No matter how many times one hears about senseless killings, it is appalling each time it happens. How could people sink so low? How could people engaged in violence continue to believe that it will ever solve anything?

The massacre yesterday of the Mangudadatu family members and journalists in Ampatuan town on their way to Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao was, without a doubt, a calculated move to instill fear among voters. It was designed to scare away anyone who dares rock the boat in the province of Maguindanao. It was clearly perpetrated by those in power to keep the status quo.

Let us all be vigilant for Mindanao. To those who are working for peace and development in Mindanao, do not lose heart! If we cower and retreat for fear of our lives, then we become the losers. Let’s not allow cowards to blight the beauty that is inherent in Mindanao. We should not allow the deaths of the innocents to be in vain.

For there to be justice, those of us who have a voice must remain true to our calling. We must not let this heinous crime dissolve into another unresolved incident, otherwise we will be part of the problem.

Bloggers of Mindanao: In following the initiative of our colleague in General Santos, please display a black ribbon on your blogs to signify vigilance and awareness and justice.

To our friends in mainstream media, an appeal. Please do not label the whole of Mindanao or Southern Philippines as lawless. Statements like that won’t help anyone — in fact, it will continue to drag the whole of the island deeper into the mire from which we have been trying to get out all these years.

Let’s not forget our common goal: lasting peace and meaningful, sustainable development in the whole of Mindanao.

Pretty soon the Comelec will be announcing the victors of the last Philippine elections. Namfrel Davao wrapped up its operations last Saturday, having canvassed almost 90% of the city’s 3,600+ poll precincts. It was a very successful effort, considering that we had only 5 days of lead time to organize the citizens’ quick count.

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Tomorrow, 14 May, Dabawenyos will once again go out and catapult into power our city’s and our country’s elected government officials. I hope that the turnout will be considerable, so that the populace will have enough confidence in whomever assumes public office.

I have mixed feelings about this, though. I will go out and vote, definitely. But with a heavy heart. Even up to now I still don’t know whose names to write in my ballot…. The city councilors are a relatively easy deal: I get to see them a lot here in Davao. But what about the senators?

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