly when the elections may prove to be going against her way!)!
Psychologists say that inferior people project a superior personality so they can get the attention of others. I am not saying this is true for Benigno but it may very well be the case, he may be a frustrated so so! So are those in power today, headed by the gangster tiyanak!
How can a small girl like Grecil carry a gun at that age? For those who had never held a gun, pick one up and you will realize that even a handgun is very heavy, the cheaper kind. As the price go up, the gun can get lighter and smaller. If one shoots the gun, it jolts and even a strong mature hand will have to exert all the energy to keep the gun on target. Wee hands can not possibly operate any kind of guns…not the itty-bitty hands of Grecil!
Well said, Parasabayan.
We should hope and hope for a better Philippines. What’s happening is just a bad weather, after the raging storm, there is calm.
Under the present dispensation, we are afraid the case of Grecil will be just part of statistics after sometime. Not a whimper or a word of comfort came from Malacanang on the horrifying death of a child not like the attention made on the children made hostage by Armando Ducat. Media reported it all on the photo-ops with Gloria Arroyo and the entertainment provided to the children in fiesta mood. But in the farflung bondock, away from the glitter of imperial Manila, poor Grecil was lying in her own blood side by side with an M-16 which the military alleged was used by Grecil in shooting the soldiers. Nothing has been mentioned that a paraffin test was conducted before Grecil wss laid to rest which will show that she really pulled the trigger and fired the M-16.
The truth, Sleepless, is that they can catch the criminals if they want to. Ang dali namang i-pinpoint kung sinu-sino ang may kasalanan sa pagpatay kay Grecil.
It cannot be a case of collateral damage because there is no war, and they deliberately run after these kids who were there in the river to have fun.
It is plain and simple murder, and the perpetrators should be held legally responsible for this. There should be an outrage on this. The whole town where the child lived should have gone on strike and conduct a big rally against these abuses. Pag pinagbabaril sila ng mga militar, then we know for a fact that the AFP has gone berserk. No wonder, the gentlemen in the service are now in jail. They cannot stomach the crooks running the AFP like hell!
I just finished watching the movie, “Blood Diamond” which featured the sorry state of children in Africa who are corrupted in their youth, being made to feel numbed and insensitive to the killings they are made to do.
I wonder if these soldies of the AFP now at the beck and call of a criminal have been seeing too much of these movies for the AFP to invent similar scenario to justify the killing of this innocent girl.
I hope they are not saying that she stole the M-16 from the military herself during one of the NPA’s raid of some AFP arsenal. Kababalaghan na iyan!
Ma’m Ellen
A bit off-topic but has something to do with Patricia Evangelista who wrote about Grecil. You said she is young lady worth watching and indeed, she is. Here’s what I got about her:
The Philippine Star 05/16/2004
Patricia Evangelista, a 19-year-old, Mass Communications sophomore of University of the Philippines (UP)-Diliman, did the country proud Friday night by besting 59 other student contestants from 37 countries in the 2004 International Public Speaking competition conducted by the English Speaking Union (ESU) in London.
She triumphed over a field of exactly 60 speakers from all over the English-speaking world, including the United States , United Kingdom and Australia.
The board of judges’ decision was unanimous, according to contest chairman Brian Hanharan of the British broadcasting Corp. (BBC).
–
I have a copy of her winning speech.
Congatulations Patricia! We should guard Patricia very closely. Anyone who dare expose the dirt of this administration dissipates! More power to you Patricia. We need more youth like you! You will be the next leaders of the country!
Sleepless,
I hope it is not another hoax. I remember reading a similar speech winner some years back re the speech of some daughter of some OFW that turned out in fact to be a hoax.
Parang katulad iyan noong mga sulat daw kuno ng isang koreano o ng isang Englishman tapos pilipino din pala ang sumulat at hindi pa amining pilipino siya dahil kundi siya magpapanggap na dayuhan siya, walang papansin sa kaniya.
Ano iyan? Lahat na lang bang foreign, iyon lang ang maganda sa mga pilipino? Kundi naman itong clamoring for foreign recognition. O baka naman gusto lang tulungan ng Philippine Star si Mrs. Pandak para may kukumbidahin na naman kuno siya sa Malacanang at makikiagaw ng gloria! Hindi pa ba sawa ang mga tao sa mga ganyang gimmick ni Mrs. Pidal?
Na’m Ystakei
I think Patricia’s winning was not a hoax because it was an International Public Speaking Competition, not merely written speech. Para sigurado, I text my cousin-professor at UP and he confirmed that indeed, Patricia Evangelista was a bright student. I also googled and she’s there. But the best proof is her series of columns that appeared at the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Her writings and persuasion is something Gloria Arroyo and FG will not find savory.
