Two Men Down and Who's Next?

            The pattern is fast unfolding like fiction caught in a maze  leaving many observers  reeling in the background. Ordinary but concerned taxpayers are also caught in deep  bated breath probably reeking with anger and impatience over the incredibly slow pace of addressing the case. What would happen next. as the plot and  sub plots thickens building into a classic story in the making catching everybody off guard from an unexpected turn and twist of events. Who’s just really next?

Unfortunately, Maguindanao Massacre is a true story earning us  a bad niche as the world’s most dangerous place for any journalist to engaged his profession relegating Iran in the backdrop. Lately, two or three journalists were added in a separate incidents to the long list of statistics further aggravating that infamy smacking  right before  our faces. As member of the profession albeit considered as road less traveled, it is behooved upon our officials  in authority to be  passionate in solving the problem.  Sadly though it’s the other way around. They mess up instead with the issue in the case of Commission of Human Rights and Department of Justice passing the buck instead among themselves. Where is now our justice and legal system in solving the case  as 57 innocent victims  many of whom were journalists implicating  197 suspects!

The incident hit us really hard and we would not probably recover lost prestige and confidence from people around the world should the issue would be dragged all the more ad infinitum. Fiction should have no room in this story. But look what happened to the case. Instead of addressing the issue and solving the crime of the century with dispatch, it seems it would take a miracle closing the case  as it is dragged further to nowhere turning the event the other  way around. Two vital witnesses lives were already lost and maybe their blood would continue haunting us the longer  our authority are sitting on their job. It is just hoped that with Leila de Lima taking the helm of DOJ, she would make good her promise as she declares that she normally puts her heart on the job given in the same way as she too personally  admitted in recent interview that she is no non-sense legal luminary in the country.

 First to fall  was an uncle of a witness. That happened two months earlier. Next to fall on the dragnet ending as another statistics of the case  on June 14, 2010 at Parang was Suwaid Upham,  alias Jessie the self-confessed accomplice of Andal Jr. As of the latest, Harry Roque said they are in the possession of four vital witness to the killing of Upham.  But better he coordinate with DOJ in providing them protection or the four might again be considered dead men walking.

As alias  Jessie  openly admitted, he was a willing  participant in the conspiracy leading to  cold blooded Maguindanao Massacre of November last year which shocked the nation and the whole world.

He was actually in Manila two months earlier in March and April but returned back in Maguindanao when DOJ denied protection  for his  two scheduled  interview. Leaving Manila his days was already numbered as he went back in Mindanao.  Soon unforeseen incident overtook him as he finds himself spilling his blood in Parang last June 14, 2010. With his death at Parang, Cotabato, Upham or alias Jessie burries with him too  important lead that otherwise would have  established possible indictment and punitive penalty to  Andal Jr.and seven other  cohorts namely cousins Kanor, Ban, Mama – all Ampatuans - , PO1 Ando Masukat and certain Kudipa among 197 suspects.

Upham stated that Genalyn Mangundadatu, wife of Toto Mangundadatu was the first to be killed followed by many others thus comprising the first batch of victims and casualties. Andal Jr. would then ordered the seven other gunmen firing indiscriminately towards innocent people inside their parked vehicle despite earnest request pleading to save their lives. At least four mediamen  were killed outright in that arbitrary burst of gunfire, he declared. And as shown at  the height of arrongance, Andal Jr. has even has the gall uttering ominous phrase as he bade adieu his men after surrendering: “ Walang mangyayari sa kaso nila. Kaya ng pera naming silang lahat!”, the Philippine Star wrote. And true enough, Upham would soon suffer in silence. Why really not as Andal Jr. already suggested. This is what gripping Mindanao today as peace is so illusive  what with millions intimidating  to silence witnesses. 

Meanwhile, Asst. Chief Prosecutor Richard Fodullon will validate and conduct cross examine for new witness in due time. He is Lakmodin Saliao, a self-confessed trusted assistant of Andal Sr. Will he or will he not spilled the beans. Or will he not succumbed to temptation to almighty peso and buckle in the end before the closure of the case. The better DOJ now provide him security to secure his safety and the revelation he will declare. Enough for Agra and other high ranking officials whose impartiality of treating the case was proven  suspect. Too many blood already spilled out in Maguindanao. Their voices from the mass graves have been  crying justice to high heaven. Better to act swiftly or another unexpected incident happen from this episode as in a fiction.