Plain banditry and terrorism

My heart bleeds for the helpless civilians who were brutally murdered by warriors of the Moro Islamics Liberation Front in the violence that flared up in several provinces of Mindanao last week. These victims were defenseless, and only cold-blooded murderers can carry out such senseless manslaughter. The MILF warriors deserve the worst punishment possible --- death! They did not even respect the neutrality of civilians.

Now tens of thousands of Filipino Christians and Muslims have fled their homes, fearful about suffering the same fate. This has disrupted their lives, and it will take a long time before a sense of normalcy could return. Mindanao is once again burning, and religious undertones are stoking the flames.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo should be held answerable for what has happened. She tried to look good by striking a secret peace deal with the Bangsa Moro. But what happened? The conflagration has gone out of control, and the President does not seem to know what to do.