One of the calls I got, related to the stories on Filipinos working as armed personnel for US private military contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan, was from a soldier assigned in Mindanao.
He was asking for the contact numbers of the local representatives of Blackwater USA and Triple Canopy. Blackwater USA employs Filipino armed personnel to secure US state and defense officials, offices, and facilities in Afghanistan. Triple Canopy employed Filipinos in Iraq in 2004 also to secure American officials and facilities.
There is a ban on Filipinos going to Iraq but none to Afghanistan.
I tried to talk him out of his plan, telling him there must be less dangerous jobs available for him in the country. He replied, “Kesa naman sasali ako sa kidnap- for- ransom gang o sa panghu-hold up ng bangko, di pupunta na ako sa Iraq. Mas malaki pa ang kikitain. (Instead of joining kidnap-for-ransom gangs or bank holdups I might as well go to Iraq. I would be earning a lot.)
As to the dangers in Iraq, he said: “Sa Mindanao delikado rin kami. Yung kinikita ko doon halos mabuhay ang pamilya ko. Kapag mamatay ako, maliit lang ang makuha nila sa death benefits. (In Mindanao, we are also in danger. What I earn can barely sustain my family’s needs. If I get killed there, my family would only get a measly amount as benefits from my death.)
I didn’t give him the numbers of Blackwater and Triple Canopy explaining to him that I don’t want to be instrumental in his misfortune.
I have no doubt that given the caller’s desperation, he will be able to find the contact numbers of Private Military Contractors (PMC) recruiting former soldiers and policemen to Iraq and Afghanistan.
A source with contacts with the Virginia-based Triple Canopy said recruitment by PMCs is usually by word-of-mouth. He said “you’ll be amazed at the number of people who are applying.”
The source called my attention to my report last June 13 that 300 Filipinos are currently working under Triple Canopy in Iraq. He said, “It’s 80 percent correct.”
I asked him about the erroneous 20 percent. He said, “It’s not 300, it’s 180.” He also said that Triple Canopy stopped the deployment of Filipinos in Iraq when the ban was imposed following the kidnapping of truck driver Angelo de la Cruz in July 2004.
But he knows that many Filipinos continue to work with PMCs in Iraq. In 2004, there were some 4,000 Filipinos working in Iraq, mostly doing administrative services in American military camps. Two years after the ban on travel to Iraq was imposed, the number of Filipinos increased to more than 7,000. Last year, Robert Tarongoy, working as accountant for a Saudi company in Baghdad, was kidnapped and was released only after the Arroyo government paid $1.4 million.
The source scoffs at the ban imposed by the Philippine government, saying nobody bothers whether your passport has a stamp “Not valid for travel to Iraq.” He said Filipinos leaving Manila for work in Iraq do not tell immigration officials they are going there. They leave Manila as tourists, first for Bangkok, then to Jordan or Dubai, their jump-off point for Baghdad.
A TV Patrol report by Dindo Amparo, ABS-CBN Middle East bureau chief, revealed that Filipino mercenaries in Iraq are hired from Dubai. The pay ranges from $1,000 to $2,000 a month with huge insurance benefits in case of death.
The source, who had worked as PMC in Iraq, takes issue with the derogatory term “mercenaries”. “We are serving a function and that is to secure American officials and facilities. We are trying to put order in Iraq. We are not bad people.”
Providing security for American officials and facilities in war zones is a hazardous job. In March 2004, four Blackwater personnel were killed in Fallujah, Iraq escorting delivery of food supplies.
In a CNN special report last Tuesday, Nic Robertson interviewed a female private military contractor whose men guard trucks carrying gravel for military bases in Iraq. She said the route is “strewn with roadside bombs targeting US and Iraqi forces and those who support them.”
One mercenary said, “If we get ambushed and cut off, then yes, we are going to fight back and push through. That’s what we get paid to do – protect the clients, protect the asset – that’s our job. It sounds crude, but basically our job is to be a bullet sponge.”
A former Triple Canopy employee, who was a bomb disposal expert in the Philippine Army, related in a complaint that never got to be filed in court: “Although we were essentially assigned to provide security to American embassy personnel in Basra, Iraq who were stationed in a camp, the camp itself became the object of constant enemy fire, more specially mortar attacks and the risks to life and limb were real and imminent.
“As we continued to stay in our station, we realized that we were actually engaged or were actually involved in the war trying to repulse the attacks in the camp.”
CNN said the death rate among the 25,000 or so private military contractors in Iraq is higher than that in US military forces.
The business of providing safety in the world’s most dangerous environments has become a booming industry worth more than $100 billion in contracts for PMCs. Some Filipino entrepreneurs have acquired job contracts being outsourced by the PMCs.
Blackwater USA Philippine representative Romy Redilicia believes that he is helping fellow Filipinos by providing them opportunities to earn big money. A source with contacts with Triple Canopy said, “Every one has a right to live.”
Given the dismal economic situation in the country, many of our lowly-paid soldiers and policemen do not see staying put in the Philippines as a safer and better alternative. As the soldier who called me up said, “Hanap buhay lang po ito Ma’am”. (I’m just trying to earn a living.)
We have reached a situation where many of our people have to risk death in order to live. It’s sad.
The above photo was sent by Joseph B, who was in Iraq working for Dyncorp, a PMC. He came back last year.
Unless gloria is ousted, the filipinos will continue to live in poverty, in danger of being killed either by salvaging/liquidation or hunger. The war freak little woman was blessed by a demon to spread crimes in the country. her minions ( mga alagad ng kadiliman) will pay for their deeds and action against the filipino and that is——SOON!!!
From where I came from (southern tagalog) we have a saying, “Ang taong nagigipit kahit sa patalim kumakapit” Kawawa naman tayo. Palagi na lang nasa gipit na kalagayan.
Now the soldiers are being ordered to kill fellow Filipinos in GMA’s total war against the communists. For our lowly-paid soldiers, maybe they are thinking, I’ll just go to Iraq. If I have to kill, it won’t be Filipinos. And I will earn big money for that.
It’s perverse. Why have we sank this low? You are right, Ellen, it’s sad.
First of all Ellen,
I would like to apologize for posting your answer to Emilio re:One Voice at the blog of MLQ3 and DJB.
I do not mean to cause any controversy .
Sana di naman eto big deal dahil me kanya kanya tayong opinion.
Again, I have to apologize dahil at least nagpaalam man lang sana ako.
Magcomment na din ako sa all out war.
Nakakasiguro ako pag AFP ang tatanunungin sa palasyo lang naggaling ang all out war na ito not from AFP.
lalo lang napasama ang imahe ng AFP dahil sa all out war ekek na yan.
kahit na walng declaration ng all out war matagal ng nakikipagbakan ang mga sundalo dahil sa tingin nila ginagawa nila ito bilang pagmamahal sa bayan.Di na sila kailangan pang gatungan ng palasyo o nino para gawin nila ang kanilang tungkulin.
Yung sa sinabi mong sundalo na gusto na mag iraq ay nagrerenforce lang ako na pagod a sa pakikipagbakan sa mga tingin nilang kaaway ng bansa.
pero sobra na yatang kawalan ng pagasa para isipin nya kung di sya makatagal dito mas kakayanin pa nya sa IRAQ.
mga kababayan konting tiis na lang makakaahon din tayo.
Karl, no need to apologize. It’s okay and thanks. I’m open to other views in the same way that I also want my views to be respected.
Thanks, Ellen!