Ellen:
kapangalan ni Patricia yung dating nasa GMA7 news na tinanggal dahil sa pagbatikos kay Imelda?
Kasabayan nina Marga Ortigas at Tina Peczon?
Patricia’s winning is not a hoax. That was way back in 2004. That has been written extensively.
Before anybody thinks of posting her winning speech, please don’t. That can be accessed in the intrnet. The topic here is Grecil and inhumanity of some members of the military. And Gloria Arroyo is doing nothing about it.
“…And Gloria Arroyo is doing nothing about it.”
It was good to hear how Aling Gloria barked orders to obliterate the Abu Sayyaf Group after the ASG beheaded seven hostages; it was good to hear her ask for a quick resolution to the Julia Campbell case.
What puzzles me is Aling Gloria’s ease with which she keeps her peace in the wake of Grecil’s case; more puzzling is her defense, even encouragement, of the military establishment in its string of atrocities against journalists, activists and ordinary civilians (there may have been quite a number of Grecils by now) committed under the cover of, ironically, the Human Security Act of 2007. Who does she consider “human”, anyway?
Sleepless: We should hope and hope for a better Philippines. What’s happening is just a bad weather, after the raging storm, there is calm.
*****
I can’t help feeling naughty reading the above. Kasi kahapon isa iyan sa sinabi ng isang speakers doon sa isang pagtitipon ng mga pilipino tungkol sa halalan. Sabi daw ni Erap, “Weather-weather lang!”
Pero matagal na ang bad weather ng Pilipinas, wala pa ring improvement. Lalong lumala nang umupo si Pandak! Hindi na weather-weather iyan lalo na kung sinasadya!
Sleepless： Aminin natin, malayo pa tayo kumpara sa mga mayayamang bansa…
*****
Nothing to do with being rich or poor, as a matter of fact. It is more a matter of will. Sa totoo lang, Sleepless, mas mahirap ang Japan when WWII ended kesa sa Pilipinas. Maraming nakuhang bayad ang Pilipinas from the US and Japan. In fact, pinakamalaki ang reparations payments sa Pilipinas no matter what the greedy Filipinos say they have been hoodwinked about the reparations payments.
The Philippines could have become the No. 1 in Asia even with the support of the USA, but because of graft and corruptionm, and palpak leaders, it is now what it has become.
In a way, it was not money but that the Japanese were lucky, they had wiser leaders, and themselves to be grateful for doing what is right for Japan to be what it is now. Dito kasi, Sleepless, marunong magbigay ang mga walang alam doon sa mga meron para mamuno. I doubt if a boxer for instance would run for a position in the government if he thinks that he cannot do his job on his own without the help of his lawyer, et al like the abyss the naive Pakyaw is allowing himself to be pushed into. Sabi nga, it is a matter of responsibility, and yes, even a sense of propriety and commitment.
Yuko, I know so how Japan made it to the top again. I had so much interest in how Japan made it back on top. My brother got one of his engineering degrees from there. The key was individual sacrifice! The Japanese did not care how much they made as long as they had a job. This was why even up to the late 70s your companies gave free travel packages for your company managers. Junior executives went to the orient, senior executives went to the US and the topnotch executives went to Europe all paid for by the companies. Nepotism was very much a culture in Japan. Once one was hired, he was hired forever by the company. When a vacancy occured, another member of the family got in. Is this still the practice now Yuko? My last rip to Japan was in 1987. It has been a while.
Nepotism is not the right word, PSB. It is against the law as a matter of fact to be hiring your own relative to be paid with government funds over here. If you are a politician here and you are caught doing that, you can be fired out. Otherwise, you pay with your own money your own kin to run your political campaign and that’s that.
It is more loyalty to the company that I think is what you are talking about, not nepotism. If you mean family companies, you bet your bottom dollar, it will be customary for one of the members of the family to continue the job vacated since it is most likely that they are all members of the company board of directors anyway.
When you get into a company here, PSB, you become part of the “family” with the company boss becoming a second parent, and would even take the trouble of taking care of your needs, and that is of course so that the employee will be faithful and loyal to the company. It is different, though, when it comes to government positions and offices. It is not hereditary!
Tell you what, PSB, Japan is successful because there more followers than leaders! Mahirap kasing mag-ako ng responsibilidad!!!
In the Philippines, you have an idiot and a criminal trying to lead the Filipinos down to the gutter, and worse, to hell!!!
