Chapter 4: Isang Mahalagang Pagpupulong

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Cebu

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Cebu. Isang malaking conference room. Maliwanag. Mataas ang kisame. May U-shape na lamesa kung saan sa gitna, ay nakaupo si President Menandro, sa magkabila niya'y sina Gil at J.J. Sa likuran nila ang floor-to-ceiling na Philippine flag.

Napupuno ng tao sa bulwagan. Sa isang side ay kampo ng mga military sa pangunguna ni General Isagani Guerra, ang AFP Chief-of-Staff. Sa opposite direction niya, ang panig ni Vice President Helen Jocson, mga senador at congressmen. Maingay. Kanya-kanyang usapan, bulungan at side comments. Tatapikin ng Presidente ang microphone sa mesa, at nang madidinig ito ng lahat ay tatahimik para makinig.

"Ladies and gentlemen," panimula ng Presidente, "as of 3PM today, the virus has already spread throughout Metro Manila, as far as Bulacan to the North and Cavite to the South. As you all know, this unknown and deadly virus struck our country three days ago. A virus that made men violent, leaving death behind and a future so chaotic, life as we know it, may never be the same again."

Taimtim ang mukha ng lahat.

"As we speak, we are evacuating people to safer areas and trying to control the outbreak from further spreading. Defense Secretary Gil Gomez and Chief-of-Staff Genera Guerra have recalled all available troops and all abled body that may help us."

Titingin si Presidente kay General Guerra at sesenyas ng ulo, at mabilis na tatango at magsasalita ang General.

"And we hab assault teams por controlling da problem."

Bagama't Carabao English at may punto, confident ang General sa pagsasalita. Bilang pinakamataas na ranking military officer, alam niyang may tiwala ang Presidente sa kakayahan niya. Mataba at napapanot na (yung tipong bilang ang strands ng hair sa tuktok) ang 50-something na 4-star General ay kilala bilang isang gung-ho, warfreak, Rambo-type na Marine, kung kaya't ang palayaw na binigay sa kanya ay "Guns."

"Excuse me? Assault? That means using guns?" tanong ni Helen.

"In other words...to kill," ang second the motion ni Pete Gorospe na katabi ng bise. Si Pete ang Senate President, nasa kanyang late 70s, at pinaka-senior na senador. In fact, siyang pinakamatandang nilalang sa buong kuwarto. Even sa buong building.

"The Senate President is right. Are we talking genocide here?" mariing usisa ni Helen.

"Not exactly, Madam Vice President. We are killing da already disis," sagot ni Guerra.

Shocked si Helen, "General, killing a person with a disease, or a virus, is murder!"

"Disis, Madam. As in very dead."

"Oh, you meant deceased."

Napanganga ang Vice President.

"Well, killing da already scientifically dead is not murder," patuloy ni Guerra, "We hab a slang term por it...Dobol Dead."

Puputok sa galit ang bise.

"General Guerra! They are not animals!"

Shocked din ang ibang pulitiko sa walang kiyemeng sinabi ni Guerra.

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