Maguindanao Martial Law

After the November 23, 2009 election-related violence in Maguindanao where at least fifty seven (57) people were massacred, clocks started ticking to assess how long it would take for the Arroyo administration to bring forth the perpetrators and give justice to the victims. Media is more upfront and aggressive, considering that 15 among the dead were colleagues in the industry. From a state of emergency since the gruesome incident, Martial Law was declared December 4 by virtue of Presidential Proclamation 1959.

The ensuing arrests without warrants as a result of the suspension of habeas corpus created an instant scenario of relief, since it is a known fact that the Ampatuans as primary suspects could easily evade procedures with their enforced influence among the police and the military in the province. However, some political observers think that for the law enforcers to have been shoved to the side as ineffective in performing their duties is another government miscalculation and means of issue evasion.  Another facet of the national reaction is the fear for a forthcoming expansion of martial rule in all areas of the country. Senator Miriam Santiago poses that with escalating incidents of violence in Mindanao, Martial Law covering the entire nation could be possible with government having the least difficulty in making a justification. The Marcos Martial Law regime spanning twenty years is still a fresh, horrific memory for the present generation.

Through the legal process, joint session of Congress has been called to assess the need for the declaration of martial rule in Maguindanao. In spite of surfacing irrelevant side issues, Speaker Prospero Nograles tells reporters the verdict of the votes will be announced publicly by Tuesday, December 15, 2009.

In the mean time, poor Juan de la Cruz, with a grumbling stomach in a personal corner of an evacuation center awaits Christmas Day.


(Picture credits: www.monstersandcritics.com and www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn. Thanks!)