Ambidextrous leadership

Edmund Tayao / Mettle Works

e are victims of an ambidextrous leadership; twice now, the country and our Moro brothers have been made to hope—for nothing.  The story of the BBL seems to be, and many still hope not, going the same way as the MOA-AD. Not many support having peace with the MILF, but what is not debatable is whether or not peace in Mindanao would benefit not only the Moros but the whole country.

We can only have a good appreciation of things if we try to be objective and not capitalize on the situation.  Unfortunately, most politicians, instead of working for what is best help de-escalate the situation in order that the stakeholders could talk more objectively, tend to fan the flames of dissension for some political nickels.  It’s so disheartening that our leaders don’t seem to understand how all this politicking has destroyed countless lives—the latest of which are those of our 44 heroes—and how bad things have been for those living in Mindanao who, since time immemorial, have had to spend most of their waking hours ducking and running for their lives; in fact most of them could barely imagine a normal life with education, livelihood and basic healthcare.

Three weeks after January 25, and two presidential addresses later, we have more troubling questions. The more information is withheld, the more speculations arise.  Absent the truth, or credible explanation, people will consider the speculations as truth. The crisis, instead of being contained, could only escalate.

How deeply was the President involved, being part of the planning on the operation to get Marwan? As the fighting raged and the SAF casualties mounted, was he kept informed and updated? What were his orders to extricate the pinned commandos? It’s unbelievable, to say the least, that a top-secret operation of a high-value target would not have the President’s blessing and laser-like focus.

And why were the DILG secretary and the PNP OIC not informed? Who had the final authority to keep them out of the information loop?

Remember that during the second day of the Senate hearing, then suspended PNP Director-General Purisima was asked if he informed the President of the Mamasapano clash.  His answer was enough to suggest the President knew. But he had to first have clearance from the President to answer the question.

This was the not the least of the frustrating answers from the resource persons.  Of particular interest was the answer to why the President was not informed right away that the mission was under way and already there were frantic calls for reinforcement. There were no casualties yet reported at that time.  This is an assault on common sense, especially because the operation was only between the President and his suspended PNP chief.

The 64-dollar question then is why the risk of the mission was not considered, given that we were on the verge of a peace agreement? Before the debacle, the BBL won considerable support. Many were hopeful to see the end of the debilitating counter-development decades-long war in Mindanao.

Of course, it was a necessary mission; but without coordination among the PNP-SAF, the AFP and the MILF, one is only inclined to ask: Was this well thought-out?

We can’t assume that our leaders couldn’t think enough; if it was a product of a series of planning, could it be that as the peace process was being pushed, on the one hand, it was not the priority, on the other? Or worse, it is now being undermined?

If peace was the top priority, and we were led to believe it was, did the decision-makers not see that this was an opportunity to show that the MILF could be trusted to join an operation of this nature, thereby convincing the public further of the need for the BBL?

And we thought we have an entirely new kind of leadership. Under GMA’s abusive administration, it was clear what kind of a leader we had.  But now, surprises – mostly unpleasant – seem to be the new normal.  What is happening? And given how this issue is being handled, there is no denying we have an “ambidextrous leadership.”