To Karl Garcia;
Hindi ka rin nakakasiguro sa AFP, bakit ganun na lang nila protektahan si bansot? Magaling din dumiskarte ang AFP, alam nila kung pano laruin ang situwasyon! Hanggang naibibigay ni bansot ang kapritso ng mga tiwaling heneral hindi sila bibitaw kay bansot. Pabor sa AFP ang isang bilyon budget laban sa mga NPA, malaking pera yan syempre sila ang unang-unang makikinabang right?
Isang madugong rebolusyon tunay lang ang solusyon, tulad ng madalas kong sabihin; kahit maraming buhay pa ang magbuwis at magsilayas ang mga dayuhan mamumuhunan or mas lalong bumagsak ang ekonomiya kung eto naman ang makakapag-patalsik kay bansot okey lang. Importante mapaalis natin si bansot. Diyan tayo mag-FOCUS
Eto ang tunay na adhikain; IF WE WANT PEACE, PREPARE FOR A WAR… we need a bloody war to attain this goal!!!
MARAMING SALAMAT ATE ELLEN, MABUHAY PO KAYO
Ellen,
I echo Dominique’s sentiment – difficult to continue “killing” one of your own. I don’t believe officers and men of the AFP want to do that unless forced to; for one who says she espouses Christianity, unbelievable that Gloria has prepared the country for another “Killing Fields”.
Educate ’em guys in the boondocks, feed them, clothe them, care for them, be fair, be just to them, harness goodwill and they’ll surrender without a fight…War is not a solution; if at all, it should be the last resort.
Re mercenary work:
Indeed, one could say the Filipinos hold the record of being present and doing any job there is around the world – from serving Queen Elizabeth, cooking for George Bush, working for world-class conglomerates, down to being mercenaries.
Gloria must go! As a “national leader”, she’s become so bad, it’s difficult to be badder than her…
Ellen,
I think it’s worse than we think…
“Unit in Marine standoff to Tawi-tawi
By Joel Francis Guinto (Inquirer)
Last updated 04:04pm (Mla time) 06/23/2006”
It shows Gloria’s vindictiveness! That’s the fate of upright military officers in Arroyo’s corrupt regime.
To Ms. Anna;
Maganda lang basahin o pakinggan ang suhestiyon mo dahil hindi mo nararanasan ang mga hirap ng pakikibaka namin para masugpo ang masasamang elemento ng lipunan. WAR IS THE ONLY SOLUTION!!!
Wala kaming pakialam kung maraming buhay ang malagas basta magawa lang namin ang tunay na adhikain at isa na doon ang mapatalsik sa palasyo si bansot. Sigurado naman isa ka sa mga magdiriwang kung mapatalsik namin si bansot. Magpakatotoo ka na lang sana. Gusto namin mawala sa landas si bansot AT ALL COST!!!
Ellen:
I just talked to a Filipina who complained to me about being lured to get into this caregiver thing that she says is no caregiving. It’s more domestic helping! Kaya abangan mo itong racket na ito.
Panay ang puri ng mga ungas sa sarili nila for the amount of remittances daw ng mga OFWs, pero tignan mo naman ang total ng inuutang ng ungas na ito, mas marami pa doon sa ipinapadala ng mga OFWs! Ano ito? Walang iba kundi puro kabulastugan!!!
Yesterday, there was an international conference here on human trafficking sponsored by the World Bank. I felt like puking as to why World Bank is now granting money to the greatest Pimp! Para lalo niyang ibugaw ang mga pilipino sa ibang bansa? Please let’s write a petition to the World Bank to stop being a privy to this human trafficking the Pimp is engaging in and considers as the Philippines’ No. 1 Export!
To Dominique;
Huwag na nyong problemahin kung pumunta ang mga Filipino sa Iraq or kung saan lupalop gusto nila, ang importante kumikita sila. Mas maganda ikundisyon na lang natin ang bawat damdamin at isipan ng bawat mamamayang Filipino para sa isang matinding digmaan sibil.
Sinisigurado ko na eto ang magiging susi ng pagkakaisa ng lahat Filipino pagkatapos dumanak ng maraming dugo. Sa puntong yan mamumulat na ang isip ng mga Filipino para tayo magka-isa at matitigil na mga pangdarambong, awayan sa pulitika, lahat ng siraan ng bawat isa.
ISANG MATINDING PAGDANAK NG DUGO AT PAGKASAWI NG MARAMING BUHAY ANG SUSI NG PAGKAKAISA!
“Kapit sa patalim!” Yes, those are the words for this mercenary thing to Iraq, but I have had parents who taught us better wisdom “Magdildil ng asin” and reason why I cannot sympathize with them, especially because the Iraqis have a right to fight and defend their country from invaders!
Problem with many Filipinos is they are concentrated only on the material things. Kristyano pa naman sila!
Didn’t Christ taught, “Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?” ( Luke 12: 24)
BTW, a friend of mine in Basrah told me that the 2 US marines were actually dismembered—muntik nang gawin hamburger para sa MacDonald! Kawawa naman! One of them is as old as my son. Kung ako ang nanay niyan isusumpa ko si Bush!
What’s happening to this world of ours. Puro mga walanghiya ang mga leaders ng iba’t ibang bansa! Iyong taga-Australia, parang kanto boy sa London kung magsalita!
Itong P.M. naman namin, medyo mayabang but compared to the Bansot e di hamak naman OK sa isang banda. Magagaling ang mga kinukuhang Minister of Finance kaya maayos ang buhay namin dito. Walang sinabi si Bansot na bobo naman. Dating Harvard U professor ang aming dating Finance Minister na ngayon ay Minister for Internal Affairs (na kapareho ng DILG) and Communications at saka Minister of Post. Graduate ng Hitotsubashi University at Osaka University. May prinsipyo at hindi kurakot! Hindi pa mayabang!
Ronnie,
I appreciate your brutal but honest opinion. I want the same thing – oust Gloria “at all cost” but I am being realistic. “Killing Fields” is not the solution!
If you really think that war – a civil war – is the ultimate solution to oust Gloria, think again! That war will be uneven. The majority of Filipinos are not prepared for a revolution, not ready for a civil war because the middle forces are not there to support you and to help you lead your war.
If you launch this war of yours in that setting, the lives that will be in peril and that are likely to be lost are not Gloria’s or her husband’s, not that of her family’s or the minions in her cabinet and not even the top brass in the military or the rich around her but the POOR, the IMPOVERISHED, the homeless and the sick.
To give you an idea that a civil war is not far from my mind either and to show you how realistic and focused I am, I posted a reply to a post by Rizalist in his blog yesterday saying that I would rather not choose between Gloria and Joma Sison; that I would rather there were a frontal war – the dreaded civil war – than be made to choose between 2 despots.
Both Gloria and Joma espouse a war of attrition and why should the nation play in their hands? They should be out of the national equation…
So, I look back and what do I see? Romania!
The Romanians solved their leadership problem well a couple of decades ago without going into a civil war…
Ate Yuko, ano naman nakakagulat dun kung gawin hamburger ang dalawang 2 US marines? Nagbuwis sila ng buhay dahil sa pagsunod sa maling polisiya ng gobyerno nila. Mas mabuti na yan kumpara dyan sa mga kababayan mong Hapon na nasayang lang buhay sa pagpapakamatay para takasan ang problema o kasawian. Paumanhin lang, wala kaming bilib sa mga Hapon, dahil hanggang ngayon kahit mag-sorry lang di nila magawa sa mga nabiktima nila noon WW11.
