Miriam sees plot to expand martial law

Posted at 12/11/2009 3:21 PM | Updated as of 12/12/2009 10:26 AM

MANILA, Philippines (1st UPDATE) - In the wake of a series of incidents taking place in various areas in Mindanao, Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago sees a conspiracy and a plot to widen the coverage of martial law that was originally declared in Maguindanao.

Santiago tagged a cabal in government, people in the Department of National Defense (DND), Department of Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Police, and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), some lawless elements in Mindanao, the Ampatuans, and the Central Intelligence Agency, as behind the conspiracy.

But Acting DND Secretary Norberto Gonzales dismissed Santiago's conspiracy theory, saying they could not have possibly invented the November 23 massacre in Maguindanao, which was the original incident.

Fifty-seven innocent civilians, including 30 journalists, were killed by around 100 armed men allegedly led by Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. in an election-related incident.

"The bishop of Basilan is really saying na kailangan ang drastic measures na gawin sa Basilan. May pinugutan na naman ng ulo kagabi, may kinidnap na naman, so things are happening. Are we orchestrating this? Hindi naman  kami ganun ka-demonyo," Gonzales said.

Asked if there are plans to widen the scope of martial law to include other areas like Basilan and Agusan del Sur, Gonzales said they continue to assess the situation, but he emphasized that in Basilan, there is an urgent call from Catholic bishops who want drastic measures. (Read: Basilan bishop wants martial law)

Gonzales cited the latest beheading incident and kidnapping last night of an official in a university in Basilan. In Agusan del Sur, as of posting time, more than 40 people were still held hostage by an armed group protesting the serving of an arrest warrant.  (Read: Pupils, civilians taken hostage in Agusan del Sur)

AFP chief won't back plot

AFP chief of staff  Gen. Victor Ibrado also rejected the conspiracy theory of Santiago, saying that he himself will never allow such a manipulation of events in Mindanao to carry out other motives such as expanding the scope of martial law.

"We will never do that na gagawa kami ng scenario...For what? Bakit namin gagawin yun?" Ibrado said.

Meanwhile, Malacañang did not directly comment on Santiago's conspiracy theory.

"We fully understand where the good senator is coming from. All we request of her, as we love and respect her, is if she can keep an open mind regardless of the personalities involved," Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said.

He said it is up to the public to judge the politicians who constantly criticize martial law, some of whom may just be using the issue to get attention.

"We submit to the process regardless of what it is, and we leave the judgment if there was grandstanding or not. It is to the prudent and wisdom of our people especially the observers," Remonde said. -- with reports from Jay Ruiz, Ron Gagalac, ABS-CBN News


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26 comments

Martial Law in Maguindanao

Placing Martial Law in Maguindanao is a tool of the Malacaniang to expedite arrest of all suspects in the massacre of 57 defenseless civilians. For those against President Arroyo's administration, like Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago and others, they criticized her act of doing it because they fear the entire Country would be placed under Martial Law and, therefor, Sen. M.D. Santiago or other presidential aspirant might not be elected President by year 2010.

Aspirants for President must put in their minds that the immediate arrest of all involved parties to the in-human death of 57 Filipinos is heavier than the rushing-up of election in 2010. I am appealing to all critics against Malacaniang to allow your reason to rule your passion for power. I am sure, whoever becomes the new President of our Country, the story remains the same. The ball is round. We Filipinos are cultured to cheating, corruption, killing others for our own sake, etc.

Ultimately, I prefer Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to stay in Malacaniang rather than electing other Filipino-power-grabber, who will again use all implements to cheat, corrupt and kill just to stay longer again in Malacaniang. President Arroyo and her cronies are now economically established. And, therefore, their next long-range program is to re-build the Country's economy, including major reforms of all sectors of our Society.

I am sure, if we move on electing new leaders by 2010, the present development projects that have been just started would fail. Why don't we wait till President Arroyo completely solved the arrest of all suspects in Maguindanao carnage?

sangcopan

tsismis nanaman

conspiracy or not we need partial martial law to wake up

:)

To epgomez

Nung panahon ni cory kami sya, kay erap ganun din, ngayon kay hma sya. Kay fvr lang sya d kumampi kasi natalo(dinaya???) sya. E muntik nga sya hindi pumasa ng bar tapos gusto pa nya maging supreme court justice. Magaling lang sya sa debate pero technically speaking, parang kapos. Sa akin lang ha... parang may amats n talaga sya.


Hay nku miriam..

