The bishops’ opinion
By Joel Benedict Pineda, reader | 10/30/2008 6:55 PM
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The bishops’ opinion
Dear Editor:
Here are the possible reactions of different groups with various interests when the president of the Catholic Bishop's Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Angel Lagdameo and four other bishops called for "radical change" in government:
a. The CPP-NPA and other ideological armed groups: conduct ambushes, burning of cell sites, and other terror activities in the provinces to force a "revolutionary" condition;
b. The MILF and other Islamic extremists: conduct massive military offensives because the Armed Forces of the Philippines is busy pursuing the NPAs;
c. The rightist elements of the AFP: collect donations from wealthy politicians, prod the militant leftists and civil society to provide one million warm bodies in the streets, takeover a plush hotel in Makati (or elsewhere in Metro Manila), and wait for the tipping point to forcibly takeover vital government institutions. (Militants and civil society will eventually be eliminated);
d. The militant leftists of various persuasions: mobilize as many members possible, hold demonstrations and incite the public to overthrow the government;
e. The moderate civil society groups: ask the people through press conferences to take to the streets and inadvertently join the ranks of militants;
f. The so-called "enlightened" clergy: circulate pastoral letters with unfounded charges against the government and foment hatred among Filipinos;
g. The disgruntled opposition politicians: join the bandwagon and make use of anti-government rallies for PR purposes;
h. The business sector: lethargic business activity because of fear and uncertainty;
i. The common Filipino: wait-and-see.
Joel Benedict Pineda
Philippine Law Enforcement College
Tuguegarao City, Cagayan
jobenpineda@yahoo.com