Huwag kang mag-alala malapit narin matupad ang mga pangarap natin mapatalsik sa palasyo si bansot. Hindi kaming magdadalawang isip kumitil ng buhay, kahit magsilayas pa ang mga dayuhang namumuhunan at lalo ng bumagsak ang ekonomiya natin. ANG IMPORTANTE LANG MAPATALSIK NATIN ANG MGA TAGA PALASYO!!!!
Pilipino laban sa pilipino, Ronnie, ay hindi maganda. Pero teka, siguro kailangan nga iyan dahil noong unang panahon ay nag-away away rin ang mga hapon hanggang sa magkaroon ng pinakamalakas na Shogun at nakabuti ang pagsasara ng Hapon sa mga dayuhan lalo na iyong mga abusadong kastilang sumakop sa Pilipinas.
Buti pa ang mga olandes ay pinayagang makipagkalakal sa Hapon pero sa isang lugar lang. Tapos dumating ang kano at napilitang magbukas ang bansa, pero sinigurong hindi magugunggong ng mga kano kaya nag-industriya pero sa ilalim ng militar. Tapos nagka-guerra, lumaban sa isang higante, natalo pero hindi sila nagmukmok.
Nagpakababa para makuha ang loob ng mga kano. Pinag-aralan ang palakad ng mga kano, kinopya pero ginawang ugma sa mga hapones. Nagbayad ng mga utang at reparations, nakaraos at naging malakas na bansa. Nagpasalamat sa mga kano sa pamamagitan ng pagmimigay ng logistics, etc. sa mga guerra ng mga kano lalo na noong Gulf War dahil nandoon ang kailangang langis. Mabait ka sa kano, bibigyan ka ng langis kasi!
Ngayon tahimik ang bansang Hapon kasi ang mga sundalong hapon ay hindi nakikialam sa politika at sa pulis. Iyon mga hoodlums dito ay hindi komunista, na legal dito sa Hapon at well-represented sa Diet. Lahat may pinag-aralan kahit na iyong mga Yakuza! Iyong mga rebel na katulad ng mga Japanese Red Army ay sa ibang bansa kumikilos at hindi dito sa Hapon.
Unang-una, wala silang tataguan dito pero hindi militar ang lumilipol sa kanila kundi mga pulis na hindi binibigyan ng karapatang pumatay ng isang hapones. Suntok puede pa pero ang mga pulis dito ay magaling sa Judo, Karate at Kendo, walang laban ang mga rebelde na hanggang home-made bombs lang naman.
Dito, kapag narinig na nagsalita si Koizumi ng katulad ng mga pananalitang sinambit ni Bansot, bukas na bukas din tanggal na siya! Dito kasi hindi sakop ng mga politiko ang pulisya, tanggapan ng taga-usig at hukuman, at masamang asal na magsasabi ang kahit sino na patayin ang kapwa niya hapones, lalo na iyong binabayaran ng buwis ng mga taumbayan. Para sa amin dito ang mga katulad ni Bansot ay tunay na ungas at masahol pa sa walanghiya! Sana bumaba na siya at sagutin ang mga kasalanan niya sa mga pilipino!
Ronnie,
In a conversation with Joma Sison, I commented to him, “You said your war is against ‘imperialist Americans’- the Americans were in the Philippines for quite some time (the US bases) but you never engaged them in a war; yet the war you have waged and been waging has been against your own, the victims were and are the poor, the needy, what kind of doctrine is that?”
May nahalata ako dito kay Ronnie Mabini. Kunyari anti-GMA ngunit actually maka-GMA siya. Panay, giyera, civil war at kung anong kadahasan ang pinagsasabi. Mana sa amo niyang si Gloria Arroyo. He is provoking us into his line of “war”, “war”, “war”.
Mukhang espiya ito ni Ryena Engkantada dito sa ating blog.
To Mr.Mabini,
I respect your opinion, pero I have to agree with Anna.
I have learned to repect most of Anna’s opinions for personal reasons.
Yang patay kung patay ay mas malala pa sa all out war.
Sa Palestine na kahit sa Biblia ay nabanggit na ang kasaysayan ng kanilang maga all out wars; ano na ang nagyari dito.
Halos sampung libong taon na nag gyegyera sa Middle East at South Asia,ano ang nagyari.
Yang Iraq, na yan resulta yan ng magaling na miltary mind na nagsabi na all out war ang solusyon.
Wala pa sa kalahati magaling ba ang naging resulta.
Ang all out war ay ekek lang di kaya ni GMA panindigan yan, kung totohanan ang paguusapan.
kung naniniwala ka na patay kung patay ang solusyon.
di kita maaring paniwalaan dyan, SER!
Sorry, blog ni Ellen pala. At home na kasi ako sa blog na ito.
You are right, Karl. Let us be cautious about this Ronnie Mabini. Mukhang pakawala ni Gloria Arroyo. Pareho ang takbo ng utak nila.
Dominique,
Is Village savant your blogsite?
Yo Tache Makapili, ayan ka naman. Puro ka Japan Japan Japan. Haven’t you noticed yet? nobody gives a rat’s ass about Japan.
Ronnie,
Ito lang ang masasabi ko sa iyo. Hindi naman humihingi ng paghanga ng mga pilipino ang mga hapon. Basta sumunod sila sa sinabing ipinababayad sa kanila tapos.
Hindi mo naiintindihan kung nagpapakamatay ang mga tao dito kapag hindi na nila makaya ang problema nila. AYAW NILANG MAGING PARASITIKO di tulad ng maraming mga pilipino na itinutulak pa ang kanilang mga asawa, anak, kapatid, kaibigan, et al para mapahamak makapagpasarap at makapagpasikat lang sila. Ang daming mga pinay dito mas gusto pang mapariwara kesa bumalik sa Pilipinas para lang makabili sila ng bahay sa Pilipinas at makapagyabang!
Hindi ganyan ang Pilipinas na kinalakihan ko sa totoo lang. Noong araw, mabuti pang magdildil ng asin kaysa magputa!
Pati mga magulang ngayon mga bugaw! Pero iyong pinakamalaking bugaw iyong masakit daw ang tiyan ngayon!
Hoy Popoy, anak ka yata ni Bansot, puede ba? Huwag kang papasok dito para manggulo lang. Bistado na kayo mga ungas! Pakialam mo kung andito ako? Bakit ikaw ba ang may-ari nito at nagbabayad ka? Pwe! Gago!
Alam mo Karl isang napansin ko sa mga kriminal na pilipinong nakulong dito sa Japan ay mga pahamak sila. Itong si Bansot na Kening buri mo ay isang pahamak din. Magaling lang ang mga duwag kapag may hawak na patalim, pero walang sinabi ang mga iyan sa kakayahan naming magtanggol ng mga sarili namin sa pamamagitan ng Judo, Karate at iba pang disiplina.
Blackbelter ako kaya hindi ako takot sa mga bading!
Anna,
Yun rin naman pala ang gusto mo bitayin namin si bansot tulad ng ginawa ng mga Romanians sa lider nila?! Nakakatiyak ka ba tatahimik na sa pagpapatalsik kay bansot? Pano ang mga lider ng simbahan, mga pulitiko at die hard loyalist ng regimen Arroyo? Patatahimikin ba nila ang sinuman pumalit sa palasyo? Paulit-ulit lang ang ganitong senaryo ng walang pagkakasundo ng mga Filipino.
Hanggang hindi nangyayari ang matinding pagdanak ng dugo at pagbuwis ng maraming buhay ay hindi magkaka-isa ang mga Filipino dahil laging walang nagpapatalo. Nasobrahan sa sobrang galing ang mga Filipino, walang gustong magpatalo!
