Martial law in Maguindanao criticized
MANILA - A human rights lawyer and a congressman representing Maguindanao on Saturday criticized President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for setting a bad precedent by declaring martial law in Maguindanao despite the absence of rebellion or invasion in the province.
Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) lawyer Manuel Diokno told ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) that the 1987 Constitution allows for the declaration of martial law if there is rebellion or invasion.
In this case, he said martial law was declared on the basis of the mass murders that happened November 23. He warned this would set a bad precedent for the country.
Maguindanao Rep. Didagen Dilangalen, interviewed on ANC on Saturday, expressed the same view.
Dilangalen said the government can only declare martial law if there is rebellion or invasion.
"The basis for the declaration does not exist," he said.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita announced on Saturday morning the declaration of martial law in Maguindanao province, except in areas held by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) separatists.
Dilangalen said it was ironic that martial law does not apply in areas of the MILF where rebellion exists.
He insisted that there is no rebellion in Maguindanao, adding that the suspects in the November 23 massacre are actually allies of the government.
Members of the Ampatuan family linked to the murders were allies of President Arroyo prior to the massacre. They were expelled from the ruling party after the carnage.
"Is there shooting going on? No. Has there been bombings after the massacre? No," Dilangalen said.
On armed groups allegedly converging to opposed the arrest of the other Ampatuans linked to the murders, Dilangalen said the government can just direct the police to address this problem.
Dilangalen warned that there was a “grand scenario” behind the martial law declaration. He did not elaborate.
He said that if the president can do it in Maguindanao, she can also declare martial law in other provinces using bases not allowed by the Constitution.
Printer-friendly version
Send to friend
Share your views
Let the world know what's happening in the name of Islam
Applause for the president for making her position regarding this national issue that already involved the whole world. It aroused the public awareness about the status of politics in Southern Philippines. It was a good decision of implementing this executive order for the benefits of innocent ones. I am not pro-administration but so far this was the first undertaking that Gloria administration made that somehow elevated my admiration to her at least a bit throughout her stay as president. And making stand behind the decision is fully appreciated.
This early evening I watched the latter part of Ted Failon's TV program Failon Ngayon guesting Robin Padilla on the show. He said on his message that let the region itself solve its own problem by making the region as separate state from the entire archipelago. To my understanding, he was saying that this civil war-zone region has its own capability of resolving different interest and conflicts between different organizations and its members. His own recommendation was just a result of stupidity of a certain Robin Padilla.
Mindanao as a separate state
How can a region solve its own problem when the people who are supposed to make the resolution are the ones being suspected who caused the violence? Had this claim of Mr. Padilla done previously or way many years back, we would not shock more than 57 people should have suffered and been killed or the worse hadn't shown up permanently. Mr. Padilla knows the fact that this region is totally submerged to dirty political ambition of Ampatuans who have made every part, if not most of them, named after their family members. What? Do you own Maguindanao? If government has allowed the separation of Mindanao from the Philippine archipelago, more likely this state will be as worse as Islam country Iraq.
Christianity vs. Islam
Comparing to Christians, Moslems have more strict norms when it comes to maintainig discipline among themselves. I received an email before showing a young boy being punished by state authority for stealing a bun. You'll be shocked as I was when I learned that the punishment for stealing a piece of bun was crushing his arm by a car running over his arm. Upon checking the pictures, it wasn't an ordinary car that we see along Edsa but it was a utility truck type owner that you can feel upon looking at it how heavy it was. It's right that no religion can ever justify such hideous crime but wondering why do they have such heavy punishment regardless the gravity of the crime. Why is that? Because they know for a fact that they are extremely violent, barbaric, monstrous for the sake of their religion, terrorist, cruel in the name of their beliefs. In order for the governing body to regulate this attitude, they need to implement heavy and drastic in form rules and regulation of their states. This only shows the world what's happening in the name of Islam.
