I would have had challenged you to a public debate on the illegitimacy of this government, and see how much of your humanity you have sold to your commander-in-chief; to witness how you sideline your sense of truth in praise of this regime guilty of silencing more than 800 activists and journalists, guilty of decimating whatever semblance of democracy is left.
But, that would have been pointless, since the AFP does not recognize basic freedoms; since this government would rather have dissenters riddled with bullets than meet the truth; since this government would rather have cheating, lies and injustice prevail over justice.
It is futile to respond to calls such as “surrender and face the music” because the state’s ultimate solution to activist leaders perceived as “enemies of the state” has since been physical elimination. How pray tell is it possible for one to stand trial, when the accused is first delivered to the afterlife before he could even reach the halls of justice to take the stand?
You may smugly dismiss this as “just a figment of imagination,” but I hardly think the slaughter of more than 800 activist leaders, including priests, lawyers, doctors and students, under GMA’s watch is imagined. I hardly think journalists who end up dead are imagined. The countless faceless, and voiceless, masses of people your troops have maimed, mauled, displaced, and left to die in military operations cannot possibly imagined. Nobody in his right mind could stomach making-up stories of murder of such magnitude.
I have been informed that the warrant for my arrest has been issued. The Davao City police force is itching to have me imprisoned, prison that presently stand as the “softer twin” to the “harder” course of action of physical elimination. I would like to prove my innocence by way of a fair trial. But, the present condition is against me and could not warrant a fair trial because Oplan Bantay Laya has gone berserk, eliminating anyone and everyone it sees as its enemy in its path, manifested by the spate of political assassinations. At the very turn of the New Year, a Bayan Muna coordinator from Albay, Bicol was gunned down by hooded, motorcycle-riding assassins, the latest in a string of bloody, unsolved murders.
Should I allow myself to surrender before you so that you can “safely” bring me to jail, as you have offered once, it would then appear as if I have thrown myself willingly to a pack of ravenous wolves. I am sorry but that would never happen, because for every desperate attempt you make at gagging dissent, activists do not turn cowards, but, become more determined and daring.