Mangyayari lang muling magka-isa ang bawat Filipino kung magkakaroon ng digmaan sibil.
Alam namin na malaki ang pagbabayaran ng bawat Filipino sa digmaan sibil pero pagkatapos ng digmaan ay yan din ang hudyat ng bagong simula ng pagkaka-sundo ang bawat isa!
NAG-AAPOY ANG DAMDAMIN NAMIN SA WALANG PAGKAKASUNDO-SUNDO NG MGA FILIPINO AT ANG PAMAMAYANI NG MGA NAGHAHARING URI!
To Dominique,
Minura mo na lang sana ako kaysa iparehas kay bansot! Tatag ng loob ang kailangan sa paglaban kay bansot. Naduduwag ka ba?
Itong si Popoy, Trabahapi, et al ay ipinamomonitor ko sa nagmomonitor ng mga mails ko para sa isang experiment dito tungkol sa mga violations ng Internet Law. Sabi ng kausap ko ay iisang tao lang daw ito. Minarkahan niya ang mga salita ng taong ito na magkakapareho. Kaya, fellow bloggers, pag-ingatan ang mga ito! Miyembro ito ng Internet Brigade ni Bansot! Yup, kunyari kakampi natin ang mga ungas pero espiya iyan ni Bansot na kasabwat noong mga nagre-recruit ng mga mercenary sa Iraq.
Golly, tignan ninyo naman ang ginagawa sa mga pilipino. Ginugutom para madali silang mahila doon sa hukay doon sa Iraq. Kung ako naman. magtitiyaga na lang ako sa Pilipinas dahil wala pa akong nababalitaan namatay talaga sa gutom diyan lalo na kung nakapaligid ang mga kamag-anak mo sa iyo dahil nagtutulungan. Iyan ang isang magandang ugali ng mga pilipino na dapat nilang i-appreciate.
Tarantado lang ang mga tumatawag na terrorists sa mga nagtatanggol ng bansa nila sa Iraq na mga Iraqi. Tawag nila sa sarili nila ay “Resistance.” May katwiran sila, pero ilan kayang mga pilipino ang nakakaintindi nito. Ilan kaya sa kanila ang handang magtanggol ng bayan nila laban sa mga tatawag sa kanilang Terrorists sa pagtatanggol ng bayan nila laban sa mga kaaway?
Sa ipinapakita nitong mga nagpapanggap na Internet Brigade ni Bansot ay baka magtakbuhan ang mga iyan at hindi ipagtanggol ang Pilipinas kapag pinakitahan sila ng dolyar! Nakakaiyak talaga, Ellen!
Ang titigas din ng ulo ng mga pumapasok sa Iraq mula sa Dubai, ano? Alam ng bawal, pasok pa rin tapos hihingi ng saklolo kapag na-kidnap sila! Wala talagang pagpapahalaga sa mga sarili at sariling buhay!
Ang isang napansin kong salita nitong mga paid provocateurs ni Bansot ay walang unity ang mga pilipino! Siguro sa ibang bagay but not when it comes to Bansot! Example ay nang mag-demonstrate kami sa Tokyo laban kay Bansot! Lahat nandoon, demokratikong pilipino, komunista, sosyalista, at walang partido! Kundi iyan UNITY, ano iyan?
Dito sa blogs o kahit na sa ibang egroup, wala akong conflict sa mga tunay na galit kay Bansot at maraming nakukuhang idea sa mga ikinukuwento ko tungkol sa mga ginagawa ng mga tao dito sa Japan para hindi maloko lalo na ng mga ibinoboto nilang mga politiko kaya kung may garapal man sa kanila ay madaling mahuli!
At saka papaanong magkakaroon ng UNITY kung wala kang tiwala sa kapwa mo pilipino na maaari siyang makipag-ugnayan sa kapwa niya pilipino para sa kapakanan ng lahat? Gago rin ano ang mga inutil na ito?
Makulit talaga itong bobong Popoy na ito daw kasi alam ko may ibang pangalan iyan na kaugnay sa Internet Brigade ni Bansot.
Papaano ako magiging Makapili e hindi pa ako ipinanganak noong guerra. Palibahasa siguro ang ungas na ito hindi nakikinig sa titser niya nang ituro ang Philippine history tungkol sa WWII.
Tarantado din ano? Pampagulo lang dito dahil nonsense naman ang sinasabi! Wala kang mapulot na maganda!
Ronnie & Popoy,
I respect most of the opinions of all the commenters here in the Ms. Ellen’s blog site. I’ve learned a lot from their inputs especially from Yuko, Anna, Vic, and Schumey. In fact, they can be better resource speakers of the opinionated talk shows of ANC (paid subscription satellite channel of the ABS-CBN TFC Global) than any of the administration officials.
Please don’t be confrontational and critical. But if that is the tasks assigned to you, leave us in peace.
E-mail from Joseph B:
Madam ellen,
This is just additional information regarding the deployment of filipinos in iraq.
Actually as early as 2004 the hiring was en mass.I was one of those recruited by the Dyncorp International to work as security guard in Baghdad Iraq.We left our country in the guise as tourist to kuwait with out questions from our immigration as we paid 6,000 pesos each thru a fixer.From kuwait we travelled by land to iraq after which we were trained by former american soldiers on how to use powerful weapons such as AK47,MP5 and other types.
It’s a two week qualification training with aim of protecting american clients with a guide on the rules of engagement against the enemy. I wondered why its only now that this issue has came out. I came back a year ago and earned a respectable amount as we received at least $3,000 a month.I emphatize with our countrymen who wants to work in iraq because of the monetary considerations. Im now enjoying the fruits of my labor and all i could say is “SWERTE SWERTE” lang in the sense that if its time to die then be it!!!
Good luck to those guys who was able to slip out….
Joseph,
Thanks for your info. You got a good deal with $3,000 a month. What was your work? What’s your background? Are you also a retired soldier or a policeman?
Are you not planning to go back?
Ellen,
I know Dyncorp.
When it was announced that they guys were going to get 60, 80 K annually, I didn’t believe it. It was next to impossible unless it was gonna be a suicide mission work.
From what I’ve heard US “security consultants” say, the pay is like what Joseph said.
Btw, BP (British Petroleum) has been outsourcing its security work for some of its sites in Eastern Europe – pure security work for recruited people but they should be combat ready too. The going rate is about the same 3,000 US$ monthly.
I say, leave them be. Let them work as mercenaries and earn for their families. I hate to say it but I have developed this perverse view that it is better for Filipinos to be known as adventurers-for-hire and ferocious mercenaries rather than as pliant domestic helpers and meek caregivers. Having seen so many of our OFWs maltreated, raped and killed by foreigners, I somehow feel pleased to learn that some OFWs are “wolves” and not all, after all, are sheep.
Hahah! Right you are Iloilo City Boy!
Good to meet you here… Btw, thanks for the great message. Can’t do it this August – will communicate with you soon.
A little off topic, but a relevant to the other governments who had done wrong with other countries or their nationals in the Past:
Yesterday in the House of Common, Prime Minister Stephen Harper Apologized in behalf of Canada and Her People to the Chinese immigrants and their families for the Head Tax (up to $500.) imposed on them during the late 1800s and also announced the Compensation Packaged to the surviving nationals and their families. A good example to Follow.
Indeed, if they want to meet their death in Iraq, it’s none of our business, but the problem is when they are kidnapped, they appeal for help, mercy and sympathy on TV, and NGOs like Migrante International pass around petitions to sign and send them to Malacanang and other organizations, like the Communist Iraqi group or the Labor Union that has connection with the Resistance movements in Iraq that may be able to help in asking the kidnappers to release the hostage as what was done in the case of Tarongoy, but look who got the credit! Si Bansot!
