MANILA, Philippines - Its legality is still in question, but Catholic bishops in the Philippines have already given their blessings to martial law in Maguindanao.

In a statement, Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar, the new Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president, asked critics of the government to let authorities do their job “for the speedy dispensation of justice to the victims of the mass murder.”

Odchimar said the CBCP fully supports the earlier statement issued by Cotabato Archbsihop Orlando Quevedo that martial law in Maguindanao may be justified because of the “complex” cultural and political situation in the province.

“We stand by the position taken by the Archdiocese of Cotabato within whose ecclesiastical jurisdiction the tragedy occurred and martial law imposed,” the CBCP said.

Critics have warned that the declaration of martial law in Maguindanao could be a trial balloon for the forthcoming May 2010 polls. Under  martial law, the military acts as the government.

The Arroyo government has been accused of using the military to execute cheating and fraud in the elections, particularly in Mindanao provinces.

Petitions have been filed before the Supreme Court to declare as unconstitutional Presidential Proclamation 1959 which puts Maguindanao in a state of martial rule. The government has justified the measure, claiming that a rebellion was in the offing following the arrests of the Ampatuan clan in connection with the murders of 57 people last Nov. 23.

Odchimar said suspicions behind the declaration of martial law should be set aside and allow government to handle the Maguindanao massacre.

“Biases for and against the administration can befuddle the issue. We appeal for sobriety not to let wild speculations and conjectures fly, and, at the same time, we call for restraint on the part of the administrators of martial law to exercise restraint so as not to give people the reason to suspect of any hidden agenda behind the exercise,” he said.

Avoid abuse of power

Yet, “abuse of power should be avoided and martial law should not be unnecessarily prolonged,” he added.

Odchimar implied that martial law in Maguindanao may even be warranted, given the present situation in the province where politicians with their private armed groups wield the law.

In a statement Tuesday, Archbishop Quevedo castigated media and politicians from "far away Manila” who opposed the imposition of martial law.

“(They) do not seem to be familiar with these social, political and cultural situations….(as) they seem  to think that the police and the military can easily go into an area and just arrest the suspected culprits.”

“We are supposed to be guided by the rule of law enshrined in our Constitution and legislations and not by the rule of men who impose their will on the weak and powerless with utter disregarded of honesty and fair play. The exercise of civil power should be geared towards the promotion of the common good, “he observed.