Travel Advisories: The Unnecessary Addend of Unfounded Fears

Travel advisories are usually handled by the government in a not-so-controversial manner. Of course, the government personalities express some resentment over the issuance of such advisories. But most of the time, government would take the travel advisory in a stride, enforce most of the time temporary high-alert status on usual suspects and mitigate travel advisories by featuring neutralization of terrorist leaders or capture of terrorist camps and/or retrieval of the enemies war materiel.

However, when something that could have been passed off as a regular response to security threat situation was taken in an excessively belligerent manner, certain security concerns would be undermined. More specifically, partnerships against the growing war on terror are strained and the security administration capabilities of a country is undermined.  This article looks into the concerns that are uncovered when something as trivial as travel advisory become politically critical.

Back to 1989: The Implications of a Presidential Amnesty

On October 11, 2010, President Noynoy Aquino signed Proclamation No. 50. This proclamation grants amnesty to uniformed personnel and civilians implicated in the Oakwood Mutiny, the Marines Standoff, the Manila Peninsula Hotel Incident and other related events. However, would this act by the President result to the intended end-state? Would the move be consistent with the Daang Matuwid advocacy, or would it circumvent it?

The Day the Music Died in Manila: Part 1

When a supposedly happy Chinese tour in the country turns into a deadly excursion with a deranged former police officer, things should be planned both on the operational and strategic level to ensure minimum loss to lives and property. The recent hostage taking did neither of the two. In the light of the mockery of every badge that hung on every police officer, this series would be comprised of two parts: one, an analysis of what happened and what went wrong, while the second part would be what should be done about it.

Security Governance: Democratizing the Security Sector

The world’s demand to more responsive, transparent accountable and participative government led to the development of the idea of ‘good governance’. Some countries, particularly in Western Europe, have been successful in integrating them into various facets of government, like security administration. Despite the moves to inculcate governance principles into the Philippine government, there are little or no moves to do such in its security sector. The Philippine security sector remains restricted and reactive which is mirrored by the manner by which security administration is handled by the Philippine government. With too many sociopolitical, economic and environmental vulnerabilities and security considerations, maybe the Philippines should start integrating governance principles in the security sector to make it more responsive to the calls of changing times.

General Bangit: Beyond Mere Words

In the light of every issue thrown upon him and in the light of everything he has done for us as a superior, as a mentor and as a servant of the people, I dare stand up for the person who made me change my mind about the Armed Forces of the Philippines. I think the accusations and invectives are arrogant, ignorant and totally uncalled for, especially for an officer who has spent so much of his life trying to do his best on duties given to him.

Yes, this is about GEN DELFIN N BANGIT AFP.

Our paths first crossed when I was a struggling researcher, fresh out of Diliman.  Even during that time we see a potential CSAFP in our midst. Not because he is a Gloria lapdog, but because he has the vision, the uncanny intellect, the capability and the heart to serve as the Chief of Staff of the AFP.  We believe in him because unlike many able officers of the AFP, he DELIVERS and he DELIVERS WELL.