In fact, in the case of Tarongoy, there was even some question even among supporters of the Resistance in Iraq who actually kidnapped him, and they suspected some honest to goodness kidnap for ransom group that did it. He actually could not be searched!
Galit na galit ako sa kasong ito kasi kinalakal ni Bansot with the family of Tarongoy even hidden to the media except those with Malacanang connection I am told.
“INTERNET BRIGADE” Ang hina naman ng imagination mo Tache. Hindi mo man lang ako ginawang secret agent ng CIA ng mga kano sa Area 51? tsk tsk. Anyway, hindi ako maka Pandak. Eto pakingan mo (PALITAN SI GLORIA! MANDARAYA SI GLORIA! REBOLUSYON! MAKIBAKA! NO TO CHA CHA! SINUNGALING SI PANDAK!PALITAN NA!)
In the case of Tarongoy’s kidnapping, the Bansot’s government claims that it paid the kidnapper 1.4M dollars (not peso), far bigger than what Tarongoy had earned in Iraq before he was kidnapped. Now, I wonder if the company who hired him is being obligated to reimburse the Philippines for such big sum of money that could have been used for building schools in the Philippines?
We have NGOs (Christian for Peace) who travelled and worked in Iraq against our Government Advice, because of the risk to their person. But two of their workers were kidnapped for Ransom. At that instance the Government has to do everything in its power to help out her citizens go back home safely, without putting blame on anyone, not even to the party who defied the advisory. And when the kidnapped victims were safely home,their privacies were fully respected and no politician or government official took credit for it. It was the collective effort of all involved. Whatever the amount spent to acquire their freedom up to this day is still private…
Vic,
We had similar cases in Japan. In 2004, two members of our group who had been going on and off Iraq and a journalist travelling with them were kidnapped by the Muhajedeen, and we received video clips from our friends there shown on TV that frightened us. I cried for the young lad who was as old as my son and prayed hard that he would be spared. We conducted vigils in front of the Prime Minister’s official residence and did a peaceful march that were videoed and sent to Al Jazeera with our appeal to the kidnappers to spare them. Our friends in Iraq looked for them and negotiated for their release. After a week, they were released.
No money was paid to the kidnappers. This we were sure of, but the government asked the families of the victims to pay for the expenses incurred by the government in flying them back to Japan via Dubai even when they had return tickets via Jordan that they were non-refundable. We learned of their ordeal through the forums that were conducted after they came back to Japan. Travel to Iraq was strictly prohibited especially after two diplomats were killed by unknown assassins there.
That was why when the Japanese backpacker, who was supposed to be having a trip to Australia, flew there and was kidnapped, everybody here thought he was crazy. The government stood its ground to refuse to negotiate with the kidnappers. He was beheaded despite appeals from his parents shown on Al Jazeera. I could not help crying for him when I saw the video clip of his beheading in a blog I subscribed in. On the other hand, he was to blame, and he knew it. It caused Koizumi some fall from grace!
Policy here is never pay the kidnappers if it can be helped.
HI ELLEN,
I AM BACK….
MAIBA KO LANG ANG USAPAN NG KONTI AT GUSTO KO LANG ILAHAD DITO ANG KALUNGKUTAN KO.
DAHIL – NAKALIGTAS SA KAMATAYAN SI DONYA GLORIA MAKAPAL ARROVO PIDAL. HINDI PA NATULUYAN ANG HINAYUPAK NA LINTEK NA ITO. SABAGAY MATAGAL PA SIGURO MATETEPOK ITO DAHIL SA UBOD NG SAMA NG PAG KATAO. PAG TATAE LANG ANG DUMAPO SA KANYA SANA AY IYUNG MATINDI NA KATULAD NG MOSQUITO VIRUS OR BIRD FLU OR MAS MATINDI PA “SARS”. IYUN LANG ANG KAHILINGAN KO AT PARA SUMAYA AKO AT LALO ANG TAONG BAYAN.
“BREAKING NEWS” … SABI NG MGA DOCTOR AY KAYA NATIGIL DAW ANG PAGTATAE NI MRS. MAGNANAKAW AY DAHIL PINASAKAN NILA NG PERA ANG PUWET AT ANG BIBIG NI MRS. ARROVO KAYA GUMALING… TUMULONG DAW SINA NOGRALES AT TENGA SA PAG PASAK NG PERA AT NAUUNAHAN RIN TUMULONG ANG MGA KOTONGRESS SA AMO NILA KAYA GUMALING AGAD SI DONYA MAGNANAKAW.
Yuko, the government is denying that it paid $1.4 million. But my source for that report in Malaya is A-one. It was a few weeks after the Hello Garci tapes came out. Ermita called up rafael Seguis in Baghdad saying “tulungan natin si Presidente.” It was meant to divert the attention from the Hello Garci controversy. Akala nila it would be as big as Angelo de la Cruz. That didn’t happen. After two days, the issue was forgotten.
Brillantes (now ambassador to canada), who was then undersecretary and had helped negotiate for the release of angelito nayan in afghanistan, denied our story in Malaya about the $1.4 million ransom payment saying we are endangering Filipinos in Iraq by reporting that. I said, why, if Malaya didn’t report that, wouldn’t the kidnappers know that you paid?
Anyway, when it was suggested in Malacañang that Seguis’ Iraq team be given an award for saving Tarongoy, Brillantes complained, “Bakit sila bibigyan ng award, nagbayad sila a. Kami nga, we were able to have Nayan released without paying ransom.”
There, nahuhuli ang isda sa sariling bunganga.
Von Jovi, long time no hear. Nice to hear from you again.
Ronnie Mabini…una, sana ay ‘wag mo “maliitin” ang kultura ng mga Hapon, lalo na sa “kaugalian” nila na “magpakamatay” sa sandaling “nagdudulot na sila ng MALAKING KAHIHIYAN” dahil sa kanilang mga maling desisyon at ginawa sa kanilang buhay. Kung iisipin natin, hindi ba’t kung ang mga katulad ni Benjamin Abalos, Jocjoc “bulate”..kahit na si Erap pa, lalo na si Gloria…ay may pag-iisip na katulad ng sa mga Hapones, tiyak na wala na tayong problema na usigin o patalsikin si ganito at si ganyan. Kasi, akyat na lang sila sa kahit na aling mataas na gusali sa Makati, at sisigaw ng MABUHAY ANG PILIPINAS…saka tatalon…wakas ang kanilang istorya. Walang gulo, walang protesta, walang “bombahan ng tubig” sa Mendiola, batuhan at batutaan…perpekto na buhay ni Juan dela Cruz. Ang problema nga, karamihan sa ating mga Pinoy, may “balat kalabaw” at “mukhang sing-kapal at sing-tigas ng semento sa EDSA”.
Kaya nandirito tayo ngayon sa ganitong sitwasyon, nanggigil at galit na gustong patalsikin ang isang tao na ubod naman ng KAPAL, MANHID, at TUSO na “kapit-tuko” sa Palasyo. Pangalawa, bukang-bibig mo ang “danak ang dugo”, “patayan”, etc. etc., lahat patungkol sa isang napaka-“bayolenteng” pamamaraan.
