UNANSWERED QUESTIONS (SAF 44)

I couldn't explain how I felt as I saw the breaking news on television about the encounter in Maguindanao that resulted in the massacre of 44 members of the elite Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police. I was just as shocked as everyone else.

Just like the little girl who asked the Pope, "Why do innocent children have to suffer?", I ask similar questions now. Why should there be innocent victims?   Why do those who have less in life always suffer?

Why do these men in uniform (mostly breadwinners with meager salaries), who risk lives supporting their families, have to experience death in such an inhumane manner in the hands of the enemy? In addition to that, reports of mutilated bodies that resulted from this ruthless killing added insult to injury.

Why do these things have to happen? How do you tell a child that his daddy will no longer be coming home? I know I will never get answers to my questions. Even the Pope did not have an answer to the little girl's query. But I will keep on asking anyway.

It was such a pitiful sight as the flag-draped caskets bearing the bodies of the slain heroes disembarked from the plane at Villamor Air Base. If the pain was too much for me, what more for their families? No word will ever be enough to ease their grief. I assume there was not a dry eye in Villamor Air Base that day, along with those glued to their television sets anxiously awaiting the return of the fallen heroes. Surely, the government will provide financial assistance and posthumous promotions, but is that enough? These can never compensate for the loss of their loved ones.

Men in uniform are trained to be tough. They are not supposed to cry. Thus, it was so heartbreaking to see them standing erect, with tears streaming down their cheeks as they paid respect to their fallen comrades, both at the arrival ceremony in Villamor Air Base and at the necrological rites in Camp Bagong Diwa. Crying is not a sign of weakness, nor does it make you less of a man. I admire men who never hide their tears.

Who really was to blame for this unfortunate incident? Pointing fingers is the name of the game. The victims' families cry out for justice. Maybe it would have been better if those responsible would be men enough to admit they erred in giving orders. They owe the victims' families an apology. Certainly, it would not take away the pain, but at least it would be lessened to a certain extent. Real men admit their mistakes. But somehow, hoping for this seems next to impossibility.

Soon the SAF 44 will be forgotten and all these will be just a memory, but their heroic deeds will live on in the hearts of every Filipino. After all, as SAF members so aptly expressed, " A black beret is not issued, it is earned." The SAF 44 died as heroes, and will forever be.

As far as my questions are concerned, they will remain unanswered.

But not for the SAF 44, for in that celestial place where they are now, all the answers to their questions have been provided by the ONE who knows it all.