LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

Magellan’s game: ‘divide and conquer’
March L. Fianza

Just like the Portuguese sailor and “Spice Boy” who was sent by Spain to colonize this primarily Muslim dominated archipelago, Magellan came to look for the untapped gold in Bokod. Ferdinand Magellan, the mining company’s namesake, reached Cebu and Mactan where he promised the islanders the moon and the stars.

In the course of the islands’ colonization, the Muslim natives were baptized into the Christian faith. However, when he sailed to Limasawa island, ruler-warrior Lapu-lapu met him with resistance and there, Magellan’s European blood was spilled on this foreign soil.

In Bokod, Magellan’s shadow must have resurrected as the mining company attempts to “bribe” the indigenous tribes with infrastructure development. I heard, the company turned over a Delica van to Barangay Pito. I say, that Delica is delicado as it might spark misunderstanding between relatives, landowners and local residents.

There are also talks of promises of cash money for neighboring Poblacion barangay that may be intended for the construction of a barangay hall or day-care center. As no proper consultation, much less an agreement between Magellan Metals and the community has been arrived at, it is best that the company stops making promises and donations.

Indeed, the strategy being applied here is “divide and conquer.” Bribe the neighbors so the rest of the community will agree with the proposals and eventually request for “donations.” On the other hand, if the officials of the neighboring barangays of Pito and Poblacion asked for donations in terms of infrastructure development, personal or otherwise, leaving behind an opposing barangay – that is comparable to brothers who have turned traitors to another brother.

This column is for development but I just hope corruption has not crept in into the pockets of residents as well as barangay and municipal officials. In the same manner, I hope Magellan Metals conducts truthful consultations and allow the process to move without corrupting the host community. If not, then we will continue to be very vocal in opposing them, no matter who gets hit in the process.

There is very disturbing information I have gathered from friends in the news business. They say some officials in the Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau are stockholders in Magellan Metals but are represented by their dummies. I hope this is not true because many of them in the MGB are my personal friends. Also, national bureau director Horacio Cosalan Ramos is my in-law as his ‘one and only’ Laurence is my cousin and aunt many times over.
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Look at what the honest to goodness golf game turned out to be. Before, this was just a simple beer game, and then it was played over green fees. Later, it was played by jueteng operators and police chiefs, contractors and congressmen.

We thought golf games will be just that simple. We were wrong. Now, golf is played by Presidents, first gentlemen, cabinet secretaries together with foreigners who are bidding for private interests in a host country. Even Comelec chairmen whose offices have nothing to do with broadband deals play golf with suppliers-contractors – and finish their games becoming the brokers for the contract.

A people’s possible outrage may have been quelled by the resignation of Comelec chair Ben Abalos and the eventual scrapping of the ZTE broadband deal. To some extent, the twin move held back street protests that could have been the result, probably due to the heat steaming out from the senate. There are two sensitive hearings on going in that legislative body namely, the “hello Garci” and the “meron kang 200 dito.”

Although Abalos resigned and the broadband transaction was “burned in the trash,” such moves do not stop the curious public from prying for more answers. In fact it appears that more issues have to be unveiled and people have more questions to ask as compared to the time before Abalos’ resignation.

Certainly, Abalos has to come up with a better explanation other than “wanting to be with his family.” It is highly questionable that the chair of the Comelec who barely has four months left in office and who claims to be innocent of any wrong-doing resigns. When asked by a senator if he is willing to be the scapegoat of Malacanang, his answer was “why should I be a scapegoat when I have not done wrong?” A few days after making that statement, he resigned.

Understandably, that is an application of the old but effective “divide and rule” strategy in governance. It is effective because it saved other people from embarrassment and likely ouster. It also reveals that Abalos’ resignation is not a decision by his lonesome. Malacanang spin masters obviously sought after Abalos’ resignation very well and that of aborting the ZTE deal to suit their position.

It looks like “all is well that ends well” for people who benefited from the cancellation of the ZTE deal and Abalos’ quitting his post. But surely, that does not stop people from asking what happened to the NBN flip-flop. All the more that people would be asking “how much” did the Chinese company pay and “to whom” did they give the money. And the biggest question is – “who is behind the bribery move?” -- marchfianza777@yahoo.com