Tanong ko lang, ilan ba ang “makakasama mo” o ang “kasama” mo na sa ngayon…me mga armas na ba kayo? armas na matataas na kalibre ng baril, bala, at bomba…hindi tulad ng “armas” na ginamit nung mga “matatapang” pero “tangang” kababayan natin na naglunsad nuong “Mayo Uno Riot” na binunga daw ng “EDSA TRES”, dala nila’y sangdamukal na bato…sus, akala yata ay nasa “stone age” pa tayo.
Aber, Ronnie Mabini…madaling sabihin ang mga sinasabi mo, subali’t NAPAKAHIRAP gawin, at sabihin na nating nagawa at nangyari, ito ay isa nang maituturing na “civil war”, sapagka’t tiyak na lalaban ng “patayan” si Gloria sampu ng kanyang mga alipores (natatandaan mo ba sabi ni “Mimiyak” Defensor…”we will fight fire with fire”).
Ronnie…..Ronnie…tapos na kami ng aming mga magku-kumpadre sa “pangangarap” naming “burahin” si Gloria, si Tabatsoy, kasama na si “Tenga/Yoda” De Venecia, sa pamamagitan ng “dahas” (hindi naman bawal at libre namang mangarap di ba?)…pero maisasakatuparan lamang yan sa isang “video game”. 😀
Salamat, Spartan, tama ka sa mga sinabi mo. Hindi naman ako maaantig sa mga sinasabi ng mga kumag na iyan dahil kilala ko sila, at lalo na ang sarili at sarili kong paninindigan. Diyan ako hindi puedeng saklawin o talunin ninuman!
Hindi ako sumasabat sa mga usapang hindi ko alam ang aking motto, kaya hindi ako puedeng buwagin ng mga ungas na gustong manggulo dito at ipalabas na tayong mga nakikibaka para umunlad at bumuti ang katayuan ng bayang sinilangan natin kahit na sa totoo lang ang karamihan sa atin dito ay hindi mismong makikinabang sa mga ginagawa natin ay mga baliw din na katulad nila.
Sa akin lang ay gusto kong dumating ang araw na maaari kong ipagmalaki ulit ang Pilipinas na isang bansang nakagisnan ko hindi katulad ng pagtingin ng marami sa kaniya ngayon na isang “bansa ng mga alila at puta ng mundo!”
Itong pananalitang ito ay hinawi ko sa isang egroup na sinasalihan ko na binanggit ng isang siya mismo ay malugod na bumoto kay Bugaw na Bansot pa kahit na alam niyang lalong naging “bansa ng mga alila at puta ng mundo” and Pilipinas nang magnakaw ito ng puwesto! Unbelievable but true!
Ellen,
Salamat for the confirmation of an information I received from a reliable source. Sa totoo lang, sa pagtratrabaho ko sa ICTI at ICTA ay marami rin akong contact na nagbibigay sa akin ng mga information na wala sa CNN.
Besides, I work now for some TV networks in Tokyo that give me the opportunity to see those transmissions before they are edited for the day’s flash news!
Hang on there, girl, at maraming nakikinig sa mga katotohanang sinasabi mo! Just make sure you listen to that Still Small Voice (Holy Ghost) that I know will always be there to protect you!
Isang alam ko ay walang maaaring makasagabal sa mga gawaing matino bilang gabay patungo sa katotohanan at kabutihan. Ang Diyos ang may kagustuhan niyan. Kaya ano ang maaaring magawa ni Bansot laban sa mga katulad mo at ni Ninez C Olivares, et al na may proteksyon ng Panginoon kahit na tawagin pa niya ang kaniyang patron na si Satanas!
Don’t mention it ystakei, I just did not like the way Ronnie Mabini or whatever his “real name” is, “looked down” on the other race…especially to the Japs…I mean, don’t get me wrong…I am not “kissing ass” to the people of “the Land of the Rising Sun”…but, geez…who are we to “slur” them, when if you just know the history…Japan’s history of culture and civilization was already “in full colors” at the time when our own race was not yet “even called filipinos”…the time when Japanese were already samurai sword weilding warriors, while our “ancestors” were still using wood and stone tools to hunt and cultivate the land. Yeah, Japan commited “great attrocities” during the last “GREAT WAR”, but after being (atomic)bombed twice (in Hiroshima and Nagasaki) and suffering defeat and humiliations…guess they’ve paid their debt to humanity. What we should really focus on now is the matter at hand…the matter of a “pesky” filipino woman named Gloria, who, according to her own words, “is going to lead us to the ENCHANTED KINGDOM”…can’t help but just laugh to this “tick’s” poetric lies. Why, am I laughing…I am thinking, maybe after more than 5 years of watching and listening to her and her “sucker’s” (like Ermita, Bunye, Mike Defensor) interviews in TV, I am now controling my “deep anger” by thinking I am “watching re-runs of shows like “The Three Stooges” whenever GLORIA and her band are shown on TFC. Geez, come to think of it, maybe I’m losing my “own sanity” now…. 😀
Inggit ako sa iyo, Spartan, very witty at malakas ang bagsak ng mga pananalita mo. Hind ko magaya iyan kasi masyado akong manang! Serious palagi lalo na kung galit na dahil hindi ko rin malulon ang mga pinagsasabi ng mga sinungaling na mga ungas na nakaupo ngayon. Iyan ang dahilan kung bakit wala ako TFC o GMA! Ayoko kasing dumami ang wrinkles ko!
Kapag nagta-translate nga ako ng mga transmission galing sa Pilipinas katulad noong bumagsak iyong bundok sa Leyte, Migod, panay ang mura ko habang isinasalin ko ang pag-uusap ni Bansot doon sa gobernador ng Leyte. Nonsense at talagang stupid ang pinagsasabi na sa totoo lang ay kitang-kita ang pagkagarapal. Napapataas na lang ng kilay ang mga hapon na kasama ko pagkabasa sa mga isinalin ko sa wikang hapon. Ang nangyayari tuloy, hindi nila ngayong mapintasan si Koizumi dahil mas may grabe pa palang pinuno ng bansa at mas masahol ang pagka-inutil kaysa sa kaniya!
Golly, sabihin ba naman na pausli-usli ang nguso at ngipin na matagal na raw niyang alam na may crack doon pero pinagawa pa rin ang daan doon na lalong nagpahina ng pundasyon ng bundok na nasa mismong earthquake fault. Parang hindi niya responsibilidad iyon! Tarantado talaga!
Sorry, sa mga bad words. Hindi ko kasi alam ang iba pang mas umpak na mga salita na makaka-describe sa ungas na ito na may impact kundi mga salitang tulad ng “Tarantado” “Tangna” at iba pa.
Ang tagal kong hindi nagamit ang mga salitang iyan sa totoo lang. Nito na lang umupo si Bansot sa Malacanang!
Joseph,would you like to identify yourself in the picture you sent us? It’s okay if you don’t want to.
You said in your e-mail, this was taken during your training in Baghdad. Is this within the green zone?
Press release:
Shocking itong si Senator Enrile! Paborito ko pa naman siya, pero ngayon hindi na! On the other hand, malabo nga naman ang kategoriya ng mga pilipinong ipinapadala sa Iraq based sa explanation ng mga recruiter.
Buti na lang meron kang mga reliable witnesses, Ellen, na nagpapatunay na napapasabak ang mga “workers” kunong ito sa laban! Kaya hindi rin masasabing hindi sila mercenaries.
Para bang sinabing hindi maaaring maging prostitute iyong g bakla na nagtratrabaho bilang hostess cum prostitute na nakasuot babae dito sa Japan! Bagay puedeng makalusot kasi very specific iyong batas ng Japan tungkol sa prostitution na hindi prostitution kung hindi ari ng babae ang ginamit sa pagsasagawa ng kahalayang sekwal para kumita ng pera.
