We find no quarrel with the Philippine President GMA wishing to the stars that in 20 years, the country will be a "First World" nation - right there in the figurative "Enchanted Kingdom" as she told Business last week.

The problem with that statement is that in 20 years GMA would not be around to account for her wish but today she is facing a grave current problem: that of the country fast becoming into a "killing field."

It is not just the Opposition's propaganda toy - the Amnesty International has cited RP for deteriorating human rights violations and extra judicial killings. No less than the US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney had relayed the US concern about the killings saying "Human rights are always critical," spoken from a land where the best of democracy is showcased.

Many of the killings have been traced to the military or men connected to the government officials although the usual bogey of an ongoing communist "purge" as the reason for the spate of killings by this government is being used.

Proof of this? In a period of one week, a cop was arrested for the brutal slay of media man (former Puerto Princesa Palawan vice mayor) Fernando Batul and five pro-Erap men (including chair of the Union of Democracy and Justice Virgilio Eustaquio) were abducted (without warrants of arrest) - all tortured by the Military allegedly in relation to a plot to assassinate PGA and some Cabinet officials.

Instead of investigating the ranks of the military, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales went nationwide to investigate the Red "purge" to find its links with the 601 extra-judicial killings recorded by militant groups (from the time GMA became President in 2001 to 2006). A list of 220 names of murdered militants was published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer last week.

Don't look now but that list includes the names of four Boholanos to name: Ronilo Cabacoy and Buenavanturado Polane (killed November 20, 2003 in Mabini, Bohol), Nestor Antique Abaca (Killed March 7, 2006 in the Provincial Road of Puroc, Abaca, Mabini) and Lieazelda "Inday" Cunado (killed April 3, 2006 in Bgy. Panadlaran, Candijay).

We challenge the Provincial Government of Rico Aumentado and the Human Rights Group in Bohol to let the public know the status of these murders. (In fairness, AFP Chief General Generoso Senga, a man of gentle demeanor and good character has demanded a thorough investigation of these recent violent incidents involving the Military).

Purificacio Quisumbing, Chair of Commission of Human Rights put it succinctly in defining the present environment of serial murders as a "Climate of impunity." Whether the Military had complicity in them or not, the Human Rights head lays the blame right at the doorsteps of Government who should bring the perpetrators to the bar of justice, regardless.

Secondly, as we write, Batul became the 79th journalist murdered in the country since the Dictator flew in an American plane in exile to Hawaia in 1986. The trouble is, he is the 42nd media man murdered during the term of PGMA - a number that exceeds those killed during the combined terms of presidents Aquino, Ramos and Estrada. Many of these remain unsolved - ranking the country the second most dangerous place for media in the whole world.

That's just second to Iraq, which is technically in a state of war - having been bombarded and taken over largely by American troops. That doesn't speak very well of this country as a Christian democracy nor of the president who is an ardent Catholic in her beliefs that certainly includes non-violence and respect for human rights. Of course, the president cannot always micro-manage matters in her hands all the time, to be fair.

What is equally disturbing is that 90% of media killings are done in the provinces where there is a strong link between the powers-that-be, Business and government authorities. Is this the reason why a blank wall is always faced after a media man is sent prematurely to his Creator?

There is a proposal to arm journalists for their own protection - and we are for that for as long as they are trained in the proper use of the guns - physically and psychologically. Some journalists might suffer hubris of invincibility with the power of the pen and the gun in both hands.

But the point is we abhor violence of any kind - whether from the Military or the leftist militants. We have rules under the law - libel cases against erring media men and warrants of arrests for lawless elements. We sound repetitious when we say, we must preserve democracy by the ways of democracy; otherwise we justify the ends with the wrong means. That erodes confidence in our system and institutions.

The Supreme Court had recently already ruled the despotic government approach to street protests, media criticism and investigations and dissent in general as unconstitutional.

Whether the recent events of extra-judicial killings is an antidote to the legal impediment faced by Government is something that bothers us so terribly.

We cannot continue to have "killing fields" in the country - beyond the ambit of the courts and still say we are a democratic, much less a Christian country.