Read Online Brown, Dale - Patrick McLanahan 03 by Sky Masters (v1.1) - Free Book Online
Authors: Sky Masters (v1.1)
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of the President’s
Cabinet. In Mikaso’s residential office, where the President could see the Pasig River that wound through northern Manila , President Mikaso sipped a cup of tea.
Mikaso was the elder statesman, a white-haired man who was taller and more
powerful-looking than most Filipinos, a wealthy landowner and ex-senator who
was immensely popular with most of his people. Mikaso had been elected as
President of the nation when Corazon Aquino’s second four-year term came to an
end. He won the election only after forming an alliance with the National
Democratic Front, the main political organ of the Communist Party of the Philippines ; and the Moro National Liberation Front, a
pro-Islamic political group that represented the thousands of citizens of the
Islamic faith in the south Philippines .
“How many were killed, General?”
Mikaso asked.
“Thirty men, all civilians,” the
Chief of Staff of the New Philippine Army, General Roberto La Loma Santos,
replied somberly. “Their barge came under full attack by a Red Chinese patrol.
No orders to surrender, no quarter given, no attempts to offer assistance or
rescue after the attack. The bastards attacked, then slinked away like cowardly
dogs.” A tall, dark-haired man, standing alone near the great stone fireplace,
turned toward General Santos. “You have still not explained to us, General,”
Second Vice President Jose Trujillo Samar said in a deep voice, “what that
barge was doing in the neutral zone, anchored to Pagasa Island ...” .
“And what are you implying, Samar ?” First Vice President Daniel Teguina, who
was seated near the President’s desk, challenged. Teguina was politically an
ally of Samar but ideologically a complete opposite. Part
of the coalition formed during the 1994 elections was the appointment of
forty-one-year-old Daniel Teguina. Much younger than Mikaso, Teguina was not
only a vice president, but also the leader of the Philippine House of
Representatives, an exmilitary officer, newspaper publisher, and leader of the
National Democratic Front, a leftist political organization. With General Jose
Trujillo Samar—who besides being the second vice president was also governor of
the newly formed Commonwealth of Mindanao, which had won the right to form its
own autonomous commonwealth in 1990—these three men formed a fiery coalition
that, although successful in continuing the important post-Marcos rebuilding
process in the Philippines, was stormy and divisive. “Those were innocent
Filipino workers on the barge . . .” said Teguina.
Samar nodded and said, “Who were illegally
drilling for oil in the neutral zone. Did they think the Chinese were going to
just sit back and watch them work?”
“They were not drilling for oil, just taking soundings,” said Teguina.
“Well, they had no business there,” Samar insisted. “The Chinese Navy’s actions were
outrageous, but those workers were in clear violation of the law.”
“You’re a cold bastard,” Teguina cut
in. “Blaming the dead for an act of aggression . . .”
“Enough, enough,” the elderly Mikaso
said wearily, gesturing for the men to stop. “I did not call you here to
argue.” Teguina glared at both men. “Well, we can’t just sit back and do
nothing. The Chinese just launched a major act of aggression. We must do
something. We must—”
“Enough,” Mikaso interrupted. “We
must begin an investigation and find out exactly why that barge was operating
in those waters, then ...”
“Sir, I recommend that we also step
up patrols in the Spratly Island area,” General Santos said. “This may be a
prelude to a full-scale invasion of the Spratlys by the Chinese.”
“Risky,” Samar concluded. “A naval
Cabinet. In Mikaso’s residential office, where the President could see the Pasig River that wound through northern Manila , President Mikaso sipped a cup of tea.
Mikaso was the elder statesman, a white-haired man who was taller and more
powerful-looking than most Filipinos, a wealthy landowner and ex-senator who
was immensely popular with most of his people. Mikaso had been elected as
President of the nation when Corazon Aquino’s second four-year term came to an
end. He won the election only after forming an alliance with the National
Democratic Front, the main political organ of the Communist Party of the Philippines ; and the Moro National Liberation Front, a
pro-Islamic political group that represented the thousands of citizens of the
Islamic faith in the south Philippines .
“How many were killed, General?”
Mikaso asked.
“Thirty men, all civilians,” the
Chief of Staff of the New Philippine Army, General Roberto La Loma Santos,
replied somberly. “Their barge came under full attack by a Red Chinese patrol.
No orders to surrender, no quarter given, no attempts to offer assistance or
rescue after the attack. The bastards attacked, then slinked away like cowardly
dogs.” A tall, dark-haired man, standing alone near the great stone fireplace,
turned toward General Santos. “You have still not explained to us, General,”
Second Vice President Jose Trujillo Samar said in a deep voice, “what that
barge was doing in the neutral zone, anchored to Pagasa Island ...” .
“And what are you implying, Samar ?” First Vice President Daniel Teguina, who
was seated near the President’s desk, challenged. Teguina was politically an
ally of Samar but ideologically a complete opposite. Part
of the coalition formed during the 1994 elections was the appointment of
forty-one-year-old Daniel Teguina. Much younger than Mikaso, Teguina was not
only a vice president, but also the leader of the Philippine House of
Representatives, an exmilitary officer, newspaper publisher, and leader of the
National Democratic Front, a leftist political organization. With General Jose
Trujillo Samar—who besides being the second vice president was also governor of
the newly formed Commonwealth of Mindanao, which had won the right to form its
own autonomous commonwealth in 1990—these three men formed a fiery coalition
that, although successful in continuing the important post-Marcos rebuilding
process in the Philippines, was stormy and divisive. “Those were innocent
Filipino workers on the barge . . .” said Teguina.
Samar nodded and said, “Who were illegally
drilling for oil in the neutral zone. Did they think the Chinese were going to
just sit back and watch them work?”
“They were not drilling for oil, just taking soundings,” said Teguina.
“Well, they had no business there,” Samar insisted. “The Chinese Navy’s actions were
outrageous, but those workers were in clear violation of the law.”
“You’re a cold bastard,” Teguina cut
in. “Blaming the dead for an act of aggression . . .”
“Enough, enough,” the elderly Mikaso
said wearily, gesturing for the men to stop. “I did not call you here to
argue.” Teguina glared at both men. “Well, we can’t just sit back and do
nothing. The Chinese just launched a major act of aggression. We must do
something. We must—”
“Enough,” Mikaso interrupted. “We
must begin an investigation and find out exactly why that barge was operating
in those waters, then ...”
“Sir, I recommend that we also step
up patrols in the Spratly Island area,” General Santos said. “This may be a
prelude to a full-scale invasion of the Spratlys by the Chinese.”
“Risky,” Samar concluded. “A naval
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