Leaks turning into a flood

As more and more “leaks” from Wikileaks continue, specifically those unflattering cables emanating from the US embassy concerning various personalities from the country, including the President, an atmosphere of hostility has been created between known antagonists and erstwhile partners. The more animated, therefore entertaining one is between former President Fidel Ramos and Sen. Miriam Santiago, who lost to the former in her presidential bid last 1992. But the revelation from Wikileaks that no less than the popular/unpopular Muammar Gadhafi donated P5 million pesos to Ramos’ campaign has stoked the smoldering fire between these two antagonists. Santiago has always stated that she was cheated of the presidency, with the help of another nemesis Ronaldo Puno. The Wikileaks revelation proves it, according to the feisty senator. President Ramos retorts with sarcasm that Gadhafi be invited to the Senate for questioning, prompting the senator to rebut by saying that he should catch him first. If that exchange isn’t amusing, nothing is.

But the more serious and somber effects of the leaks lies between former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban of the Philippine Marines. According to the cables, Teodoro told then US Ambassador Kristie Kenney that Gen. Sabban received money when the Abu Sayyaf held the International Committee of the Red Cross volunteers hostage. The general has vehemently denied the accusation by Teodoro, citing he was ordered to be elsewhere during the negotiations because he was totally against it.

From this statement, it shows that although the cables may be accurate in the sense that the persons involved said what they said, they may be just opinions or even hearsay. Just because someone says something, it isn’t always the truth. Still, the deluge of leaks that have surfaced into the mainstream picked up by the media have raised tensions all over the country, particularly among those in government and related circles. I was particularly drawn to the interest the US showed in the botched signing of the MOA-AD, where then US Amb. Kristie Kenney was present. The rejected MOA-AD apparently was giving too much economic power to the US for the development of what was to be a Bangsamoro state. Again, the US has been exposed as not the facilitator of democracy, as it would like to be seen, but a meddler in national affairs where in the end, they stand to benefit the most. The Wikileaks revelations are very damning for the US. Incidentally, the US has declined to comment on the authenticity of the reports. That is enough said, if you ask me.

So the question now is, is the US still “supporting” the MILF in its quest for a substate? Is there a connection between the US show of support for the Philippines in the event of any sort of conflict with China, and the creation of a Bangsamoro substate? Only the current administration can answer that. We can only hope that it best serves the country, and not the US alone. One can only imagine what cables will emanate from the US embassy during this administration!