THE GOOD NEWS for Filipinos living abroad is that they are now closer than ever before to becoming enfranchised to vote in Philippine elections. The bad news is that while the House of Representative’s Technical Working Group (TWG) decided to include all Philippine citizens abroad in the consolidated bill on absentee voting, the Senate’s TWG is hesitating to do so. The Senate has voiced reservations about enfranchising Filipinos who are permanent residents of other countries.
But the advocacy group Empower recently pointed out that of the 2.55 million Filipino immigrants, 70 percent of whom live in the US, close to 50 percent of Pinoys in America choose to retain their Philippine citizenship. If the estimated one million Filipinos who overstay their US visas were added to these numbers, we would have close to 2 million politically disenfranchised Filipinos in the US alone!
The Senate is hesitating to include all Filipinos overseas in an absentee voting bill because of the fact that many of them may have sworn allegiance to a foreign government, and many have no intention of ever returning to live in the Philippines. But as many have pointed out, to attain permanent residency in the US and most other countries, one does not swear allegiance to that country. In addition, the high percentage of Filipinos abroad who opt to keep their Philippine citizenship points to the fact that they eventually plan to return to the Philippines, if only to retire.
"To help resolve the loss-of-intent-to-return issue, Kakammpi, a Manila-based advocacy group representing Filipino migrants and their families, proposes that overseas Filipinos be asked to execute affidavits or declarations of intent to return as practiced in Australia and Canada," says Marvin Bionat of Empower.
"Politically, while it is not clear which side of the political fence will benefit from the political enfranchisement of overseas Filipinos (support has been bilateral), the immediate beneficiaries are clearly those who actively push for an inclusive law," explains Bionat.
"This is especially true because overseas Filipinos have now become active participants in public fora via modern interactive media. Through e-groups (there are about 2,500 Philippine-related e-groups hosted by Yahoo alone), forum sections of websites, texting, e-mail distribution lists, global radio and TV, Filipinos abroad are now capable of shaping perceptions and influencing events. Whether politicians like it or not, they are now accountable not just to Filipinos within the geographic boundaries of the Philippines, but to the entire Filipino nation that now spans the globe."
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Nur Misuari left behind by changing times
THE FORMER chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), Nur Misuari, is increasingly finding himself pushed out of the limelight and into retirement. After years as governor of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), in which millions of pesos disappeared into the bureaucratic black hole of developmental economics, Misuari didn’t have much to show his Muslim constituents.
Fed up with Misuari living it up in five-star hotels in Manila and abroad, the MNLF finally decided to oust him as chairman, and a 15-member committee led by Parouk Hussin now runs the group. Malacañang Palace sensing a lack of leadership in ARMM, is now backing Hussin to replace Misuari as regional governor in the upcoming elections scheduled for Nov. 26th.
Misuari has repeatedly succeeded in delaying elections, always arguing that the time wasn’t right to hold them. Many see this as a thinly veiled attempt to remain in power.
To be sure, Misuari still commands respect in Moro circles, if only for the years of sacrifice he endured in the 1970s and 1980s fighting government troops. But times change and attitudes shift, and Misuari has not been able to change accordingly. He acts as if he has the right to sit on his laurels and enjoy the spoils of peace, after the years he spent on the battlefield. But he should have realized that peace was only the beginning of a much harder and longer battle: That of conquering poverty, despair and hate.
Misuari has now announced plans to have the Moro Islamic Liberation Front rejoin the MNLF. They were once one group until 1978 when Hashim Salamat broke away with the more radical elements to form the MILF. Perhaps both groups realize now that with global attention focused on fighting the terrorism of Osama Bin Laden and his Al-Qaeda network, they can find strength in unity and that fighting the Philippine government is a losing battle. None of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) member states has ever backed independence for a Muslim Mindanao, as this would mean the dismemberment of the Philippines. What they have backed is greater autonomy. Perhaps this is what a united Moro front could successfully negotiate for with Manila.
Thankfully, Misuari has rejected the murderous acts of the Abu Sayyaf group as being beyond the pale of Islam. Nowhere in Islamic law does it say it is OK to murder innocent civilians and kidnap people for ransom, said Misuari. Hopefully, with the crackdown on terrorism, Muslims around the world will likewise denounce the Abu Sayyaf, and help bring back the just image of Islam.
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‘If it’s illegal, we’ll show you how to do it!’
IN THE DAILY slog of going through the avalanche of junk e-mail that we all receive nowadays, I came across a veritable gem in my Bulk Mail inbox the other day.
Ungrammatically entitled "Best underground information print now!!!" the e-mail promised to show me how to get an unsecured credit card, descramble satellite TV signals, make free long distance phone calls, tamper with utility meters, spy on people’s mail without getting caught, pass drug tests, outsmart lie detector tests and how to pick locks!
Now if this all sounds illegal to you, let me tell you: It is! Here’s a sample of what they promise:
1. Guaranteed unsecured credit cards up to $50,000 regardless of bad credit. No credit checks! No employment check!
2. Learn how some people make long distance calls to other countries at no cost!
3. The illustrated guide to gas, water and electric meters! We show you in detail methods many people use to stop, slow down, even reverse all three types! Complete illustrated techniques shows how to defeat all major brands and models of gas, water and electric meters.
4. Have you ever wanted to read the contents of an envelope without opening it? Many government and other organizations use what is known as X-ray Envelope Spray to do this! Just spray the envelope with this secret chemical and it becomes translucent for a short period of time, which allows the contents to be read without opening.
All of this information is available for only $19.95! To be on the safe side, a huge disclaimer at the end of the e-mail says in part: "Please note that this information is being provided for educational purposes only. The information itself is legal, while the usage of such information may be illegal. We do not advocate unauthorized use or theft of any services. If in doubt, check your local laws and act accordingly."
How ridiculous! This is the stupidest example of double-speak I’ve ever encountered. We’ll show you how to steal, but please don’t hold us legally responsible! I certainly had a good laugh.