Nkahanap ka na ng butas para mkaalis ng administration, galing ng timing mo. lahat ng trapo nasisilipat na ng LP at NP kasi sila ang mlakas sa ngaun. haaaaaaayzzz

kapag TRAPO ka kahit saang partido ka lumipat TRAPO ka padin.

God above all things..

Miriam Santiago came up with

Miriam Santiago came up with a theory to get media mileage for reelection. Let's not vote for this person. Panggulo na lang siya. Ngalngal lang ng ngalngal sa senado pero walang namang na solve na problema. Mahilig kumampi sa taong makakatulong sa sarili niyang interest. Walang kwentang tao.....


To andoybarrios

Pwede siguro chemo kung terminal case na, pero kung hindi pa naman e baka pwede makuha sa pa-tapal tapal ng halamang gubat. Pero sa case ng Maguindanao Massacre e medyo malaking sugat na nangangauilangan ng major anestisia para magamot. Gusto natin matapos ang mga problema natin, kaya lang medyo maikli ang pisi natin. Hindi ma sosolve ang problema natin ng ganuing kadali, maybe not in our lifetime. Ang USA d ba ilang coup de etat ang dinaanan nila, ilang beses din nag karoon ng amendments sa constitution, may time pa nga na dalawang presidential candidate na hindi mag ka ige e nagbarilan, that in the span of 300 years after they are liberated. E tau maraming nag iisip kung "LIBERATED" tau in our hearts. I mean, lets take it one at a time, medyo nag collide mga ideas natin. Example sa case ng Maguindanao Massacre, let the martial law rule tutal d naman tatagal ng 60 days lang pero that does not mean hindi tayo magiging vigilant. Lets support media and other human rights watcher. Sabi mo nga maraming madadamay na good cells, sayang naman kung bigla na lang nila aatakihin yung mga identified na lugar tapos barilan dito, barilan dun (if walang martial law). I really had doubt about the application of Democracy in the Philippines...... yung mga nag restore automatic nakinabang pero the same problem exist and may have generated more problems ...... kasi we wanted an easy way out. Yun yung EDSA Revolution. I'm not saying its bad, pero definitely many of the Filipinos did not sustained the sudden changes.


Seriously Speaking!

Please lang, huwag nyo kami ginagalit na mga Kapangpangan, personalan na iyan. Bakit nyo sasabihin na makapili kami? Kasalanan ba namin na may magagaling na lider na galing ng Pampangga? Bilang Pinoy, hindi tayo dapat magsalita sa ganoong tema. Maliban na lang kung ang habol nyo ay magka-civil war. Eh diyan magkakaubusan tayong lahat ng lahi! Mali yan kending rabbit.


Bad Eggs?

Sabi ni "ngiping rabbit" may mga "BAD EGGS" din daw sa Amerika, HO-HO-HO-HO-HO. Betlog Mo! HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! HE-HE-HE-HE-HE! HI-HI-HI-HI-HI! HO-HO-HO-HO-HO-HO! HU-HU-HU-HU-HU-HU! Hay, tama na please...HU-HU-HU-HU-HU!


To Ngipingrabbit

D pwede mag declare si bush ng sept. '01 kasi wala naman rebelion. Invasion na later tinawag terror act. Lapit mo na sa pinangyarihan d mo pa naintindihan lalo na siguro ngayon na malayo ka dito sa pinas. Tanga.


permission administrator

Permission administrator. Naisip ko lang kasi na lagi tayong naka-"focus" sa kalohohan ng ating mga senador, congressmen, at mga opisyales, na wala namang mga integridad at mga political butterflies pa ang karamihan. Kung bakit naniniwala pa tayo sa mga ito na wala namang mga prinsipyo! Hindi na tuloy natin napapansin ang mga totong nangyayari sa buong mundo at natutulog na lang tayong dilat ang mga mata.

Hindi ba kayo nagtataka kung bakit sumasama ang panahon bawat taon? Luimilindol sa mga lugar na wala namang "faults"? At maraming nasisiraan ng bait na wala namang dahilan? Panoorin nyo yang link na ipinost ko para malaman ninyo ang totoong dahilan. 2nd of 4 clips pala yang nai-post ko. Panoorin nyo na lang lahat yong 4 clips. Kaawaan sana tayo lahat ng Panginoon! Matanong ko lang" Ilan na kaya sa ating mga opisyales ang nasa ilalim ng "mind-control"?

Ito nga pala yong umpisa:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWUShifXywY



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