The Philippine military’s objective of crushing the Abu Sayyaf, a Muslim terrorist group that is sowing terror in southern Philippines, seemed to be losing enough steam to carry on. In its concerted efforts to wipe out the terrorists, casualties on both sides have been inevitable.
To beef up its efforts, ten army and marines battalions were dispatched as a means to augment the existing force in Basilan province, where heavy fighting between the government forces and the Muslim extremists are tangible. But many are wondering as to how the military is coping with the pitfalls that its soldiers experienced owing to lack of resources and modern equipment to keep them more than at par with the measly band of terrorists, whose number is scantier compared to the military elements now operating in Basilan and some parts of Sulu.
Does this show that the Filipino soldiers, who are known worldwide as resilient and tactical fighters, are now waning in so far as the application of fighting skills are concerned? What’s keeping their morale low? Could it be for the low pay and corruption involving ranking military officials? Retired enlisted personnel said that ordinary soldiers, who are supposed to receive gold medals as reward for their gallantry in action do not get them, but the commanders and some officials who are away from the frontlines.
Military discipline is nothing if the soldiers’ morales are down. For how could ordinary soldiers behave as real fighting machines when their minds and hearts are preoccupied with the fangs of demoralization? And no matter how good are the military strategies to topple down the enemies if the commanders on the ground are oblivious on thesoldiers’ needs to become real effective in the fields?
For one, corruption is taking a heavy toll on the lives of soldiers who got nothing but obey the orders of military higher-ups, whose mind-sets were structured to defeat the enemies by pouring out soldiers in the fields whose stamina have been affected due to lack of necessary sustenance to allow them to endure the hardships in the battle fronts. Many are aware that the soldiers’ neglect has been going on for decades now, which all the more ignited discontent among the junior military and police officers to react negatively to let the government know how they feel. How many more Oakwoods will come, nobody is sure? But for as long as there is discontent inside the military, unrests can never be eliminated.
Leave Your Comments