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Opinion

The weeds and the wheat

PERSPECTIVE - Cherry Piquero Ballescas - The Freeman

What is the real story, the truth, behind the latest incident involving Cebu City Councilor and former Barangay Captain Jessielou Cadungog?

 

Was it an assassination attempt vs him, as Cadungog believes, or was it a case of self-defense as William Macaslang, Cadungog’s driver and bodyguard, claims?

Was it a case of murder vs PO3 Eugene Calumba of the Parian Police Station who was on board a motorcycle driven by police asset, Michael Banua? Both were reportedly coming from a surveillance operation in Barangay Tejero, according to the Police Regional Office-7. Others, however, view the tandem as “motorcycle-riding police assassins.”

The public and media are debating about whose version to believe in. Meanwhile, the NBI and the CIDG are handling the case but are arguing about who has custody of all those involved in this recent incident.

With this incident as well as the spate of other recent unresolved killings throughout Cebu, often reported as drug-related, there is urgency for the truth to come out soonest.

There is also the urgent public appeal for the police to maintain the wheat among their ranks — the noble, the honest, and those committed to peace and protection of our people. The public wants to know: Are the police the protectors of the people or are they responsible for the unresolved killings?

Everyone deserves peace and security. In the midst of these unresolved killings, people want to know: Who can the public turn to for protection, for safety?

While all agree that the drug problem has to be solved, there is a gap about the solution — between those who are against and those who believe in EJKs. Even among the police and the military, there are those who are for and those who are reportedly part of EJKs, some, again reportedly, for a fee.

Can the public look forward to the wheat among the weeds in the police and the military to stand up for the truth, the good, the noble, for God and for His people?

Are you familiar with the “The Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds” in Matthew 13:24-43? Jesus said: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.”

When the owner’s servants asked if he wanted them to pull the weeds out, he answered, “No, because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”

When asked by his disciples to explain this parable, Jesus answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age.”

May those for God’s truth and peace, the good seeds, the wheat, be more than the bad weeds planted in the government, in the ranks of the police and the military, and among our people..

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JESSIELOU CADUNGOG

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