Questioning Martial Law
After Ted Failon show, I was also able to watch news over TV patrol Sabado. Headline featured anti-arroyo questioning Martial Law. I watched the whole interview of Harry Roque, UP law professor. He sounded like he's intimidated by this Maguindanao Martial Law proclamation. He said it might be the start of declaring another martial law covering the entire nation. This statement is premature to publicize. You may critic the government for doing such undertaking however not a proper decorum nor a proper statement to tell the public what is the probability to happen in the future.
Here comes FVR for his overreaction statement. He said there's no need to declare region under military control since law enforcement agencies under control. He even compared the situation when Gloria declared National State of Emergency everytime there was Coup attempt. Mr. former President, maybe you are not aware of what really happened and how these victims were being killed in repugnant manner. Mr. president check this link so that you educate yourself about the reason why there was a need to impose such action
http://www.digital-dreamspace.com/2009/11/ampatuan-massacre-in-maguindan...
I even saw the picture over the internet of the victims who were murdered beastly at its highest way when my friend sent this link through my outlook email. I just saw one picture of it then suddenly closed it. I can't take a look at it.
be fair
I'm a Muslim and i strongly condemned that maguindanao massacre,it's ok that martial law is being declared in Maguindanao province because that is another way in reaching the justice for all the victims..But what is happening to us right now really shocking and unexpected for Muslims like Ampatuans to murder their fellow muslims including of course the journalists..this is unislamic act and we condemned this kind of catastrophe..But as a Muslim,i am praying and hoping na wag naman i generalize ng mga commentators ang mga Muslims,kasi una sa lahat muslims din ang mga biktima, nagkataon lang na may mga masisipag na journalists na nadamay..It really hurts when reading different comments and blogs na against sa mga muslims na minumura pa kami lahat pati Diyos natin..ano ba yan!be fair naman coz not all Muslims are like Ampatuans..It's ok na against yung iba jan sa massacre itself but not to the Muslim as a whole..If we want peace, let us respect each other no matter who you are, regardless of religion.Peace!
be fair
I'm a Muslim and i strongly condemned that maguindanao massacre,it's ok that martial law is being declared in Maguindanao province because that is another way in reaching the justice for all the victims..But what is happening to us right now really shocking and unexpected for Muslims like Ampatuans to murder their fellow muslims including of course the journalists..this is unislamic act and we condemned this kind of catastrophe..But as a Muslim,i am praying and hoping na wag naman i generalize ng mga commentators ang mga Muslims,kasi una sa lahat muslims din ang mga biktima, nagkataon lang na may mga masisipag na journalists na nadamay..It really hurts when reading different comments and blogs na against sa mga muslims na minumura pa kami lahat pati Diyos natin..ano ba yan!be fair naman coz not all Muslims are like Ampatuans..It's ok na against yung iba jan sa massacre itself but not to the Muslim as a whole..If we want peace, let us respect each other no matter who you are, regardless of religion.Peace!
be fair
I'm a Muslim and i strongly condemned that maguindanao massacre,it's ok that martial law is being declared in Maguindanao province because that is another way in reaching the justice for all the victims..But what is happening to us right now really shocking and unexpected for Muslims like Ampatuans to murder their fellow muslims including of course the journalists..this is unislamic act and we condemned this kind of catastrophe..But as a Muslim,i am praying and hoping na wag naman i generalize ng mga commentators ang mga Muslims,kasi una sa lahat muslims din ang mga biktima, nagkataon lang na may mga masisipag na journalists na nadamay..It really hurts when reading different comments and blogs na against sa mga muslims na minumura pa kami lahat pati Diyos natin..ano ba yan!be fair naman coz not all Muslims are like Ampatuans..It's ok na against yung iba jan sa massacre itself but not to the Muslim as a whole..If we want peace, let us respect each other no matter who you are, regardless of religion.Peace!
Dilangalen
KAYA PUMUPUTAK YAN SI DILANGALEN KASI KAMAG ANAK NYA NAG MGA AMPATUAN....
Martial Law is a good for?
