VIOLENCE BAD FOR NUR: The spate of fatal violence on Sulu involving followers of Moro leader Nur Misuari is providing the very arguments for not detaining him on that island and not holding in Jolo his trial for rebellion and other charges.

Just yesterday, there was another incident in Jolo resulting in the hacking to death of three Scout rangers by partisans in the heart of the capital. The other day another melee resulted in the killing of more than 20 persons, including soldiers, policemen and civilians.

Even the most conservative among the justices of the Supreme Court, whose approval is being sought by the justice department to transfer the trial to a more secure and convenient place, cannot fail to see the wisdom of the petition for change of venue.

We cannot tolerate the barbaric taking of lives and destruction of property on account of that case of Misuari. Clearly, it would be a mistake to feed the seething temper of partisans on Sulu by returning him there and trying him right in the vortex of all that violence.

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WHAT’S THE SCORE?: President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo must drop all pretenses and tell us exactly what mission she and President George W. Bush have in mind for US Special Forces converging on Basilan where the Abu Sayyaf is still holding hostage an American couple and a Filipina nurse.

We remember her voicing at the White House last November her opposition to American forces playing an active role in the pursuit operations against the Abu Sayyaf. She said that our armed forces could very well do the job, that all they needed were better logistics.

If she now thinks that American forces should be allowed to join Filipino troops in hunting down Abu Sayyaf terrorists, she simply has to say so. We see nothing wrong with her changing her mind if she has a good reason for it.

We must march with the changing times. The President’s perspective could change with the unfolding of events and intelligence inputs without her having to apologize for it. It would be foolhardy to stick to a previous position that has been shown by supervening events to be untenable.

Rather than resort to rhetorical contortions and being accused of talking with a forked tongue, President Arroyo might as well face the facts and tell us exactly where she wants to lead us — and why.

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NO REELECTION FOR GMA: We were amused, meanwhile, with a reported challenge of Senate Minority Leader Nene Pimentel to President Arroyo for her to pledge not to run for reelection in 2004 so as to defuse, he said, the rising political tension and pave the way for national unity.

Such a pledge is ridiculous. When (not if) GMA runs for president in 2004, she won’t be running for reelection — because she was never elected president. She will be running for president for the first time in 2004.

It would never happen, but if GMA obliges, we wonder if Pimentel and other senior senators who fancy themselves to be presidential material would be willing to make a simultaneous pledge not to run for any elective position in 2004 and thereafter. Bakit si GMA lang?

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U.S. FORCES FAVORED: Back to the fielding of US Special Forces on Basilan… The Arroyo administration can take heart in the widespread public approval of the move to bring in US forces to pursue Abu Sayyaf terrorists and rescue the hostages. The people are just fed up and are in fact getting impatient.

The race to rescue the hostages has gained urgency because of reports on Basilan that Abu Sayyaf members have made the American lady their own version of a Japanese imperial forces’ “comfort woman.” This reported daily gang rape is totally unacceptable and must be stopped without delay.

If US Special Forces cannot wait for their Filipino counterparts to tag along, we would even close our eyes to the Americans’ pressing the hunt on their own, provided they report to the joint command afterwards. In the heat of battle, they should just finish off any terrorist caught holding his weapon. Handling prisoners could be complicated.

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‘YES’ LEADS BY 88%: A few objectors to the bringing in of US forces showed up on the closing day yesterday of our survey among Postscript readers on the questions: Should we allow American troops to fight the Abu Sayyaf in the Sulu-Basilan area? Why?

The objectors eroded to 88 percent the 93-percent first-day lead of those favoring the involvement of US forces in the campaign against the Abu Sayyaf.

The males (87 percent) still outnumbered the female respondents. More than half (53 percent) of respondents were writing in from abroad, mostly the US. The bulk (65 percent) of respondents were from the 31-50-years age bracket.

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WHAT THEY SAY: Here is a sampling of the responses:

Mike C. Bolos, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – It’s obvious that our own troops cannot do the job for whatever reasons. I would rather forget ego and pride and take whatever assistance is available from wherever it may come. The bottom line is to get the job done as quickly as possible so that we could go on with more important things in life.

Jim R. Jensen, doc.state.wi.us — It may seem that having US troops to help might be a good thing. However, in context with other Fil-Am issues, maybe it is not. President Arroyo just returned from the US where she got a lot of military and civilian economic aid. One can only wonder at the price for which this aid will be given.

Faye (Febe) Cutshaw, worldnet.att.net — It’s high time you used your heads and “pocket your pride.” The whole world knows that you are incapable of getting rid of Abu-Sayyaf. This is an opportune time to save face. While we are cleaning up global terrorism and rescuing our American hostages, Abu-Sayyaf can be eliminated too.

Cindy V. Garcia, Las Piñas – Let’s be realistic. Our military does not have enough skills, training and modern armament and equipment. If by way of blasting into oblivion the Abu Sayyaf we need the help of US troops then, so be it! The Abus have done so much damage to our image.

Emmanuel S. Tipon, cs.com — Every country has the right and duty to protect its citizens wherever they might be. Ignore the legal gobbledygooks of the Visiting Forces Agreement. Forget President Arroyo’s public statement that the Philippine military is capable of handling the situation. Even she herself, if she is smart enough, does not believe what she is saying. But she has to say it, because she is beholden to the Philippine military that put her in power. Filipinos will wholeheartedly welcome American troops in the Philippines.

Delia Canillo, San Diego, CA — Let Americans take care of this problem. Hesitating to avoid embarrassment for our armed forces is no longer an acceptable excuse to let terrorists harm innocent civilians, our economy, the peace and order in the South, etc. If war games could lessen the impact of embarrassment and provide indirect authorization, then everyone should welcome it.

Benjamin L. Sim, sim-co.com.ph — GMA has committed many deadlines which came and went and proved that we just can’t back it. The Abu said they’d annihilate US forces if they came. Letting the Americans fight here would also test the techniques they are teaching our armed forces. Let them fight para magkasubukan.

Dante Pascual, San Francisco, CA — US troops should be allowed to help. The operation leader promised to crush the ASG by November 2001. It is already January 2002. Have pity on the RP tourism industry.

Godofredo Robes, msn.com — In this world, there are times when we need to solve our problems with outside help. Who among Filipinos could solve this problem in Mindanao by themselves? Are we just going to watch? Today is not the time to negotiate, we need to act and eliminate the root of all the problems in the South.

Al Villamora, San Diego, CA – Solving the Abu Sayyaf problem is purely a police function that the state should be able to carry out. The “Balikatan” military exercise as a cover is a ploy to circumvent the Constitution. The President and the military top leadership gave a self-imposed deadline to eliminate the ASG by December 2001. They failed.

A. B. Estebanlar, Makati — While they’re at it, let them go after and eliminate all kinds of terrorists — economic, political, religious and ethnic, all those in Jolo, Zamboanga and especially those in the Batasan, Fairview and the Manila Bay reclaimed area.