Sorry, nalagay iyong isa pang sagot ko kay PSB sa next loop.
In God’s name, why should anyone shoot a 9-year old girl in the head? Because she’s a communist who was “caught” carrying a gun or an armalite that was as big or as tall as her?
How can in God’s name can anyone who has a soul or pretends to have a soul murder a toddler by shooting a bullet to her head?
Words absolutely fail me! I am disgusted by how this government of the inept, the incompetent, the criminals have transformed the AFP elements into a bunch of low life uniformed creatures.
May God strike them with a disease that will cause them to suffer in extreme agony. No forgiveness for this sort of low life creatures.
Tianak ordered quick resolution to the Julia Campbell case. Tianak is quick on the draw when a case involves Dubya’s people, especially when it is all over the papers.
When a murder involves a pinoy, moreso of a child like poor Grecil, the Tianak becomes very shy to talk! Hayup!
“Who does she consider “human”, anyway?” Only her minions and those in her fake image!
For Tianak, ordinary Pinoys and children are mere driftwoods! Shoot to death, all that moves and floats!!! Kasuklam-suklam, mag-boomerang sana sa kanya lahat ng bullets!
isang liham para kay gng. gloria macapal arroyo:
mahal naming panggulo,
anim na taong singkad na ang nakalilipas mulang maupo kayo bilang panggulo sa pilipinas at alam namin ang mga sakripisyong iyong pinagdaanan upang maibigay ang iyong buong katapatan sa paglilingkod sa bayan. hindi biro ang humawak ng pinakamataas na tungkulin sa pamahalaan lalo’t napalilibutan ka ng mga taong kontra sa iyong hindi makataong adhikain. hindi madali ang pagpakatino kung nariyan sa iyong tabi ang taong walang iniisip kundi ang samantalahin ang tinatamasa mong kapangyarihang pinaniniwalaan ng nakararaming mamamayang ipinandaya ng mga taong takot kang mawala sa malakanyang sapagkat mas mahalaga sa kanila ang pagsusulong ng pansarili nilang kagalingan kaysa pagsilbihan ang taong bayan.
meron lamang din po sana kaming isang kahilingan na kung mamamarapatin ninyo ay bigyan sanang kahalagahan sapagkat dito nakasalalay ang kinabukasan ng susunod na salinlahing siya ding magdurusa kung hindi malulunasan ang kasalukuyang sakit sa ating lipunan. maaaring ito ay maging isang kalabisan kung susuriin ang napakaganda mong naging pamamalakad sa bansa (inaaaang), subalit alang alang sa ipagkakaisa at ikapapanuto ng buong sambayanan ay huwag mo na sanang ilihis ang aming paniniwala tungkol sa tunay na kalagayan ng ating bansa partilular ang katiwasayan at kaayusan gayundin ang antas ng pamumuhay sa buong kapuluan.
kung maaari din sana ay pahintuin mo na ang iyong mga gabinete’t kaalyado na huwag nang magbibitiw ng mga pahayag na nakapanginginig ng aming laman! at umalis ka na rin sa ninakaw mong kapangyarihan, hindi bukas o sa makalawa, sa 2010 kundi NGAYON NA!!!!.
nakakasuka ka na buwisit na panggulo!
A Child Warrior? Unthinkable! In the Philippines? Unbelievable! I attended a One Woman Show – Miracle in
Rwanda last night, and the survivor Immaculee was Left to Tell. Grecil story is now telling us- so we should fight for Reforms. Reforms in our Military Systems, in our Educational Systems–in our government. And our weapons-
1) The Ballots- Go to the Polls and Vote- Be vigilant and watch- that there is no cheating. No bawas-dagdag ang totoong bilang.
2) Those who can write- the journalists and people in the Media- The Power of your Pen- Tell the Stories- the truth walang bawas-dagdag. and more importantly;
3) TO ALL OF US- we are a people of faith- THE POWER OF PRAYERS- PRAYERS FOR REFORMS, PEACE, FORGIVENESS AND JUSTICE! GO AND VOTE. LETS GO!! SUGOD MGA KAPATID! Incidentally- Miracle in Rwanda is a one woman show created and performed by Leslie Lewis Sword- who is very talented and her mother is Filipina.
