Waging war

“WAR IS nothing but the continuation of political intercourse with a mixture of other means.”
The Pampanga mayors should well take this dictum of the other master of war – besides Sun Tzu – the Prussian general Carl Von Clausewitz in his classic Vom Kriege, with their declaration of war on Gov. Eddie T. Panlilio last June 26 in a Quezon City restaurant.
For a casus belli, the charge of incompetence or misgovernance on Panlilio’s part is too broad to stir the emotions and incite the people to arms, so to speak. It has to be broken to specifics – to gut issues, each substantiated with more than mere allegations. The cause here gains among the people, first some “graspability,” and then – infused with their own specific, concrete experiences of being misgoverned – empathy, and ultimately solidarity.
Here, the moral ground is laid. The nobility of the cause established.
So the mayors – and hopefully, backed up by their constituencies – have a cause for war? Now, what is their end?
It can only be the ouster of Panlilio from the governorship, if not soon, then in 2010. And if this war is one of attrition, the total banishment of Panlilio from politics thereafter.
Now, how will the mayors wage their war?
Strategy – that which Clausewitz called “the employment of battle as the means towards the attainment of the object of the war” – comes naturally into play.
There are a number of existing battlefronts that needed only some intensification.
One, the electoral protest of former Board Member Lilia Pineda. Intervention from allies of the mayors in the administration can renew hostilities at the Comelec front.
Two, the Ombudsman case against Panlilio arising from his non-implementation of Ordinance 176 on the equitable sharing of the quarry income.
Three, the criminal complaint for perjury based on “concealed or undeclared political contribution” filed with the Comelec against Panlilio by Elly Velez “Spikes” Pamatong with the substantial contribution of Mrs. Lolita Hizon as “incontrovertible” evidence.
In number three lies the possibility of perpetual disqualification from public office, if proven guilty.
Then, the much-rumored recall proceedings can now come into being. With all the forces of the local government units marshaled against the governor, the institution of recall will certainly be a battle already won. And in a consequent election, Panlilio looms as almost certain to lose. To any one candidate of note. Even with no consideration of the results of a recent survey. Why, every Pepe and Pilar, Juan and Juana, Milio and Milia in Pampanga could see that Panlilio has lost a substantial number of his supporters – Mrs. Hizon, businessman Rene Romero, lawyer Junior Canlas, environmentalist Sonny Dobles, to name but a very few – even as he has not gained any new ones.
The greater battle though has to be opened and waged – relentlessly until victory – in the sitios, the barrios and the poblaciones. More than winning territorial grounds, war is about winning – and holding – the minds and hearts of the people. It is there that the real battle is waged.
Aha! The mayors would be quick, with smugness, to declare that the people are theirs, being their constituencies.
It will serve them well to remember that in 2007, they promised their towns – like feudal lords promising their fiefs – to the cause of Nanay Baby.
It will serve them well to remember one of the first rules in battle: Never underestimate your enemy. Better yet, take heed of Sun Tzu’s admonition “By perceiving the enemy and perceiving ourselves, there will be no unforeseen risk in any battle. By not perceiving the enemy yet perceiving ourselves, there will be partial victory and partial loss. By not perceiving the enemy and not perceiving ourselves, every battle will be an unforeseen risk.”
Okay, that considered, engage in battle the mayors must now?
Timing is of the essence in war. I very well suppose that the mayors have gone through a lot of introspection and preparation leading to their June 26 declaration of war.
Else, it’s all acoustics . And that’s no war.