To my fellow Filipinos,
Magandang araw!
My name is Joseph Araneta and I’m a Zamboangueño. I’m one of the many families affected by the on-going crisis with the MNLF.
With 10 kilometers away from the combat areas, I hear gunshots fired, see the thick smoke from fires started by the MNLF and hear the wails of my fellow Zamboangueños. I live in fear for myself and my family, thinking, “Could our barangay be next? Will I be able to protect my family?”
It also makes me ask, does the national government really know the gravity of the situation in our city?
I don't know how many are aware of this but there are already incidents of senseless killings beforehand. The toll is actually tallied on a billboard in front of a university facing city hall. Why do these happen and why isn't anything being done about it?
Almost everyone is walking around the city with guns, for fear or to instill fear. Not to mention the numerous traffic-related accidents. Why isn't anything being done about these quickly? As time goes on, residents of the city are already scared before the war happened.
I was told that there was a time when Zamboanga City was peaceful. No one dared to invade the city because there are a lot of military installations around the city.
With the war that is tearing us down now, how could this happen given the said condition?
How can more that 200 MNLF militants infiltrate the city heavily armed to the teeth without any of our armed forces, both police and the military, knowing?
Obviously there is some lapse of intelligence here? Was it deliberate? And the shooting is still on-going. I wonder where the militants trapped in the city are getting their bullets?
These questions and events need to be raised to the public, through the internet and hopefully through other channels. More people need to know our real situation.
I would like to come up with action to raise awareness about what is happening in our city, which could be happening with the rest of the cities that we may not know of. I'm not trying to incite a revolution, only awareness, in the hopes that someone or some group that are really influential to the national government can do something about the condition of Zamboanga. Bottomline is, I genuinely would like to, call out to those who can help restore the peace that we, our families, used to enjoy.
To whoever is reading this, spread the word. Your help will come a very long way in restoring peace in our humble city… and hopefully, in the whole country.
Muchas gracias… Maraming, maraming salamat!
Joseph Araneta – concerned father, Zamboangueño, Filipino.
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