The fatal fate of Grecil has no comparison to those mis fortunate children that live and die under the flyover Benigno. She was a young brilliant and neat elementary grade student who’s striving a daily hard life to have a good future. A second grade student, beginning to learn how to solve mathematical problems and starting to learn History and Geography who has a good vision on her life. Although, they were having a difficulties in their daily lives, they were a happy family and Papa Gregorio looks upon their needs. Grecil maybe, different from our daughters BenignO, We take our daughter daily in good school in our air-conditioned luxury car in a crispy pressed iron uniform and take them to Disneyland on summer vacation, Grecil’s wish too! And she’s wishing someday that she can also have a good life ahead, But, her dreams ended with a blasted head, She also has a fundamental human rights, and that’s right to live BenignO. Your assessment that life is cheap, and the prices of bullet is more expensive is sickening! Only a moron’s philosophy fit that statement.
Actually BenignO, I don’t want to comment anymore whatever you write, because anything you said has no meaning, but, the statement you made is a nerve wracking, Have a little respect on the fatal fate of Grecil, her parent are mourning!
Cocoy, let’s not give importance to persons who don’t deserve it. Ignore.
Kay Grecil Galacio, 9
NI MARK ANGELES
Inilathala ng Bulatlat
http://www.bulatlat.com/news/7-10/7-10-grecil.htm
***
May isang Griyegong nagwika:
Ang ilog ay hindi na ang dating ilog
sa susunod na paglusong.
Ibig sabihin, ikaw ay hindi na ikaw.
Noong huli mong mapansin, Grecil,
ang iyong imaheng nasalamin
sa saloy ng ilog Simsimen,
hindi iyon ang imaheng muling tatambad
sa iyo at sa mga kasamang
nanghuhuli ng gagamba sa kakahuyan
upang ipanlaban sa damang-damang.
Sa iyong siko, lumusot ang balang
pinawalan ng 67th Infantry Batallion.
Winasak ng ilan pa ang iyong bungo.
Ikaw ay hindi na ikaw, Grecil,
habang nahihimlay ang katawan.
Sumisiyap ang mga sisiw
sa ibabaw ng iyong kabaong
at humihingi ng katarungan.
Hindi matitinag ang aming isip.
Lalo’t saput-sapot ang bintang
ng mga bulaang galamay ng militar.
Na ikaw ay miyembro ng NPA
at may hawak kang M16
noong kayo diumano ay tambangan.
Paano nga ba tatanganan
ang ripleng halos kasintaas?
Ni hindi ka makahawak
ng dalawang galong tubig
tuwing matokang umigib.
Sa pagtalunton sa landas
kung saan ka itinimbuwang,
hahanapin namin ang bakas
ng lupang napigta ng iyong dugo.
Ikaw ay hindi na ikaw,
sa ilog na ito o kung saan man.
Ngunit may kailangang magbayad
sa kanilang kapabayaan.
At may handang magbuwis
ng kanilang sariling buhay
para sa iyong kamatayan.
u made me cry Chi…and more angry to this fake administration…
hindi natin masisisi si pareng cocoy.
ang isang katulad niyang nagsilbi sa hukbo na umaabot hanggang sa katanghaliang tapat ng kanyang buhay ay nagkakaroon ng malalim na pang-unawa sa takbo ng mga kaisipan at bagama’t malawak na ang pagsisidlan ng anumang dapat unawain ay dumarating din ang sandali na kailangang bawasan upang huwag umapaw.
Soleil, hindi ko maubos maisip kung bakit ang mga bata na tulad na Grecil ay abutin ang ganitong kasaklap na kamatayan sa mga militar na dapat ay siya nilang protektor at tanglaw!
Chi,
Kaya ganyan kasi walang talagang working Child Welfare Law ang Pilipinas. Hindi kasi nababatid ng mga inutil ang kahalagahan ng mga kabataan sa pag-unlad ng bansa. Napanood mo ba iyong pelikula ni Brad Pitt, et al ilan taon na ang nakakaraan, iyong “Sleepers”? Ang daming ganoong kasalbahihang ginagawa sa mga batang nakakulong sa Pilipinas kaya dumadami ang mga salbahe sa Pilipinas.
Sa totoo lang, kasali ako sa movement para sa mga batang ikinukulong na kasama ng mga matatanda sa Pilipinas, at iyong binibigyan ng hindi makatarungang pasiya. Leading crusader diyan iyong pareng Irish na si Fr. S. Cullen. Kaya nang may pumuri doon sa isang Magsaysay, muntik akong mapasuka. Ang totoo, Chi, may lupang inaangkin ang mga Magsaysay sa Zambales na pag-aari ng gobyerno. Hinihingi ni Fr. Cullen para sa pagpapatayo ng isang facility para sa mga batang lansangan, pero sinakim na noong mga Magsaysay.
