There appears to be haste in extending martial law in Mindanao beyond the constitutional 60-day period. Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat wants a full briefing by Armed Forces of the Philippines officials for the basis of such an extension. A joint session of Congress has been called for Saturday by President Rodrigo Duterte for this purpose apparently to form part of his State of the Nation Address on July 24.
Senator Miguel Zubiri, one of 17 senators invited to dinner in Malacañang the other day, said the Senate is in favor of extending martial law in Mindanao. The Duterte-controlled House of Representatives, no doubt will support an extension of martial law. Zubiri is the proponent of a national ID system that does not specify the religious affiliation of the card holder to avoid profiling Muslims and Christians.
The 60-day limit to martial law is prescribed in the 1987 Constitution. So too is the calling of a joint session of Congress to determine its lawful basis for its declaration and possible extension.
Declared by President Duterte in response to the siege of Marawi by the ISIS-assisted Maute terror group, there are questions to martial law’s extension in Mindanao in light of the AFP’s pronouncement that government troops are winding up clearing operations to rid the remnants of the raiders still holed up in the southern city.
The President’s imposition of martial law in Mindanao seems to have the support of the people. A recent Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations poll surveys showed Duterte enjoying 80-percent acceptance ratings.
I, for one, support the President on the imposition of martial law in Mindanao to deal with the threat of global terrorism. To extend it another month for mop-up operations in the Mindanao region is justifiable considering we are dealing with a cunning, evil force that wants to establish a caliphate in Mindanao. But it is the fear of a nationwide martial law that the populace is wary about. The people are confident the AFP can cope with challenges from international terrorists without the government pushing the panic button.
Aquino accountability
The Office of the Ombudsman has made known it would charge former President Benigno Aquino III for the Mamasapano massacre that claimed the lives of 44 members of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force two years ago. The charges allege that Aquino allowed suspended PNP chief Alan Purisima to head the operations instead of then acting PNP director Leonardo Espina.
Aquino should be made to explain why he broke the chain of command when he chose Purisima to head the operation. More importantly, why did he not send in reinforcement to rescue the SAF team that was under heavy fire from all sides in an open field? Aquino, while the SAF commandos were crying for help, was just in nearby Zamboanga with his Cabinet officials, including the AFP’s top brass. He was waiting to receive word of Marwan’s capture or death at the hands of the SAF team.
Aquino had with him at least three attack helicopters that ferried to Zamboanga his security escorts. If they had been dispatched to Mamasapano, the sound alone of these choppers would have sent the MILF, BIFF and Abu Sayyaf rebels scurrying. But he did not.
The charge sheet also claims Noynoy kept other key officials like Interior Secretary Mar Roxas in the dark about the Mamasapano operation to get bomb-maker Marwan, the top target of the SAF secret op. Why Aquino did not involve Roxas, his anointed presidential candidate, in the SAF operations needs a lot of explaining.
Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, wants to reopen the Mamasapano case. Senator Grace Poe, however, thinks a reopening of the case will not serve any purpose since her public safety committee already submitted a full report holding Aquino accountable.
So, why not let the case in the Ombudsman proceed and let Noynoy Aquino defend himself? He could face years in detention if found guilty. An Aquino detention would make him the third president to be in such situation after former presidents Joseph Estrada, convicted for plunder, and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, charged with misuse of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office funds. Erap was pardoned by GMA after his conviction while Arroyo’s case was dismissed by the courts .
What will be the fate of Noynoy Aquino? If found guilty, he faces the dire prospects of not having his yaya, cook and a coterie of household help in Muntinlupa. Unless of course, he is allowed detention in the family-owned Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac. Recall that Erap was allowed to be confined at his resthouse in Tanay, Rizal.
After release, Erap went on to be elected Manila city mayor while GMA kept her position as Pampanga congresswoman, a post she held and performed even while under hospital detention.