Who is More Guilty: Manero or His Bakers in Gov't?
Published in Philippine Daily Inquirer
(April 08, 2000)
ON APRIL 11, we will celebrate the Day of Martyrs in the Diocese of Kidapawan and the 15th anniversary of Fr. Tullio Favali's death. We celebrate the martyrs vicotry over their killers,we celebrate also the people's victory over Norberto Manero Jr. and his sponsors. Let us review the Manero case and the challenges invloved in it.
Norberto Manero Jr., alias Commander Bucay, has become a very popular name. He was convicted for the killing of Fr. Tullio Favali on April 11, 1985. But he was not acting alone and he did not kill only one priest. He was the champion of killers, a killing machine , with a license to kill. Countless Muslims, tribal and Christians farners were killed often in the most vicious manner.
Months before the murder of Fr. Favali, a warning was issued" "Kill one of these subversive priests and nuns and frighten thousands."
I was their original target.
They prepared placards announcing a "Grnad Showing" with my name and the names of lay leaders active in our Basic Christians Communities. Bystanders heard Commander Bucay say they would tie the highway crossing so that the public could watch.
Sample of Terror
Why did they sentence me to such a cruel death? To give a sampleof terror.
Why a priest? Because the priest was the only one at that time who dared report their killings to authorities and the media. The priest was the last defense for their defenseless victims. The priest was the symbol of mercy and compassion.
The Maneros were the symbols of terror and atrocities. These killers did not have anything personal against Fr. Favali or myself. They simply want to remove the symbol of compassion and justiceto continue their killings undisturbed.
On April 15, 1985, I sent an open letter to Gen. Cesar Tapia, the Central Mindanao military commander. I described in detail ghow Fr. Favali was murdered and his body abused. Then, I added:
"Many people have told me, 'Father, they are savages, that's a disgrace to the entire Filipino nation.' Icould only reply ,'They are not normal, they don't represent the Filipino people. Whoever gave them the weapons and the authority to behave and kill must be more guilty then they are… Many are asking howmany more victims must fall? Why are such killers openly supported by authorities? Wwho's backing them up? Why are they given the authority to hunt and kill people as if were a sport that they enjoy and that makes them famous?… Who is more responsible, they os those supporting and using them?"
No Reply
The general has not replied to my letter until now.
Now, I don't have anything personal either against the Maneros. But I dare ask: Can we stop their way of killing? Can we stop the atrocities, the fanatical groups like the Ilaga an the Tadtad?
That has become a cancer, a plague or virus in our society in Mindanao. Manero is not only one abnormal individual. Twh other Manero brothers were well-known prtners in atrocities. They formed a britherhood of killers. If they were to tel their stories, they could make a series of horror movies.
However, we should not generalize. Most of those who joned the Ilaga and the Tadtad did so only for a short time and under pressure. Then they returned to a normal life. Only a few became addicted to atricites, only a few joined the specialized group or exclusive club of the brotherhood of terror.
They were called Specialized Forces with influential sponsors who used them not only for counter-insurgency, but also for landgrabbing and building plantation, for political campaigns and elections. Many other cases can be filed against them even though many witnesses were eliminated or are still afraid.
Hero?
I was told that Mnaero I sconsidered by some as a hero. I replied that he can still be a hero if confesses the atrocitites he participated in and expose the prtners and sponsors of these atrocities. If he bring these people to justice, then he can become a hero because he can help eradicate this cancer from our society.
They say that Manero is now repentant. He can prove that by confessing and exposing the evil forces that have possessed and used him.
We must exorcise , remove, eradicate this plague. We must free people like Manero and his partners from the sickness and criminal complex of those who are addicted to atrocities. We must prevent or stop other Maneros now and bring to justice their sponsors and promoters. Their contagiuos virus must be isolated.
The attempt to release manero from jail through favoritism and palakasan was an attempt tolegitimize their profession of merciless killers and to give a signal for other Maneros.
Right now in Mindanao, there are groups still practising the trade of atrocities.
Last Feb. 25, in Carmen, Cotabato, a body of a Muslim was found horribly mutilated with internal orgns missing. The suspected perpetrators belong to a recycled fanatical group.
Retaliation
Such an incident can provoke retaliation in kind that could trigger another epidemic of atrocities. The military, and more so the Cafgu (Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit) and CVOs (Civilian Volunteers Organization) and even the civilians can easily be into the vicious cycle of terror.
The Manero pardon was finally recalled by President Estrada because of widespread popular outcry. This can be a Warning sign to the sponsors of atrocities who are more dangerousto society than drug pushers. But can we stop other Maneros-in-the -making?
Can we stop the vicious cycle of atrocities and terror from any side?
Can we make a clear stand? Never again to atrocities in the name of counter-insurgency?
Can we free our communities from the virus or dehumanizing sickness of the fanatical groups and the vigilantes?
We can give a chance to our children, whether Christian, Muslim or tribal groups, to grow in a society free from the horrors of terror.
FR. PETER GEREMIA, PIME
Kidapawan City
