I feel deeply affected by the tragic deaths of the 44 members of the Philippine National Police - Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) who were killed in a deadly clash with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January 25.
When I heard about the news, my heart beat was escalating and my hands were shaking uncontrollably fearing of the thought that my brother might be one of them. Without any lapse of time I contacted my brother who is a PNP just to make sure that He is safe at home which thanked God He is safe in the comfort of his family. I feel deep sadness for the families who lost their sons, brother or father of the incident, Even though, I am not related to the family that was affected by the tragedy who is grieving right now. I grieve and I shed my tears with them. I wish I can comfort them but I don't know how for I know that their pain is beyond heartbreaking. I feel their lost, their heartaches and agonies over these 44 fallen comrades and the rest of the people who lost their lives out of this encounter. I couldn't contain my emotions about these tragic lost for I have a brother of my own who is a police as well , and the thought of him risking his life in protecting our country and its countrymen who He loves is unthinkable. The heroic sacrifice that these heroes makes for their country men is also the sacrifice that their family has to endure. As a woman, a sister who has a police brother, I devastatingly fight with him together with his wife, his children, his parents, and his siblings. As a family, we engulf whatever the outcome on his fate.
I don't know the entire story behind the encounter between PNP and MILF, I only know few pieces of information that I gathered from the media which is the mission was called "Oplan Wolverine" to serve arrest warrants for high ranking terrorist that brutally led to the deaths of 44 members of SAF, 18 from MILF, 7 civilians and the death of Zulkifli Adbhir aka Marwan, a Malaysian who was one of the FBI most wanted terrorist that the PNP-SAF ventured into the guerilla enclave of Tukanalipao with the goal -of detaining high ranking affiliated-improvised-explosive device experts "Marwan" and "Usman". The PNP troops were then ambushed by the group of MILF militants.
Pointing of fingers have been taking place, blaming and accusation between these encounters have led people in more depth of anger, confusions and heartaches.What I only know is what I only read and heard and nothing more and less than that, so I can't judge the situation by being here in front of my computer than in the actual scene itself. The truth behind all these is only PNP and MILF who is in the battle really knows.
This I am very certain though, that these men, the PNP and MILF fought to what the situation had given to them at the moment of "in need call" to fight. The PNP who were called on their duties didn't anticipated the blown out of proportion encounter, were lacking maybe proper execution to the said "project." Unfortunately, there was a lack of communication in both counterparts. I believe that the battle encounter was not intended by either side for the target were only two terrorist men, but because of the misperception of information in MILF defense, whose mission is to also protect their safety in their own territory, which led to that bloody massacre for both sides have duties to comply which is protection.
In my own understanding, when you are in a battle or war, there is no such thing as who win or lose, you just fight for your life. Both are enemies on each others eyes. Whoever falls down first, you die that's it. Unfortunately, the tragedy of war makes the human being numb, it torn ones spirit, for killing an enemy is a victory, yet no one really is victorious for everyone is a victim.
As a being who is spiritually grounded, I feel deep compassion for the human beings who is in the middle of these war for the spirits who resides in their human body wants peace however, the duty of being a human being is obligated for war has been embedded in this world and into our lives. No matter how much we fight for peace, external world never works like that for our external suffering teaches our internal beings how to work on your own peace.
The 44 PNP and 18 MILF who lost their lives out of these battle makes me feel very sad for why does human beings have to go through all these? Why do these people have to fight, suffer and die out of the arrogance and ego of human nature? How can these horrible situation happens to us? We mourn and we seek justice out of our hatred and prejudices. Why? Why do we kill and hate each other and love all over again? Why is a profound questions that we usually asks from above, yet silence is all we get.
As a human being, our ego comes with us, when our ego is not properly watered with love and kindness, it can be dangerous for this creates war and death.
This world has been manipulated by our own egos and it has been ruled by it. How can we stop it? Truth is, We can't. Our human self is limited by these universal forces. However, as much as we can't say no to our ego's, God gave us our hearts. Our hearts who has the power to ease, comfort and forgive our egos. It saves this world. It saves us.
I hope humanities in our nations, in our world, will listen to our hearts more, so war can be prevented, so death out of hatred can be reduce. We have to fight with love specially on ourselves, because the war never started anywhere, the war started within us. Let's forgives ourselves for being human so we can forgive the people around us so war won't be brought forth to our neighbors. It's the only cure to this battlefield we live in.
I am praying for the bereaved beings who lost the lives of the people they love in PNP-MILF encounter, not just to them, but for all the people in this world, who has been living with war, to find find healing for their souls, to find peace in the midst of this crisis, and to find in their hearts TO FORGIVE. I pray that Love will reign.
For the true test here, is how can we forgive the enemy? The message that lies underneath the surface of this circumstances from the heroes in our country is for you. They are the testimony of great sacrifice to teach me and you that we don't need this traumatic war to live. The people who lost their lives because of the war we all created, they are sending us a message to stop and look around, and feel our own heartbeat. We are all made to love and we are all made to hate, which one do you choose? This is the question that God wants us to answer first before we ask him why?
