The ultimate weapon

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The nation woke up Saturday morning with news that President Gloria Arroyo has declared Martial Law that covers Maguindanao.

If the country was surprised it is simply because nobody thought that the situation requires the resort to the ultimate weapon in the arsenal of the government – dictatorial rule.

There is no invasion or rebellion that people can think of, only the murder of civilians and journalists that no matter how heinous and beastly does not warrant the exercise of extreme measures.

Reports from Mindanao indicate that the government was already in control even with the lesser measure of a state of emergency.  The top leaders of the Ampatuan clan and hundreds of their supporters are in government custody so that the alleged “looming rebellion” is hardly any justification for the imposition of Martial Law.

Without a sensible explanation, the country is left with speculation that the government is testing the people’s response to Martial Law and that there is hidden agenda, not the least of which is to create a situation where the present government, can remain in power indefinitely or justify the charge of rebellion, not mass murder, against the Ampatuans and therefore reduce their guilt and mitigate punishment.

There is strong opposition to Proclamation 1959; to many Filipinos the memory of martial rule from 1972 to 1985 and its many abuses of power are still fresh and chilling.

The Congress is under the thumb of Arroyo. If experience is a gauge of the subservient Congress will bow to her decision and only a vigilance citizenry and direct and strong opposition will prevent another attempt at perpetuation of power and to allow a lesser crime for the Ampatuans.*