WHAT is the true motive of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in issuing Proclamation 1959 declaring martial law in Maguindanao in the wake of the infamous massacre of 60 innocent civilians?

Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera has cited “looming rebellion” by the prime massacre suspect, Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., as ground for that proclamation.

But “looming rebellion” is not written in the Constitution. What’s stated there (Article VI, Section 18) is actual “invasion or rebellion.”

Let’s not forget that Andal Ampatuan and sons are not rebels; on the contrary, they are political allies of the President. Without them and the notorious Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garci who manipulated the 2004 election returns in Mindanao, GMA would have lost to the late movie actor Fernando Poe Jr. In other words, they helped her steal the Presidency.

No wonder she has said no bad word against the Ampatuans even while condemning the heinous crime.

She did not have to declare martial law because the military had already surrounded all the mansions of the Ampatuans, keeping them under control while unearthing their boxes of hidden firearms and ammunitions. The refusal of certain judges to issue warrant of arrest was no valid excuse; the government could have found another judge to do it.

The President, in declaring martial law, merely shifted from a defensive to an offensive mode. She would have us believe that there are no “untouchables” in her government. She would have us forget that she was the “creator” of the Maguindanao warlord.

Her Press Secretary, Cerge Remonde, is misleading us into believing his lie that it was the late President Cory Aquino who “nursed” the Ampatuans into strength.

In a province that is known for being one of the poorest in the Philippines, it is ironic that the Ampatuans are among the richest individuals with a score of mansions all over Mindanao and a few more in Metro Manila.

Instead of declaring martial law, Arroyo should have probed the insinuation that Ampatuan had bought all those bazookas and high-powered automatic weapons, which could arm a thousand people, from corrupt officials of the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Unfortunately, however, how could she displease them who are also her “protectors”?

It is therefore very likely that GMA has always known about – and tolerated – the military-Ampatuan collusion, since Ampatuan himself is a “good soldier” of hers. Dissociating Andal Ampatuan and sons from Lakas-Kampi serves no purpose but cushion their political party from the massacre impact.

By promoting martial law as “solution” to lawlessness, GMA probably hopes to win public approval. In such a scenario, she could then place the entire country under martial law with the support of the pliant Congress and extend it as long as possible. For although the Constitution specifies a maximum period of only 60 days with the concurrence of Congress, it also says that she may extend it “for a period to be determined by the Congress, if the invasion or rebellion shall persist and public safety requires it.”

If it’s any consolation, while the majority in the House of Representatives have already orchestrated their favorable reaction to martial law, it’s not so in the Senate.

But, alas, this non-unanimity of the House and the Senate could pose a legal problem in the interpretation of the Constitutional provision that says: “The Congress, voting jointly, by a vote of at least a majority of all its Members in regular or special session, may revoke such proclamation of suspension [of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus] which revocation shall not be set aside by the President.”

In a scenario where the Senate revokes Proclamation 1959 while the House approves it and the latter claims the majority of the votes, the phrase “voting jointly” could render the Senate less “equal” to the House.

Going to the Supreme Court for redress could prove futile. As in the days of President Marcos, the current batch of Supreme Court Justices are mostly “loyal” to the President.

We have already noticed the Office of the Press Secretary playing up martial law as “the best thing that happened to Mindanao.” They want us to forget that the main issue is the Maguindanao massacre, not martial law. Well, they are paid to lie.

Conversely, our role in the independent press is to belie that propaganda with the end view of preventing the Filipino people from supporting a looming dictatorship.

●●●

Joy Cañon’s travel/marketing agency, TMX, has launched its competition for Little Miss Iloilo Talent.

The search kicked off with a talent competition (where I was one of the three judges) at the Amigo Mall the other afternoon. The affair showed the contestants (3 to 9 years old) exhibiting unique abilities in singing, dancing, declamation and drawing.

The participants included Keila Tarrosa, Francysse Losbañes, Franzynne Losbañes, Andrea Canillo, Joanna Salazar, Ma. Kristie Palete, Glimpse Duremdes, Reina Mae Daulo, Allana Banaynal, Jermin Calandingan, Angela Tamayo and Carmela Alim.

Final ratings of the contestants, incidentally, remain to be seen pending deadline for submission of “votes” by mall shoppers on December 19. This means that when you shop at any store in the mall, you will be issued a receipt which has vote value for a contestant of your choice.

One Response to “Martial law, GMA’s diversionary trick”

• 1
  Madeleine Pama
  December 9th, 2009 04:41

  Search pa kuno. Sus. Kalawig sang oras nga gihatag sa mga Ampatuan para makalimpyo. Clap, clap PGMA.

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