To be continued…

Like some thriller that can’t be shown in one episode, today’s SONA or State of the Nation Address will most likely end with the announcement that the war on drugs, corruption and terrorism remains “To be continued,” because they have barely scratched the surface and there is still much to be done. While the media has taken the position that President Duterte has “control” of Congress which is why he got the extension he wanted, we all have to consider that if the overwhelming majority voted to extend Martial Law in Mindanao until December 31, then there must have been much more reasons besides being in the majority. There must have been more than meets the eye and the legislators got a clearer picture of the situation.

Unfortunately, no one seems inclined to “Share,” “Post” or “Twitter” the scary scenario that has led to the declaration of Martial Law and its subsequent extension. We misjudged the situation by focusing too much on Marawi and not trying to figure out why the declaration had to cover all of Mindanao. Filipinos thought that the Marawi siege was just some sachet size rebellion of religious extremists that would be over in a few days. But that was until reports began to air about 10 dead foreign fighters and sniper specialists with the Maute group followed by IS style of terrorism and beheading of non-Muslims followed by drug finds of shabu that amounted to millions of pesos which substantiated claims that many rebel groups in Mindanao were actively engaged in the sale of drugs to procure very powerful and modern weapons and pay salaries to fighters.

After three weeks, we learned about bunkers and tunnels just like the Vietcong used in their war with America. Sixty days later we now realize that the Maute group were indeed allied and perhaps funded by foreign terrorist groups and foreign fighters. What Typhoon Yolanda failed to do, the Maute Rebels succeeded in doing. They turned a developing city into a war zone full of ruins.

The question is: What did the legislators find out in the briefing that convinced almost all of them that the government needs to extend Martial Law for half a year? Is it to deal with an even bigger problem? What are the chances that many Islamic schools have to be processed and cleansed of extremist indoctrination? How many local officials will have to be purged from office for being handlers, financiers or collaborators of terrorists and extremists?

We only counted 10 maybe 20 foreign fighters, where are the reported 1,200 Indonesian Jihadists that an Indonesian official mentioned were now in the Philippines? What about the extremists that the Turkish Ambassador said had set up shop in Mindanao? Then there is the possibility that the NPA has partnered with the terrorists in Mindanao or have aligned their offensive against their common enemy? In the process of dealing with threats, what cleansing will have to be done among some uniformed personnel for engagement in drug trafficking or providing weapons and ammunitions to the extremists?

At this stage we will simply have to step back and watch what unfolds the same way we watch a mystery movie or thriller. This is one of those situations when the military and the government won’t appreciate Spoiler Alerts or Tattle-tales telling us every scene. So, Abangan ang susunod na kabanata!

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Although it got buried in the inside pages, there was no hiding the fact that the DPWH is still intent on building the Lawton – Sta. Monica bridge which is strongly opposed by residents of Barrio Kapitolyo. 

After the many months that have passed, Barrio Kapitolyo finds itself between a rock and a hard place. Three major condominium developments have since begun construction in the area without anyone asking where will a couple thousand more cars pass once the new owners move in. Then a bridge that promises to ferry thousands of cars everyday through or over Barrio Kapitolyo will start construction and will, without a doubt, bring traffic to a standstill in the Ortigas business center, Shaw Boulevard, the Valle Verde area, and Barrio Kapitolyo. At the moment there is a daily morning hour traffic stand still on Shaw Boulevard going to Pasig Boulevard towards C5 because priority is given to vehicles driving out of Pasig City to C5.

For a minute let’s put aside the sentiments of the Kapitolyo residents and ask: who in their right mind would still want to buy a unit in any of the DMCI or Rockwell/ the Vantage condos knowing you will be living in the center of a perpetual traffic jam?  If current residents see the bridge as a threat to their peaceful and healthy existence, then potential buyers of property in the area should think twice!

Did any of the government planners ever researched how much slower traffic has become around the Ortigas Business Center and how shoving a hundred thousand cars through it will make things worse beyond Ortigas. When I read the news item, the DPWH people claim that the bridge is intended to interconnect the BGC business district with the Ortigas Business district. We all know that everybody else will use the bridge and before you know it the whole idea of faster travel will be defeated by everybody looking for a shortcut.

If the government is really sincere about interconnection and faster travel, then why limit itself to one bridge and only between two developer’s pet project? Build more bridges in order to disperse the volume and flow and if Secretary Mark Villar ever gets to read this article, I humbly request that he speaks with some of the affected residents. It is not the bridge we oppose – it is the placement or routing! So far, the people at the DPWH have simply ignored suggestions believing that they can have their way especially under President Duterte. You may get your way but it will come at a high price and with no peace!

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