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fter the euphoria over the victory of boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao, and the 2009 CNN Hero of the Year award of Efren Penaflorida, Filipinos across the globe suddenly felt 'shell-shocked' by the horrific and senseless massacre that occurred last Monday the 23rd of November. Fifty-seven people have so far been reported murdered (including 30 journalists) in what is being called the Maguindanao massacre. The gruesome crime scene revealed that many of the victims showed signs of torture and rape.

This is the reality in the Philippines, where "feudalistic" political warlords reign over their fiefdoms through intimidation with the complicit imprimatur from the national government that depends on these warlords to deliver the votes during elections.

And while the heads of these political clans pretend to show a modicum of  restraint, it is their young sons who display unbridled arrogance with no respect for authority—as far as they're concerned, they are the ultimate authority throughout their 'fiefdom.' These brash young hoodlums, who would otherwise be seen as 'small fry' were it not for their parent's power and authority, are often able to commit unspeakable atrocities to the hapless civilians inside their domains. This is not the first time a son of a powerful politician has run amok—it happens more often then we think.

Almost 40 years ago, another brash young man, the son of then Ilocos Sur Governor Carmeling Pichay Crisologo burned the towns of Ora Este and Ora Centro for the simple reason that his mother lost in those two towns during the 1969 elections. Vincent "Bingbong" Crisologo was eventually tried, convicted and sentenced to two life terms. It was the public outcry that forced the reluctant Ferdinand Marcos into action as the Crisologos were close political allies. 

The horrendous crime that happened last Monday could happen again in the future unless we band together and put a stop to it. One way to do this is to push for legislation that removes from office, politicians who aid and abet, or even just turn a blind eye to the criminal acts of their children. These are parents who through their own action (or inaction) instill in their children the distorted belief that they are above the law, simply because they belong to a rich and powerful family.

The rationale behind such landmark legislation is that, Andal Ampatuan Jr., the prime suspect in the Maguindanao massacre, or Vincent Crisologo decades earlier, would not have been able to carry out their heinous crimes if their parents were not in positions of power and authority.

Such a law would force the heads of the powerful clans that rule the countryside to keep their young boys on a 'short leash' least they end up out of power themselves.

PHILNEWS.COM will look for sponsors in the Philippine Senate and the Batasan Pambansa (House of Representatives) to get some kind of legislation passed that will put an end to the kind of senseless violence perpetrated by the children of the politically powerful. Had such legislation been in place, this Maguindanao massacre might never have happened.
 

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