Martial Law is a good decision from government right now to the fact that it is hard for the law enforcer to act any moved of investigation because of a long and hard process like the point mention that it is very hard for them securing any search and arrest warrant to the suspects. Secondly, sa maguindanao mahihirapan tlaga ang mga government forces doon gumalaw dahil hindi mo alam sino kakampi at sino ang kalaban, and the mere fact na ang dami pang mga nakatago na baril and other battled weapons at mga nagtago na private armies. But behind this proclamation that installed by the government there is also big advantage to the Arroyo administration why? because they can act freely and hide the investigation prior to the explanation of how this large number of weapons and ammunitions came to that area and handled openly by the Ampatuan clans, so it means that the government have a clear knowledge of the situation of Maguindanao even before and they need cover up now of their own mistakes by tolerating their own political allies. It is impossible that they do not have knowledge right? But what happen right now is para silang nakatali sa leeg, kya dapat nilang takpan ang kanilang mga katarantaduhan due to this proclamation. tini take advantage lang nila ang situation to cover up dahil sa palagay ko once the proclamation of ML is there they can limit also the media coverage right?.....Tama nman yong reaksyon ni Tabako FVR that Martial Law is overreaction in the part of the Arroyo administration and the indications of the government incompetence to solved the situation and handle the case…..sa investigation na nangyari halata nman talaga na mahina ang gobyerno natin lalo na kakampi nila sa pulitika ang sangkot at makapangyarihang tao ang kalaban, at sa ML proclamation na to halata din nman na meron silang dapat pagtakpan na mga kabulastugan dba? i do not think na takot sila to implement the law as a whole but this proclamtaion i think is have something from the administration and AFP to take advantage and to cover up and protect themselves of their own mistakes. Peace!
LABAG SA BATAS YANG MARTIAL LAW SA MAGUINDANAO!
Dilangalen said the government can only declare martial law if there is rebellion or invasion.
SA MAKATUWID GINAGAMIT NI GLORIA ANG MARTIAL LAW SA MALING PARAAN AT HINDI MALAYONG MAY BALAK SIYANG PALAWAKIN ITO SA IBANG LUGAR HANGGANG SA LUMAGANAP SA BUONG PILIPINAS. HUWAG PO TAYONG PALOLOKO SA TAONG YAN!
MILITAR ANG MAY PROBLEMA TAPOS MARTIAL LAW PA? ANO BA YAN?
Hangga't hindi nalalaman kung sino sinong opisyal ng AFP ang kasangkot sa pagbibigay ng mga armas sa private armies, hindi sila maaaring pagtiwalaang gagawin ang tama kung may martial law sapagka't madali nilang malilinis ang lahat ng katibayang magtuturo kung sino sa kanila ang may kasalanan.
MALIWANAG NA GUSTONG PAGTAKPAN NI GLORIA ITONG KANYANG MGA ALAGA SA AFP, KUNG HINDI SA KANILA AY HINDI LALAKAS ANG PRIVATE ARMY NG AMPATUAN UPANG LAGANAP NILANG MAKONTROL ANG LAHAT NG MGA NANGYAYARI SA MAGUINDANAO.
Diokno the Cory appointee?
Is this the same Jose Manuel Diokno who was a political appointee of Cory Aquino when she was president? The friend of Cory who was made head of the Presidential Commission of Human Rights? If yes, then we know where this is coming from. Si "Shut up, shut up" Dilangalen naman is the one who did everything he could to block impeachment trial of his friend Erap. Kaya galit siya kay Arroyo. I think the ones complaining about Martial Law in Maguindanao should be asked what alternative they can propose so investigation can move. Madaling magreklamo na masama ang Martial Law, pero wala namang mabibigay na suggestion kung anong dapat gawin. Puro lang salita at reklamo. You know why? Because deep down, they’re not really concerned about the Maguindanao massacre. They’re just making noise to make Gloria look bad because that’s Noynoy’s platform.
If chinese are yellow
If chinese are yellow monkeys, Filipinos are crab. Whether they want it or not, being a crab is running within with rotten veins.