With due respect to the well-meaning and dedicated court officials and employees, I would like to recall my past experiences in the military and police service.

The writer was the first Group Commander of the defunct PC/INP Custodial Group in Camp Crame with more than 400 detainees under his custody in 1990.

The problem with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front is that it is solely talking with the Philippine Government on the issue of peace accord and the intelligence report that it is harboring Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist band. It seems that it overlooked the fact that the US and other countries that have been targets of terrorism have as much stake on the peace talks and the eradication of terrorist cells in Mindanao as the Philippines.

It is not surprising therefore to hear the US government overt declaration that it will help the Philippines in its campaign to flush out and eliminate, to the last vestige of Al Qaeda clones, suspected terrorists that have sought refuge in MILF camps. The MILF cannot just issue denials like thy had been doing so far whenever acts of terrorism happens because then it insults not only the Philippine authorities, it also sneer at others which had confirmed intelligence report tht terrorist brains are not only having siesta in MILF-held territories but it is also training new recruits.

In 2003 I had the opportunity to visit the National University of Singapore and interact with some of the university administrators. One of them was the Head of the History Department.

At one point our conversation turned to the growing number, and influence, of non-government organizations (NGOs) in many developing countries in Asia and Africa. He made the observation that NGOs are not as many, or as active, in Singapore as they are in other countries like, say, the Philippines or India. He made

1. Pope’s Message for World Day of Peace

January 1 of every year is set aside as the World Day of Peace. This year’s message from Pope John Paul II was developed on the theme “Do not overcome evil by evil, but defeat evil with good” which is taken from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans.

Congressman Erbie A. Fabian yesterday cited the devastating effects of terrorism to the region''s economy and urged the people to join the global fight against terrorism.

Speaking at the Hablada Franca, a two-day discussion on terrorism at the Boalan Inland Resort, Fabian said terrorism hinders economic growth and serves as obstacle to progress and development.

Communist rebels yesterday warned it would target US forces secretly operating in southern Philippines if it do not pull out from the strife-torn region, where Filipino troops are battling Maoist guerillas and terrorist groups tied to al-Qaeda network.

A rebel spokesman Gregorio Rosal accused President Gloria Arroyo of collaborating with the United States when she allowed US military advisers and combat troops to clandestinely operate in areas in the south where the New People''s Army (NPA) is actively operating.

A ranking member of the extremist Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) wanted for the Bali bombing in Indonesia in October 2002 is now the subject of a massive manhunt by the Philippine security forces in Mindanao.

Sources from the intelligence community said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have combined their efforts in tracking down the JI suspect who reportedly joined his three other comrades being sheltered in areas controlled by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the jungles of southern Mindanao.

Advocating without actual vigilance is an exercise in futility to achieve good governance.

The people are tired listening to rhetoric advocacy for good governance or better government system.

PALM SPRINGS, Ca. — It’s funny how Americans remain deeply divided over the performance of President Bush as he begins his second and lame duck term. In recent polls, the people prefer smaller government, his continued fight against terrorism, limited medical malpractice claims and proceeding with the elections in Iraq on Jan. 30. Most Americans are skeptical, reported the Los Angeles Times, about Bush’s call to restructure social security, unhappy about his handling of the Iraq war and opposed to making his first term tax cuts permanent, if they would produce more budget deficits, as almost all projections show.

It’s different in Zamboanga, though. Businessmen, landowners, the “muchos” are up in arms against a recently-passed ordinance raising the realty property tax by 125 percent to 175 percent which will take effect in 2006. This isn’t much compared to how much the other urban and first class cities are charging the landed. Mayor Celso Lobregat, ever focused about getting his flagship projects pursued in his first term, wants more money generated. How can we build a first-class bus terminal, parking malls and implement other important infrastructure projects if we don’t have the dough to do it? We need more public cemeteries as the death rate is moving faster than the birth rate. People, poor people, die young these days. Those living above the minimum breath a little longer because they can, through medicines, control cholesterol and all those bad stuff that enter the digestive system. One hundred twenty five percent isn’t bad enough, is it? I don’t own a single property in Zamboanga and, at the rate things are going, I’ll never get to own one. I pay my mother’s real property tax and it’s even cheaper than paying for a ringside seat to a five-cock derby in Guiwan or Sinunuc. So, don’t complain. Somehow, we’ve got to pay for our future.

