A 'SERIOUS' Solution to Political Killings in Masbate Province

A blog post for fellow Masbateños.

The killing of Arturo Maristela, the vice mayor of Aroroy, Masbate, has once again established and fortified the province as the capital of political killings in the Philippines (forget about Maguindanao). Gunned down by a motorcycle-riding tandem last January 4, 2011, in West Fairview, Quezon City, Vice Mayor Arturo Maristela is the victim of another premeditated and politically motivated assassination. According to supporters, he was killed because he left his party-mates and shifted to a rival party. He was a potential candidate for a congressional post in his district in the forthcoming 2013 elections.

The vice mayor’s killing, when contrasted with the late Congressman Fausto Seachon’s assassination in 2005, establishes a similar and familiar pattern. The late vice mayor and the late congressman shared a parallel fate: both were killed approximately two years ahead of the elections in their respective times. The motive for the killings, supporters alleged, was to preclude election victory. They were both killed in places where and when they were most vulnerable—away from their respective turfs. In Masbate, hearing news of killings like this, especially during elections, is nothing but a routine, a way of life, and an ordinary event for us Masbateños.

Masbate is so ‘popular’ that my colleagues at work have labeled the province home to an alleged hardened criminal—one who masterminded almost all political killings in the province, who does not value life, but plays the role of an elected official who will do whatever it takes just to cling to power. Ironically, the notorious reputation of Masbate has helped the province gain a ‘spot on the Geographical Map’ in addition to a spot on the ‘National Poverty Map’ that placed the province in 7th place. And would you believe that Masbate’s notoriety has earned me celebrity status among my colleagues at work? Every time Masbate makes the headlines, they turn me into a privy to the story — an instant storyteller. This gives me the opportunity to brag and tell them something about my province.

At work, when colleagues talk about things associated with their provinces, simple questions like, "What sweet delicacies does Masbate province have?" often alienate me from the rest. There is nothing that I can bring and offer them as a pasalubong coming from home that showcases the province. Officemates who come from Bohol province, for example, have kalamay and peanut kisses to show off. Those from Cebu can brag about their otap and dried mangoes. And those from Bacolod and Iloilo are proud of their piaya. Almost everyone has something from home that helps promote and identify their home provinces. Frustrated by my inability to answer the same question posed by colleagues over and over again, I often respond with exaggeration: “In my home province, we have minatamis na bala (sweetened bullets), atsarang bala (pickled bullets), etc.” Or, I tell them to come to my province and see for themselves how bullets rain during election periods.

Literally, bullets are indeed raining in Masbate province when an election approaches. During seasons like this, what concerns everyone in our province is not the question of who is going to win the election; it is about who is going to get killed. Good men are killed during this period, outlived by their evil counterparts. In my previous blog post, ‘A Visit to my Hometown’, I called the season ‘The Devil’s Season’. It is when one starts tallying the running total count of kills resulting from ambushes and assassinations. What is remarkable in most, if not all, of these killings is that they are believed to be perpetrated by the same group and masterminded by the same person. Being always able to evade conviction in court, this person has developed a penchant for killing. He is allegedly responsible for the assassinations of notable politicians in Masbate, all of whom happened to be his nemeses. Among those assassinated allegedly upon his orders are the late Congressman Fausto Seachon Jr., the late Vice Governor Mario Espinosa, and the late Congressman Tito Espinosa. Expect more additions to this list as the 2013 election fast approaches. And take note, we are two years away from the 2013 election: anything is possible now. The vice mayor's killing is just a warm-up.

As ordinary citizens, we can only wish for a peaceful Masbate province in the days ahead. However, it can only be achieved if the killings stop! Would it be possible? Maybe, yes.

Here’s how the killings in Masbate province may stop or be stopped:

• Immobilizing or disabling the mastermind by hiring a MANGKUKULAM:

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With his army of security escorts, the mastermind is invincible. He is invulnerable to the wrath of the avenging family members of his victims. And with his battery of lawyers, he is also invulnerable to the claws and fangs of justice. He’s never been convicted of murder due to a lack of evidence.

Since vengeance killing will never be an option, the families of the victims, in order to exact justice, may opt to hire a Mangkukulam (a Filipino version of witch or sorcerer) to punish the father of all political murderers in the province of Masbate. Independently, any concerned Masbateño may also do the same. There is an abundant supply of mangkukulams on Siquijor Island, Philippines, who can be hired to administer punishment through witchcraft. Although this may be regarded as superstition and may not guarantee one hundred percent success, we just hope that it might somehow work for the future of our province. Who knows?

A Mangkukulam, a Filipino version of a witch or sorcerer, at work with a Voodoo doll impaled through the chest with a long sharp stick. She may be a stinking, wicked witch and an ugly assassin, but she may be the best solution to end the political killings in Masbate province.

A mangkukulam, a priestess of the dark arts, specializes in revenge of the cruelest kind. She operates using a doll as a surrogate for the intended target of sorcery. Through a special dark spell and ritual, anything done to the doll will happen to the target person. So, if we were to immobilize or disable the target—which in this case is the father of all the killers in Masbate province—then I would advise the mangkukulam to decapitate the doll's upper and lower limbs. I would also advise the removal of both eyes and the cutting of his tongue, while leaving him alive to suffer the excruciating pain. This would somehow bring justice to the victims of this devil.

What do you think?

• Letting the law of NATURE or the DIVINE law take its course:

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As Christians, we do not wish for someone’s death to avenge the deaths of murdered loved ones. But as human beings, we do wish for harsh punishment for murderers. We collectively call it—JUSTICE. And since justice cannot be extracted from our judicial system, we tend to trust in the divine will to extract justice for us. We call it karma.

Although karma may not be considered a punishment or retribution but a consequence of one’s deeds or acts, it is deemed the best form of justice. It is inevitable. You steal or grab something from your constituents using your influence, and soon everything will be taken from you—including your health, wealth, and your loved ones. You murder people, and you will end up suffering from agonizing, multiple sicknesses and die a slow, painful death. Nature knows when to serve justice for murder: it is timed during one's old age, when one seems helpless. This, at least, gives one a chance to be repentant.

Believe me, when you soon find the father of all the killers in Masbate Province succumbing to any or a combination of these diseases—CANCER, DIABETES, and KIDNEY DISEASE that requires regular dialysis—that is karma. And when he eventually dies from these diseases, we will call it, shouting it out loud, JUSTICE.