Talking about Mindanao

I went to Makati this evening to meet up with a friend and to take a look at the De Guia Family exhibit at a gallery in Reposo. We decided to have pizza for dinner at El Contro. She's been really busy with a project in Mindanao hence she's also done a lot of research there.

She always has good stories for me and tonight was no different. We started talking about the Maguindanao Massacre and she told me some of the things she found out through her work. She said that given all the information she's gathered, she could tell that the massacre was bound to happen-- since ayaw nga ng Ampatuans na mag file yung mga Mangudadatu. She told me a lot of things but some highlights:

- Ampatuans really control the Maguindanao area. In every sense of the word. Politicians who run need to get Maguindanao votes and you do that through the Ampatuans. They prepare pre-filled out ballots for whoever has paid them. People there don't even bother to vote anymore. How sad is that?

- She actually saw the younger Ampatuan at an LV store and he was getting alot of bags. His bill was P500,000 and he paid it... in cash. Apparently, he also gives out P1,000 whenever they're in the airport-- he gives it to the porter, the guard...

-Ironic that the Mangudadatus and Ampatuans actually started off as friends. Their grandfathers were friends before and were warlords na. They would fight off Christian settlers together daw. Eventually, their families entered politics and that's when things got sour between them.

- The money that the government gives for projects/ developments... just goes into the pockets of the politicians. No wonder Mindanao's so poor. As in, one of her contacts works for DSWD based in Tawi-tawi or some other province. He said he gets paid but does NO WORK. As in, wala silang ginagawa.

- In Mindanao, the kids look up to the muslim fighters/ soldiers. Their idea of a hero is someone who carries a gun.

It was so depressing. Sobrang corrupt ng mga tao... and in such a blatant manner. The thing is since the people in government are the ones who are corrupt, how will it stop? Who will stop them?

Nakakainis. Nakakainis na nagnanakaw sila sa atin. Our taxes go to people like the Ampatuans.

In the end, all I can say is... I don't know what will happen to this country na.