What are dogs saying when they bark? Find the answer elsewhere in this corner.

A 24-year-old man died and two of his companions were taken to a hospital yesterday after they fell into a 40-feet deep water well they have been digging since late last year in Cawit, in the city''s west coast.

Reports said the incident happened about 9 a.m. at Zone 4, Cawit.

The concept of CAFGUs composed of civilian volunteers is to protect their respective barangays against armed attack by lawless elements, communist insurgents, secessionist, terrorists and other armed groups.

The civilian volunteers are under the direct supervision of military units operating in their area in coordination with barangay officials.

The intimidation staged by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in South Cotabato two weeks ago and now the assault of its forces surreptitiously waged against an army base in Mamasapano, Maguindanao are but another scheme to suspend and derail the peace negotiation scheduled in Kuala Lumpur next month.

The pattern has become a monotony. Each time a calendared talk nears, a precipitate aggression is staged and each time the MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu comes out with incredible and sometime rehashed excuses. As to the Mamasapano attack, he claimed that the MILF merely retaliated due to various atrocities committed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines against them. However he admitted that the MILF avenged the death of Fides Binago, a leader of a bandit group called Abu Sofia. It turned out Fides is a brother of Abdul Rahman Binago, the field commander of the MILF in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. But, it is not farfetched the hierarchy of the MILF gave the go signal to assault the AFP detachment to provide it one more reason to suspend the peace negotiation in Kuala Lumpur. The MILF has learned quickly from its strategic alliance with CPP/NPA on the art of double talk, it is difficult to immediately discern what they are up to.

Reliable sources close to Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo hinted to Table Talk that maybe and indeed she might have a heavy heart for Zamboanga City not only on the opposition of the regional transfer but in many instances before and after the last national election. The President felt that she is not wanted in Zamboanga City after almost giving all the wishes of the city during her first term as President. She knew that Zamboanga City was an Erap Estrada stronghold when she succeeded Erap, but had tried to mend fences by being friendly to the city. She accepted invitations even with her tight schedules. Approved request without any question and some of our leaders have pledged loyalty to her, but during the election she was badly clobbered in Zamboanga City. Maybe she took everything as an insult to her Presidency.

Digging deeper, Table Talk gathered that three days before the presidential election, President Gloria M. Arroyo was in Zamboanga City. When her advisers and “bulong brigade” told her that Zamboanga City will go heavily for the late FPJ, she accepted it and did not bother to go out and campaign. The President stayed the whole night at the Southcom Mansion, directing her campaign by phone outside of the city. The following day she left Zamboanga City without any fanfare and went to Cebu City. When in Zamboanga City for almost 24 hours, she was then still President of the Republic but she did not even bother to call her local party mates and campaign organization, but only a few close friends. A hastily called conference happened a few minutes before she left for Cebu City and what they discussed was never known.The scenario if true was more a very personal matter rather than a Presidential gathering and a campaign sortie. The actuation of the President on that fateful day, three days before the election, clearly manifested her personal sentiments and the President, human as she is, also showed she is capable of disappointment for Zamboanga City, which earlier she called home because of the ties of her late mother Dr. Evangeline Macaraig to Zamboanga City. In fact, in many instances, when she was yet the Secretary of Trade and Industry, she was a frequent visitor of the city and until she became vice-president and ultimately President of the Republic, she conversed in chabacano to be closer to the people. But, Zamboanga City denied her the opportunity to be one of us. We can not blame the President. She is a lady and she is just as normal as any local officials we have, capable of being disappointed when their constituents ignore them after giving in.

The Abu Sayyafs group strength has been severely downgraded following the relentless pursuit operations by government troops and the military will continue to operate against these terrorists until all of them are brought to justice and our society is secured.

This is according to 4th Civil Relations Acting Group Commander, Maj. Gamal S. Hayudini who said that security operations of the AFP are on the right track and continues to gain ground.