The Fallen 44, #SAF44

by: Psychic August

First of all, I would like to extend my condolences to the families of these brave gentlemen who sacrificed their precious lives for the peace and order situation in our country, and the civilians who lost their lives from the massacre.

As for the deaths of the 44 PNP Special Action Force (SAF) members, it will be the passage of time that will enable the surviving loved ones to move on with their loss,  as the case will not really be resolved to their satisfaction.

This incident will have an adverse effect on President Aquino regarding his image as the Commander in Chief of the PNP as well as the rest of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.  He will be seen as a "hesitant flip-flopping " commander in chief,  as pointed out by former President Fidel V. Ramos.  DILG Secretary Mar Roxas will not be seen as to having handled the case effectively.  This will have a not so good effect on Mar Roxas' 2016 presidential bid.

Negotiations, most of them done in secret, will be started between the Philippine government panel and the people representing Bangsamoro, resulting in the recovery of the firearms, military equipment, and other personal belongings that was taken from the #fallen44.  However, their killers among the MILF and the BIFF will still be free.  And this is why the surviving loved ones of the #fallen44 will see that there was no real resolution of the case.  This will also have a negative effect on the morale of the rest of the PNP community, although they will still tow the line with their duties under their respective commanders.

As to the two alleged terrorists under the US Wanted list, the cards say:

• Yes, Zulkifli Abdhir, otherwise known as Commander Marwan indeed met his demise in the hands of the PNP SAF operatives, contrary to the claims of the MILF.
• Basmit Usman, the second bomb expert pursued by the PNP SAF operatives will eventually be captured late this year, but in Malaysia, not in the Philippines.

The grievances of the surviving relatives of the civilian casualties caught in the cross fire between the PNP SAF, and the MILF, BIFF will be totally missed off by the national government, leaving perhaps local barangay officials to address their concerns.

Finally, the real reason behind this clash or massacre will, unfortunately, never be known to the public.

     From the Blogger: 

Rest in Peace, Gentlemen

May Justice Be Swiftly Served!

Reading Date: February 1, 2015

Photo: #fallen44

2015 Predictions: Psychic August

by: Psychic August

The Philippine economy as a whole for the next year will hardly improve, mainly due to the Philippine government's lack of a specific and all-encompassing economic plan since it's inception last 2010, besides the frequent trips overseas made by the head of state and some members of his cabinet, soliciting investments from economically developed and prosperous nations.

Even with these so called solicitations,  it still remains to be seen if the majority of those countries, foreign corporations, etc., that declared their pledge in  investing in the Philippines will push through at all. Those that do follow up on their pledges will do so only into the start of the next administration.

So poverty will still continue to be the norm for the majority of the Filipinos in 2015, even if there are occasional developments like there being more jobs available, bringing down the number of unemployed by a few numbers, too few to reflect a real improvement of the Philippine economy.

The trend of lowering the international price for oil will continue next year.  For the Philippines, this will mean lowering the rates of public transportation due to price rollbacks of gasoline begrudgingly made by the local oil fuel companies.  But the rollbacks will only be up to a certain point, and so transportation rates, although lower next year, will not be that much lower than the current ones.

The peace and order situation in the Philippines will improve in 2015.  The PNP's "Operation Lambat Sibat" in cooperation with the DILG will be generally successful in bringing down the crime rate in the country. Thus we will a decrease in violent crime next year. Although successful, this " operation lambat sibat " or another law enforcement program to fight crime must be continued into the next administration if we want to see a significant lowering of the crime rate that will really be experienced at the grass roots level.

Although there will still be some new laws enacted to fight crime, as well as the amendment of some existing laws to improve their effect, it is more of there being a better implementation of existing laws that will help bring down the crime rate next year.

The insurgency problem, especially in the southern Philippines will still be a continuing problem, however. The government will have better success in dealing with the insurgent new people's army, more also because there is currently & will continue into next year, a funding problem experienced by the NPA and it's political arm - the CPP.

But the Abu Sayyaf and other insurgent groups based in Mindanao will still be a growing problem for the Philippine government and military. Bolstered by funding & other kinds of support from international terrorist groups sympathetic to its cause,  such as the Al Qaeda and its offshoot ISIS, the Abu Sayyaf militants will grow in numbers and in the threat it poses to the overall peace and order situation of the country.  Kidnapping sprees conducted by this group will continue. Bombings in public places will still be enacted but most of it will be curbed even before it begins.  Those that do happen will do so mainly in the south.

Even the recently formed Bangsamoro will fail to stop or even curb this threat next year.

Although down played by the Philippine military, the recruitment of young Filipino Muslims to the international ISIS group will continue into 2015.

Reading Date:  December 12, 2014