Gosh, kung ganito na nga ang katwiran ng mga tao e wala nang silbi ang mga batas maging batas ng tao o batas ng Diyos!
But all have been prophesied in fact that in the last days, there will be so much confusion that good will become evil and evill will become good depending on the goodness and evilness of the beholder.
“THIS know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded•, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (2Tim 3: 1-5) Heaven, forgive!
Ako sa totoo lang ay walang pakialam kung gusto ng mga pilipinong ito na magpakamatay. Ang masagwa ay papasok sila, tapos kapag nalagay sila sa alanganin nagrereklamo sila, at mamamahamak pa. Ang problema sa dami ng nag-a-apply, hindi tuloy sila makahingi ng talagang mga nararapat na fringe benefits para kahit matepok sila secured ang pamumuhay ng mga mahal nila sa buhay hindi katulad nang nangyari doon sa isang pilipinong namatay sa Iraq na parang ibinasura na lang at hindi tinulungan gawa ng hindi naman daw dumaan sa POEA! Napipilitan silang tanggapin ang kahit na anong condition makaalis lang ng Pilipinas! Kawawa rin, pero sabi nga ni Mr. Paredes sa column niya ngayon, “If there are no volunteers, there will be no racket. It’s as simple as that!” tungkol naman doon sa mga nilolokong mga UN Peacekeeper ng mga opisyal ng AFP na kumukuha ng tong sa mga sinasahod nila.
Ito na talaga ang sukdulang kawalanghiyaan na ayon kay Senator Pimentel ay hindi na nga halos matawag na walanghiyaan!
Anna, Village savant is not my blogsite. I don’t have a blog yet.
Just sharing.
Just sharing:
Government Decides to Withdraw GSDF from Iraq
[International] June 23 , 2006
The Japanese government on June 20 decided on the withdrawal of the Ground Self-Defense Force units that have been engaged in humanitarian and reconstruction assistance in the city of Samawah in southern Iraq. This means that the mission of the GSDF in Iraq, which began in January 2004, will come to an end after two and a half years. In a press conference on June 20, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi announced the decision to withdraw the GSDF and at the same time clarified the government’s policy of continuing and expanding the air transportation activities of the Air Self-Defense Force between Kuwait and Iraq. After receiving an order from Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga, the GSDF units immediately began pullout work with the aim of completing their withdrawal in July.
Background to the Decision on GSDF Withdrawal
Even before the dispatch to Iraq, the Self-Defense Forces had accumulated an impressive track record of activities on foreign soil. Until the Iraq dispatch, however, the activities had been limited to peacekeeping operations under the United Nations and disaster assistance. The dispatch to Iraq was the first case of a dispatch outside of these two standard frameworks. Moreover, with the intensification of the armed insurgency, the public security situation in Iraq had been extremely bad. Against this background, the dispatch of the SDF to Iraq posed major problems both politically and also legally, and temporary legislation, the Law Concerning the Special Measures on Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance in Iraq, was enacted to give the dispatch a legal basis. This law stipulated that the mission of the SDF was limited to humanitarian and reconstruction assistance and that it would not be involved in combat. The term of dispatch, which was limited to one year, was extended twice.
When the law was extended for a second time in December 2005, however, the government stated that it would “respond appropriately” on SDF activities while taking due account of four factors: (1) progress of the political process in Iraq; (2) the security situation in Iraq, including the transfer of authority to Iraqi security forces; (3) the state of activity and changes in the composition of multinational forces, including the British and Australian military, on duty in the governorate of Al-Muthanna; and (4) the state of progress in reconstruction. In reality, “respond appropriately” was understood to mean the pullout of troops, and it had been widely expected that a decision on withdrawal would be made around the middle of 2006. Regarding the reasons for the pullout, Prime Minister Koizumi cited in the press conference, among other things, the fact that a new government has been inaugurated in Iraq and security responsibility in Al-Muthanna, where Samawah is located, has been transferred from Britain to Iraq. “After discussions with the United States, Britain and Australia, and others,” he stated, “we determined that the GSDF’s humanitarian and reconstruction activities have fulfilled a certain role.” This statement indicates the government’s judgment that conditions for the withdrawal of the GSDF have been met.
Summation of the GSDF’s Activities
Although its mission was limited to humanitarian and reconstruction assistance, it cannot be denied that the SDF were dispatched to a foreign territory that was virtually in a state of combat. In that sense, the dispatch of the SDF to Samawah was a major event and a new experience in terms of not only the role given to the SDF in international cooperation but also the form of Japan’s international contribution. For that reason, Japan’s five national newspapers on June 21 all carried editorials summing up the SDF’s activities in Iraq and discussing the role of the SDF within the broad context of Japan’s international contribution.
The common thread in all of the editorials was their positive evaluation of the fact that (1) the SDF has not once exercised force and has suffered no casualties and (2) the SDF made a certain contribution to reconstruction assistance and the stabilization of public life in the Samawah area.
The Mainichi Shimbun editorial stated, “When the government gave cabinet approval to a basic plan for the dispatch to Iraq in December 2003, we insisted that right to the end the dispatch should be for only humanitarian and reconstruction assistance. And we cautioned that the activities should strictly abide by the framework of the Constitution. We also requested that proper consideration should be given to the safety of the troops and the dispatch should not drag on through extensions. In that sense, safety was ensured, and the SDF appears to have been able to carry out fairly satisfactory activities.” Summing up the results of the activities, it went on, “The SDF employed an aggregate total of about 475,000 local citizens for water supply assistance, medical assistance, and the repair of roads and public facilities. It was able to create more jobs than expected, and the fact is that its presence was appreciated by the local people.”
The Nihon Keizai Shimbun editorial remarked, “Fortunately the GSDF in Samawah have not suffered a single casualty. If the activities can be finished in this way and assistance to Iraq continued in a different manner, then it will go down as a success story. The prime minister, who is the supreme commander of the Self-Defense Forces, probably made the decision on withdrawal during his term in office because, as the supreme commander, he wanted to settle the matter.”
On the other hand, several editorials also calmly pointed out that the domestic situation in Iraq is still a long way from stability and independence and emphasized the need for continued assistance from Japan. The Yomiuri Shimbun editorial commented, “In response to a request from U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan for Japan to assist in U.N. transport activities, the government intends to continue and expand the Air Self-Defense Force’s support operation. Improvement of Iraq’s public order will lead to the reopening of U.N. offices in the country. This will provide an opportunity for Japan to expand its role in Iraq’s rehabilitation. It also will be necessary for Japan to increase aid to Iraq through its official development assistance. The government has already said it will extend a total of $5 billion in aid to Iraq, including $1.5 billion in grants-in-aid that has already been provided.” Similarly, the Mainichi editorial expressed hope for assistance in a different form, saying, “The situation is not such that private Japanese citizens can enter Iraq, but we would like the Japanese government to make the utmost efforts to link the SDF’s reconstruction assistance to official development assistance by such efforts as the employment of local people.”
International Peace Cooperation Activities and the Role of the SDF
One conflicting point that stood out in the commentaries of Japan’s national newspapers concerned how the Iraq dispatch of the SDF should be positioned within the broader context of Japan’s international peace cooperation activities. Through the editorials, it can be said that the sharp conflict in newspaper opinions regarding this issue was brought into relief.
