MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang has assured the people that the imposition of martial law in Maguindanao will not last long since the government has started to restore normalcy in the province by restarting public services and allowing trade and industry to continue.
The assurances were made even as President Arroyo submitted before Congress last night the written justification on Proclamation 1959.
The President issued the proclamation late Friday putting Maguindanao under military control to quell what security officials claimed was an ongoing rebellion allegedly staged by supporters of the Ampatuan clan that was implicated in the Nov. 23 massacre of 57 people.
“We would like to stress the declaration of martial law in Maguindanao was necessary to quell the rebellion designed to protect the suspects behind the horrible massacre,” Press Secretary Cerge Remonde told a news briefing yesterday.
“This move was necessary to give justice to the victims, ensure the safety of the witnesses and press freedom in the area and this is only for a very limited period,” he said.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Maj. Gen. Gaudencio Pangilinan said the military and the Philippine National Police (PNP) would be ready to withdraw in case Congress rejects the martial law proclamation.
Pangilinan pointed out authorities need at least 48 hours to arrest and secure the primary suspects in the massacre, as well as to gather more evidence for the prosecution.
“It may be difficult for us to look for the firearms, the weapons used during the massacre or maybe to hunt down the other suspects. We will cope (with the lifting of martial law) but we wish it could be extended for a little while, 60 days, maybe longer,” Pangilinan said.
PNP Director for Operations Andres Caro said martial law in Maguindanao gave security forces the chance “to really go after the suspects who are part of the rebellion, some of whom are possible suspects in the massacre.”
Caro said the PNP and the AFP came up with guidelines to make sure that all operations against the Ampatuans and their supporters are legally carried out.
Caro pointed out that before Mrs. Arroyo declared martial law in Maguindanao, the investigation on the massacre had been delayed since the local magistrates in the province went on leave.
“There was no governance in the area because everybody was threatened and they fear the wrath of the Ampatuans,” he said.
Pangilinan added security forces are on the lookout for the armed followers of the Ampatuans.
He said authorities have estimated there are around 4,000 armed supporters, some of whom are primary suspects in the massacre.
Pangilinan said armed groups were sighted in at least eight areas in the province with some as large as 2,000.
He said the military and police are closing in on the area to neutralize the groups, but stressed there were efforts to convince the groups to surrender peacefully.
“We have some reports that some of the groups have nothing to eat so that will oblige them to give up their arms,” Pangilinan said.
“But they still have the capability of hitting our troops, to create trouble, and pockets of violence,” he said.
Caro pointed out the armed followers are mostly government-authorized militiamen who were deputized to check the encroachment of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels.
Caro branded the militiamen as the “Ampatuan rebel group” because they are no longer considered deputized by the government and are now considered rebels for defying the authorities.
Pangilinan, for his part, warned the group is capable of staging bombing attacks or taking motorists and commuters hostage along main roads in the province.
Pangilinan also said the imposition of martial law contributed to the speedy resolution of the massacre that allowed more witnesses to come out and point to the location of the suspects and weapons stockpile.
Had martial law not been imposed in Maguindanao, “our problems would have been bigger and the area that we need to solve will be bigger,” Pangilinan said.
“With martial law, we can prevent anyone from moving out…without martial law we could not have conducted searches,” he said.
Remonde, on the other hand, said Mrs. Arroyo’s orders for the military and the police
are to make sure that all main roads are clear to allow smooth flow of commerce.
Remonde added that services in the provincial capitol and other government offices in the province will be restored today.
Remonde said Malacañang had expected the deluge of criticisms and condemnation.
“We find it dishonest that the critics demanding that the government use its full powers to give justice to the victims are the same ones criticizing us that we overreacted but we are not surprised about that,” he said.
Remonde said Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, also a member of the Cabinet cluster on national security, has been given instructions to hold talks with members of the diplomatic community to explain why Maguindanao was placed under martial law.
“We are a sovereign country so we have to determine what is right and good for us. Of course also as a citizen in the community of nations, we will do the necessary things in order for our brothers and sisters in the community of nations to understand what we are doing and what’s going on,” he said.
Former Defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro said the government’s objective in declaring martial law in Maguindanao should be clearly defined.
Teodoro stressed the urgency to restore peace and order and arrest the apparent breakdown of government institutions in the province.
“The rule of law must prevail over lawlessness, and public confidence in the institutions of government should be restored to allow people to live not in fear but in freedom in Maguindanao,” Teodoro said.
He said the government has to reassure all that it is taking the decisive steps to bring to trial the perpetrators and “avoid a travesty of justice.
“Let me reiterate what I said last week, that the eyes of the world are upon us and that the government should demonstrate its determination to end the problem swiftly, without fear or favor,” Teodoro said.
http://gibo.ph/updatefull.aspx?key=f3wa8lP8yc/MPPnxYVj49YtpV8vOkoKuTftUAfZfcP7Rfk/FyD5UIA==
Source: The Philippine Star
Posted: 12/7/2009
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