Panetta's Visit to RP--Punyeta?

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) chief Leon Panetta met Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for 20 minutes yesterday. The statement from the palace says they discussed on how to strengthen cooperation on counter-terrorism. But, is that the only thing they discussed? That's what I'm trying to figure out since I started drinking my morning barako coffee.

Malacanang has kept the details of the visit secret. That's a matter of national security. Yet, this courtesy call means nothing, actually. What is important were those briefings Panetta attended with defense and intelligence officials of the Philippine government and of course, the unbiased assessment of Panetta's men working inside the US embassy.

For sure, Panetta's visit is a message to Mrs. Arroyo. This is the same tactic employed by the US in dealing with Mexican president Felipe Calderon. Prior to Barack Obama's 12-hour visit, US defense and security officials visited the Mexican government first, voicing their concerns over Calderon's inability to address drugs and arms smuggling.

Surprisingly, the timed release of Eugenio Vagni during Panetta's visit shows that those "terrorists" in Jolo are nothing but government agents. If these are really terrorists, then, they should have beheaded Vagni to humiliate the Philippine government and send a strong message to the US. But, they did'nt do it. This validates earlier news that these so-called Al-qaeda terrorists are nothing but military agents.