THE last time I saw handcuffs being used on people, or their wrists bound by rope, was more than two years ago in November 2007. When the Peninsula Hotel siege ended, policemen herded into a bus people with wrists bound by rope or plastic strips and brought them to Bicutan for interrogation. I can only surmise that later they were all released. What struck me was the need to tie them up as if they were dangerous suspects.

In contrast, the suspects of the Maguindanao massacre were being treated with kid gloves. The alleged head of the killing machine, Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. was arrested and flown to Manila but he was not handcuffed! It was as though our law enforcers were handling him with some concern for his comfort, perhaps not wishing to antagonize clan members identified as President Macapagal-Arroyo?s political allies.

Almost a month after the massacre which claimed 57 lives?one of the most blood-curdling atrocities ever committed in our country?Andal Jr., the only suspect so far in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation was brought to the Department of Justice for preliminary investigation. Finally, he was in handcuffs attached to an iron chain around his waist. And that is how things should be. Each time he is moved around, he should be treated like a savage animal in captivity for all to see. Some bleeding hearts may invoke the principle that a man is deemed innocent until proven guilty. You can tell that to the Marines! Or maybe, to the relatives of the men and women who were victims of this barbarian.

News reports indicate that other respondents in the case are his father, former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan, Sr., ARMM Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan and a host of other Ampatuan followers. The NBI is going to need more handcuffs but this must be done if the government is to show resolve, strength and determination on the case. And while we are on this subject, we commend Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes, Quezon City RTC, for her courage, her professionalism and her dedication to a difficult and dangerous duty. In certain aspects, the life of a judge is similar to that of a soldier. Both have duties to carry out, duties which represent a heavy burden for the individual and his family. But these duties go with the territory and it is difficult to justify any move to avoid the discharge of such an important responsibility. If judges and soldiers try to evade difficult missions, it would mean the end of law and order in the country.

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The Comelec recently disqualified Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim from the Senate race, declaring that he is a nuisance candidate incapable of launching a nationwide campaign. They forgot that Sen. Antonio Trillanes garnered 11 million votes without leaving his detention cell and without any organized political machinery for campaigning across the country. And he bested the likes of Prospero Pichay, Ralph Recto, Tito Sotto, Tessie Oreta and Mike Defensor, all of whom had the resources and the ruling party machinery at their disposal, not to mention the Maguindanao stamp pad that provided the Lakas candidates with a 12-0 shutout in the last elections.

This decision makes people wonder just what the standards of the Comelec are when it comes to so-called nuisance candidates. In the case of Brigadier General Lim, there is every reason to believe that he would be a welcome addition to the Senate, considering some of the non-performers that are currently part of this august body.

Comelec Chair retired Supreme Court Justice Jose Melo, who is known for his fairness and integrity, should look into this matter. The commission?s image of credibility and impartiality is definitely at stake.

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Although the formal ceremonies are scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 24, today marks the 74th anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It was on Dec. 21, 1935 that the National Defense Act was passed by the Philippine Commonwealth over the objections of its principal opponent, Camilo Osias of La Union. Osias, a former education secretary, wanted more resources for education rather than for defense, arguing that US military forces in the country had the primary responsibility for national security.

In pursuance of this Act, a new organization known as the Philippine Army was created with the nucleus being the existing Philippine Constabulary force. President Manuel Quezon appointed Jose de los Reyes as acting chief of staff with the rank of brigadier general, with Brig. Gen. Basilio Valdes and Col. Guillermo Francisco as first and second assistant chiefs of staff, respectively.

As the nation observes AFP day and moves closer to another presidential election in May next year, we ought to keep in mind the May 2004 contest which was seriously marred by electoral fraud highlighted by the ?Hello, Garci? scandal.

Two months after the ?Hello, Garci? tapes surfaced in June 2005, three senior AFP generals were accused of helping rig the polls in favor of President Macapagal-Arroyo. They were Maj. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr., then AFP deputy chief of staff for operations (J-3), Maj. Gen. Gabriel Habacon, 1st Infantry Division commander, and Lt. Gen. Roy Kyamko, Southcom chief. A fourth, Brig. Gen. Francisco Gudani, First Marine Brigade commander in Marawi City, would be court-martialed for disobeying instructions prohibiting him from testifying before the Senate on election-related irregularities.

A fact-finding board was created, headed by Adm. Mateo Mayuga, then AFP inspector general, to look into the charges. Some six months later, the so-called Mayuga Report was released under very interesting conditions.

Only a summary of the report was released from the residence of the Navy chief in Fort Bonifacio.

No copies of the summary were made available to media.

No reporters were around to ask questions.

The summary was released on Spy Wednesday, the day before Holy Thursday of Holy Week.

While the report is supposed to have cleared the AFP generals named, the Mayuga Report remains one of the AFP?s most closely guarded documents. Very few people have seen the report and the requirement for national security is cited as the reason for this unusual secrecy. Of course, this only made the report even more suspicious for most Filipinos. In the light of current revelations regarding electoral fraud in Maguindanao, it would be prudent to revisit the Mayuga Report if only to shed light on the role of the AFP in Mindanao elections.

On the occasion of AFP Day, we call on the men and women in uniform to ensure that the will of our people will not be thwarted once again by politicians who, in their lust for power, will use the AFP for personal gain.