GMA SPEWS fire and brimstone.
Her Excellency, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, has ordered the “rapid annihilation” of the Abu Sayyaf extremists in the wake of last week’s bloody battle that left 50 people dead, 23 of them soldiers.
“The war against terror must be pursued. The annihilation of the Abu Sayyaf must be done,” GMA decreed during a command conference of security officials led by Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Victor Ibrado at the Western Mindanao Command headquarters in Zamboanga City.
Echoed, verbatim, presidentiable Gibo of his Boss: “The instruction of the President is that the war against terror must be pursued. The annihilation of the Abu Sayyaf must be done.”
In her order, the President tasked the AFP to “coordinate efforts with local government units to vigorously bring economic development and social services, particularly to areas where the Abu Sayyaf is known to operate.” So was it quoted in the media.
Further presidential directives to the AFP include the review of the results of military operations against the Abu Sayyaf with the end in view of improving the AFP strategy against the terrorists.
The President was quoted as saying the recent military operation “would serve as the road map in the fight against terrorism in its bigger form with the emphasis on rapid result.”
Rapid result. The operative word. But haven’t the Filipino people heard of this too long that it has ceased to be…well, operative? More sedative, so I heard a wisecrack quipped.
Time was when the presidential soundbytes where the “ragtag bandit group Abu Sayyaf” was concerned were “bilang na ang araw na ninyo (your days are numbered)” and “pupulbusin namin kayo (we will pulverize you).”
Sheer braggadocio, all sound and fury signifying nothing!
The war against the Abu Sayyaf is not an acoustic war. The sooner the commander-in-chief and his troops learn this, the earlier the war ends.
No sheer soundbyting but sober is Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago
The usually ballistic Maid Miriam is all cool rationality saying Malacanang “had not been forthcoming when talking about the expenses during (presidential) foreign trips.”
MDS, a part of the presidential delegation not a partaker at the lavish dinners, suggested that to get out of the hole it dug itself in, the Palace should offer a most rational and credible explanation to the people.
“It’s very easy, just tell the truth. How many people attended the dinner? In effect, how much per person was paid? Now if it will show that the cost per person would be very high, you could base from there whether it was really manifestly excessive.” So Senator Santiago said, rationalizing: “While Le Cirque may be known as an expensive place, if the number of people who attended that dinner would justify the cost, divided among them, for sure that would be acceptable to the people.”
And yes, Maid Miriam, was quick to point out that “anger” on the part of Malacañang would not in any way compensate for a “plausible, rationale explanation” of the issue.
Further suggestions: “Now, these people surrounding the President should not get her into trouble by inviting her to the top-level, the highest-priced fine dining places…She can be invited in respectable, decent places apt for presidents like her that offer reasonable prices.”
My, my, Madame Miriam is all rational sweetness, when sober.
Her Excellency, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, has ordered the “rapid annihilation” of the Abu Sayyaf extremists in the wake of last week’s bloody battle that left 50 people dead, 23 of them soldiers.
“The war against terror must be pursued. The annihilation of the Abu Sayyaf must be done,” GMA decreed during a command conference of security officials led by Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Victor Ibrado at the Western Mindanao Command headquarters in Zamboanga City.
Echoed, verbatim, presidentiable Gibo of his Boss: “The instruction of the President is that the war against terror must be pursued. The annihilation of the Abu Sayyaf must be done.”
In her order, the President tasked the AFP to “coordinate efforts with local government units to vigorously bring economic development and social services, particularly to areas where the Abu Sayyaf is known to operate.” So was it quoted in the media.
Further presidential directives to the AFP include the review of the results of military operations against the Abu Sayyaf with the end in view of improving the AFP strategy against the terrorists.
The President was quoted as saying the recent military operation “would serve as the road map in the fight against terrorism in its bigger form with the emphasis on rapid result.”
Rapid result. The operative word. But haven’t the Filipino people heard of this too long that it has ceased to be…well, operative? More sedative, so I heard a wisecrack quipped.
Time was when the presidential soundbytes where the “ragtag bandit group Abu Sayyaf” was concerned were “bilang na ang araw na ninyo (your days are numbered)” and “pupulbusin namin kayo (we will pulverize you).”
Sheer braggadocio, all sound and fury signifying nothing!
The war against the Abu Sayyaf is not an acoustic war. The sooner the commander-in-chief and his troops learn this, the earlier the war ends.
No sheer soundbyting but sober is Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago
The usually ballistic Maid Miriam is all cool rationality saying Malacanang “had not been forthcoming when talking about the expenses during (presidential) foreign trips.”
MDS, a part of the presidential delegation not a partaker at the lavish dinners, suggested that to get out of the hole it dug itself in, the Palace should offer a most rational and credible explanation to the people.
“It’s very easy, just tell the truth. How many people attended the dinner? In effect, how much per person was paid? Now if it will show that the cost per person would be very high, you could base from there whether it was really manifestly excessive.” So Senator Santiago said, rationalizing: “While Le Cirque may be known as an expensive place, if the number of people who attended that dinner would justify the cost, divided among them, for sure that would be acceptable to the people.”
And yes, Maid Miriam, was quick to point out that “anger” on the part of Malacañang would not in any way compensate for a “plausible, rationale explanation” of the issue.
Further suggestions: “Now, these people surrounding the President should not get her into trouble by inviting her to the top-level, the highest-priced fine dining places…She can be invited in respectable, decent places apt for presidents like her that offer reasonable prices.”
My, my, Madame Miriam is all rational sweetness, when sober.