Iyan ang hirap kasi sa Pilipinas, kapag naging governor, etc. ng isang probinsiya, akal mo sila na ang may-ari ng lahat ng lupain, etc. sa probinsiyang pinamunuan nila. Inaako na! Tignan mo na nga ang mga Pidal, akala mo kanila ang ‘Pinas!
Kaya kung may alam ang mga bloggers dito, ilahad ninyo para mapahiya ang mga sakim!
chi:
I’ve been out of circulation for a couple of weeks but to answer your fist sentence on this topic “What kind of military undertook this operation” living on Midanao I can answer it by saying this un-professional rabble calling themselves the Armed Forces of the Philippines representing the country as a whole, are out of control swaggering around the barrio’s of Mindanao knowing full well that they can stop, search, detain and even kill at will because in reality they know that the C-in-C has no control over the corrupt Generals and in turn the lower ranks have no respect for these corrupt Generals and little by little the devil takes over their tiny minds.
Lets face it without being able to hold a powerful firearm they wouldn’t say boo to a goose.
I repeat the first step to a solution is to send them all back to barracks where they belong and stop playing games on Mindano, hand back the job of keeping law & order to the PNP following the practice of the more successful civilsed countries using their civilian police to control the civilian populace.
To date, according to Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns, the death toll of children killed by the military during operations has reached 54. Seventeen children have been tortured, 69 illegally arrested, three raped and 63 beaten. This story is just one of many.
Now, somebody try to convince me that 17 children tortured 69 illegally arrested and 3 children raped ( I repeat raped!) were due to mistaken identity, let alone the 54 children who were killed. Even Walt Disney would have been ashamed of this Micky Mouse outfit calling themselves the AFP. What a bunch of cowards!
Haemorrhoid Assperon, you are a **kin disgrace to the people of Minanao, no wonder you travel around Minadao with so many guarding you 24/7.
Mindanao – twice!
WWNL, nice opinion!
I’ve been busy elswhere, but I saw a commentator on television, a woman I didn’t get her name, but its the first time I heard a commentator suggest that the AFP should be kept within their barracks and the PNP should be returned to their given mandate of policing the populace with increased training with an indreased establishment of man & women. I thought at last, someone has a good idea of what professional policing is all about, or maybe visiting this Ellensville where all the answers can be found, smile.
I still can’t get over Grecil’s murder.
The leader of the squad who killed Grecil must be shot from behind for failing to protect the life of a child, whoever he or she is, communist, military, civilian, atheist, or monkey.
No amount of arguing that 9-year old Grecil’s political affiliation is communist (I can’t believe I’m typing this at all) can even begin to alter the fact that to willfully shoot a 9-year girl in the head on the cowardly pretext, excuse, or for the crap reasoning that the toddler was communist is worse than murder.
Those people who argue that she was killed because she was a communist ought to die a slow, painful, agonizing death.
This is one occassion when I will all be for human torture on the slime who did that.
Chi:
Pinaiyak mo na naman ako ! Yeah, lalo na at may ilan din akong alam sa mga pinaggagawa ng mga Militar kapag sila daw ay “nagkakamali.” At ito’y mga nangyari sa Iligan/Cotabato noong early ’70’s. Ayoko ng balikan pa kahit i-kuwento ulit kasi, hindi lang ako naiiyak sa galit kundi, gusto ko pa ring gumanti at pumatay sa mga militar na gumawa ng mga karahasang iyon. Aywan ko kung natatandaan pa ninyo ang masaker na ginawa ng mga militar sa 2 villages ng mga Muslim sa parteng ito ng Mindanao. Karamihan sa mga biktima noon ay mga batang inosente. Isa ako sa unang nakapunta sa lugal na pinangyarihan, ilang oras pagkatapos ng krimen! May mga nakatakas at isang sundalo na malapit sa amin noon ang nagkuwento (hindi nakatiis ang konsensiya) ng lahat-lahat!
Kaya naniniwala akong nagagawan nila ng kuwento ang mga pangyayari para lumabas na ang may kasalanan ay ang inosente! Ganyan minsan “ka-bulag” ang mga militar sa pagsunod ng utos ng nakakataas sa kanila!
Just sharing:
From: bong Arki
Sent: Sunday, April 29, 2007 1:42 PM
Subject: Photos/Text: Japan human rights group takes up case of 0-year old Grecil
Please visit http://www.arkibongbayan.org or go to:
http://www.arkibongbayan.org/2007-04April21-nrn-grecil/nrngrecil.htm
for photos and text at the press conference of the Japanese human rights group, HUMAN RIGHTS NOW – JAPAN, which conducted a fact-finding probe in the Philippines regarding extrajudicial killings.
Arkibong Bayan Web Team