In a chess game, the pawns are always put across the chessboard. The goal is to either to protect or attack the enemy lines and win the game.
This is true in war games. The ordinary soldiers, like pawns, are always put on the frontlines to ward off the enemies. While their officials are covered behind, dictating what the soldiers should do against the enemies.
And the lousy part of it is that ordinary soldiers’ lives are being risked either for the sake of heroism or risk their lives to defend the Constitution of a sovereign nation.
These days, it is not uncommon to hear that ordinary soldiers are being exposed to all kinds of danger in the field for the simple reason that the military’s intelligence gathering or monitoring is poor due to lack of resources.
In the Philippines, Congress has always included in the General Appropriations Act a hefty sums of budget for use of the defense department. But when this budget is subdivided and eventually distributed down the line, the field commanders have already the say on what to do with the money. And the budget intended for the needs of the soldiers in the frontline are jeopardized. This is because some of this money are pocketed by unconsciountious military commanders who think of nothing but their personal interests at the expense of the soldiers’ lives.
Intelligence funds are normally not audited nor liquedated by the government. As such, military and defense officials can utilize them for other purposes other than intelligence activities. Due to money restrictions, intelligence gathering efficiency is sacrificed. It is not therefore surprising why many soldiers are killed by insurgents in the Philippines?The primary reason is that the military doesn’t have the means to pay its informers in the fields. Hence, ambuscades against the government troops are prevalent.
When soldiers are wounded, they could not even get the best hospital care in the country, but the V. Luna Medical Center, which is now being ruled by the wife of the chief of the Armed Forces. While the military commanders, after they retire, they enjoy the full benefits accorded to them by the government. What a great disparity at the expense of the hapless soldiers. It wouldn’t be far-fetched when the president may do something about this problem. If not, then the next president would, perhaps, do in favor of the small soldiers in the field.
It is not uncommon why many soldiers are crying for help. But their voices are muffled by apprehensions that losing their jobs is something that is important right now. With a meager salary, compared to their officials, I doubt if they would ever realize their ambitions in life. Best of luck to all of you!
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