Oppose martial law,
Church urges solons
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Bishop Vicente Navarra and the priests of the Diocese of Bacolod yesterday said they are extremely alarmed by President Gloria Macapagal's declaration of Martial Law in Maguindanao and are against it.

They appealed to the country's legislators not to give in haphazardly to “the whims of a power hungry government who has no respect for the highest law of the land” and to instead uphold the welfare of their constituents over and above other partisan considerations.

“So that the victims and the people of Maguindanao get speedy justice we pray that the Holy Spirit will touch the conscience of our legislators to do what is morally right,” they added.

About 100 members of the Negros media and concerned citizens again marched through downtown Bacolod to continue to demand justice for the 57 Maguindanao massacre victims, including 31 journalists.

“While we demand justice for our fallen comrades and vow not to be cowed by the culture of fear, the declaration of martial law is not the answer to the injustice done in Maguindanao,” Negros Press Club president Edgar Cadagat said.

Justice can be done without implementing martial law, imposing it sets a dangerous precedent for the rest of the nation, he said.

MANILA – The disadvantage of placing Maguindanao under martial law is that it will send the wrong signal to the international business community, Negrense businessman Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez, said.

Benitez, who is running for congressman in the 3 rd District of Negros Occidental, said businessmen would like to have a peaceful environment so they can be assured that their investments will be safe.

Highlighting the conflict in Maguindanao will send the wrong signal to international investors, he said.