The Asahi editorial observed, “Simply put, it [Prime Minister Koizumi’s determination to continue the stationing of the SDF in Iraq] was to prove that Japan was an ally that sustains the United States, which had come increasingly under fire from the international community. Naturally, this earned Japan the respect of the George W. Bush administration. But the ostensible reason for the invasion – Saddam’s weapons of mass destruction — did not exist, and the war now appears to have been unjustified. Also bear in mind that Japan has let the Arab world down by supporting this war and being party to the occupation of Iraq.” It added, “With the SDF becoming more firmly entrenched in U.S. global strategy, there is every likelihood that Japanese troops will be shipped out casually to ‘another Iraq.’ That must never happen.”
On the other side of the debate, the Sankei Shimbun editorial commented, “The SDF is not allowed to exercise force to expel the enemy even if friendly troops are being attacked by terrorists. This is because the government’s interpretation of the Constitution is that it does not permit acts that are deemed to be integrated with the exercise of force. However, such restrictions could become a drag on the joint actions of the international community. The use of arms to eliminate acts that impede the execution of duties is a basic criterion of the United Nations; it is not an exercise of force, which is prohibited by the Constitution.”
The Yomiuri Shimbun editorial similarly stated, “It is essential that Japan continue international peace cooperation activities by the Self-Defense Forces for the purpose of ensuring the peace and stability of the international community. However, the government will be unable to swiftly deal with each new emergency that may arise if it must create a new law to handle the situation. The government must hasten the creation of a permanent law on the SDF’s international peace cooperation activities.”
(Copyright 2006 Foreign Press Center Japan)
The japanese are withdrawing from Iraq. While Filipinos are flocking there.
E-mail from Emilio:
Greetings,
I am encountering connection problem again to your blog site. Your articles on Malaya and Abante will be attracting more Bansot/Luli Internet Brigade to debate/contest the inputs from your frequenters in the blog site.
I just received an e-mail from one of my American friends who saw action in Iraq last year as a response to my inquiry about the validity of the Filipino “mercenaries” in Iraq. I was told that there is a lot of work in Iraq and Afghanistan for all nationalities. As to security, there was a lot of work and he assume there still is. He met a few Filipino Security folks. Mostly are American, Brits and South African but there are people from everywhere.
Basically, there are two types of Security work. Static, this is where people work pretty much as you see the guards at Malacanang sentry, with the exception they are armed and might occasionally see some activity (they probably make less money). The other is PSD, Personal Security Detail. These are largely people who travel around in convoys escorting “clients”. This is very dangerous work in Iraq and Afghanistan. He had his truck shot up during his first week in the country and a month later his truck was blown up (fortunately he was in an armoured vehicle). He didn’t work as Personal Security Detail, he was a “client”. Also the living conditions are very harsh over there especially nowadays that it is summer.
The good news is that the money is pretty good. To the best of his knowledge salaries do not change based on nationality. He knew from his company, the security sub-contractor had people from about a half dozen different companies and they all made about the same thing, around $150,000 to 200,000 a year. The following are some of the names of major Security companies, Triple Canopy, ArmorGroup, Blackwater, Global, Hart, Cochise Consultancy, Dyncorp, KBR, CTU, Control Risk. Typically these companies will provide weapons and body armor. Another large company that hires all sorts of construction and logistical people is Parsons.
Here’s the most disheartening part – the company in Subic which recruits and deploys prospective “security” personnel in Iraq are compensating them between $1,700 – $2,000/ per month. That is roughly between $20,400 – $24,000/ per year. A big difference from the actual take as mentioned above. Somebody is taking a big part of the pie!
Iyan ang sinasabing nagpapakamatay upang mabuhay!
To Ronnie Mabini
Alam ko na pakay mo dito, mga matitinong tao ang nagbibigay ng mag komentaryo dito. Di nakikipag away. Pagbinasa ko ang mga pananalita mo, isa kang PROGRESIBONG GRUPO na ang layunin ang hikayatin ang mga tao sa internet…malas mo kasi matitino mga tao dito…..
Isa ka sa kanilang nalinlang…mag isip ka kaibigan, may puwang pa para ka makapagisip ng mabuti… sayang ang iyong talino at nagpapagamit ka……
To Ronnie Mabini
Hindi ka rin nakakasiguro sa AFP, bakit ganun na lang nila protektahan si bansot? Magaling din dumiskarte ang AFP, alam nila kung pano laruin ang situwasyon! Hanggang naibibigay ni bansot ang kapritso ng mga tiwaling heneral hindi sila bibitaw kay bansot. Pabor sa AFP ang isang bilyon budget laban sa mga NPA, malaking pera yan syempre sila ang unang-unang makikinabang right?
TINGNAN MO ANG IYONG MENSAHE KAIBIGAN… TALAGANG NAGKIMKIM KA NG GALIT. KASI YAN ANG IDOKTRINASYON NG MGA PULAHAN SA MGA KABATAANG TULAD MO… WAG KA NA MAGKAILA.. ISA KANG LFS O KM……WALA KAYONG PUWANG SA MAMAMAYANG NAGMAMAHAL NG DEMOKRASYA….IBAGSAK ANG KOMUNISTA…MAHALIN ANG DEMOKRASYA…..
Isang madugong rebolusyon tunay lang ang solusyon, tulad ng madalas kong sabihin; kahit maraming buhay pa ang magbuwis at magsilayas ang mga dayuhan mamumuhunan or mas lalong bumagsak ang ekonomiya kung eto naman ang makakapag-patalsik kay bansot okey lang. Importante mapaalis natin si bansot. Diyan tayo mag-FOCUS
Eto ang tunay na adhikain; IF WE WANT PEACE, PREPARE FOR A WAR… we need a bloody war to attain this goal!!!
MARAMING SALAMAT ATE ELLEN, MABUHAY PO KAYO
Ellen:
Yup, the Ground Self-Defense Force is being withdrawn from Iraq kasi ang pakay lang naman nila ay humanitarian back-up. Tapos na ang dapat nilang gawin doon kaya uuwi na sila para walang mga sundalong hapon na mamamatay doon. Laking tulong din sa gobyerno kasi ang laki ng insurance para sa kanila kung mamamatay sila. Maghihirap ang Hapon kung mangyari iyon. At saka, mukhang ang papalit kay Koizumi ay ayaw na masabit ang Hapon sa Iraq, at napansin yatang hindi tutuparin ni Bush ang pangako niyang bibigyan ng malaking concession ang Japan sa langis ng Iraq kaya lalabas na ang Hapon. Kasi kahit na hindi naman marunong mag-ingles ang karamihan dito ay hindi naman nangangahulugang gunggong ang mga tao dito.
Tignan natin ang sasabihin ni Koizumi tungkol sa lakad niya sa Canada ngayon. He’s going to meet Bush there.
Well, kung gusto ng mga pilipinong mapugutan ng ulo doon, e di magpunta sila.
Last year, isang Japanese mercenary na dating nasa French Foreign Legion ay pinatay ng mga rebels sa Iraq kaya natakot na ang mga hapon na magpunta doon. Dalawang hapon na ang napugutan ng ulo at Limang nakidnap na nakaligtas naman. Isa na nga si Nahoko Takato na gustong maging malaya na ang Iraq para makabalik siya doon at ipagpatuloy ang ginagawa niyang pagtulong sa mga tao doon.
Nangongolekta siya ng mga damit, abuloy, etc. at binibili niya ng gamot para doon sa mga batang nasalanta noon sa Gulf War at sa giyera ngayon. Iyang ganyan kawanggawa OK ako, pero iyong magpapakamatay ka sa pera lang, pwe! Nasaan na ang pagpapahalaga ng mga pilipino sa sarili nila?