Ambivalent reactions greet lifting of Martial Law

DAVAO CITY – From concern and anxiety to surprised reaction to feeling to relief, various Mindanao organizations expressed ambivalent reactions to the lifting of Martial Law on night of December 12.

Many members of the civil society, many actively engaged in the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, said the short-lived Martial Law should not have been declared at all “with little achievements that could have been done even without declaring it”.

“They [Arroyo administration] achieved a lot in declaring Martial Law: they managed to dignify the Ampatuans with rebellion,” said Mary Ann Arnado, chairperson of the Mindanao People’s Caucus, an active participant in the peace process which established the Bantay Ceasefire.

“That’s one question that only God can answer,” said Abita Samudan, a housewife.

Lawyer Ramon Edison Batacan, who was a lawyer for one of the slain lawyers in the November 23 massacre of 57 persons in Ampatuan, Maguindanao, said that he was amenable to the delaration of Martial “if only to put back law and order in Maguindanao”.

“Yes, I am not opposed to it as long as it is necessary,” he said in a texted survey conducted by BusinessMirror.

But critics against the suspicious 12-0 win of a limping administration senatorial slate in the 2007 elections in Maguindanao, has this to say: “Nalinis na siguro nila lahat ebidensya na ma link si GMA [Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo] lalo na sa tikasay nung election [They have probably cleansed any evidence that might linked GMA to the cheating in the last election]”, said Oscar Casaysay, a city government consultant in cultural and theater affairs, who planned to run in next year’s election but backed off.

Senator Kiko Pangilinan, in a statement shortly before the lifting of Martial Law, said that it was doubtful if the administration could declare a wider military rule saying that “it was meant to save GMA’s own skin, and no one else’s”.

The Armed Forces’ Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) assured that “the lifting of Martial Law will not affect our operation in Maguindanao as we have gained the necessary momentum since its declaration on December 4”.

“The arrests, searches, and seizures that we have made will contribute to building an air tight case against the masterminds of the November 23 massacre and that is an essential accomplishment during the short lived Martial Law,” said Maj. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer, Eastmincom commander.

He said his command, given the task to implement and supervise Martial Law, has prevented “the uprising of some armed groups following the arrests of their leaders”.

“We shall, however, continue with our military and police operations against the remaining suspects and strengthen even more our checkpoints to ensure that the people are insulated against hostile acts of the private armed groups that we intend to disarm and dismantle,” he said.

He did not mention the Ampatuan nor did he name any particular group or political figures believed to be maintaining private armies.