Archbishop: Shortened martial law to prolong Maguindanao agony

A shortened martial law over Maguindanao province may mean prolonged agony for its people as it will preserve the political dysfunction there, a Catholic archbishop has said. Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Quevedo, whose jurisdiction includes Maguindanao, has said that many residents had wanted martial law extended until at least the May 2010 elections. “One clan will be significantly disarmed; the balance of political and armed power will shift to other clans; private armies will remain though possibly less visible and probably more sophisticated in behavior; the deep trauma resulting from the massacre will persist; Rido is not going to be stopped; the legislative, justice, and executive - and electoral - mechanisms will still be in the hands of those related to or have debts of gratitude to various families; and if a member of the rival clan will somehow gain the top post of the province, do we in Maguindanao really believe that the provincial capitol will remain in Shariff Aguak? Even the peace process will be affected by the loyalties of local rebel commanders to their own clans. Hence, the fundamental dysfunctions in Maguindanao will remain after Martial Law," he said in his web log. Quevedo posted his blog entry hours before Malacañang announced the lifting of martial law over Maguindanao effective 9 p.m. Saturday. The prelate said many in Central and Southern Mindanao wanted martial law extended until May 2010, or at least have the elections for local posts there deferred. “Even now sentiments are strong in Central and Southern Mindanao that elections for local offices in Maguindanao should be deferred. Or at least the term of Martial Law should be extended till after the elections," he said. He said martial law in Maguindanao will accomplish some objectives, including the arrest and prosecution of clan members linked to the Nov. 23 Ampatuan town massacre. It will also ensure the “inevitability of justice" for the victims; the successful search and confiscation of many legal and illegal weapons from police, CVOs (Civilian Volunteers Organizations), and some soldiers under the control of powerful clan members; the disempowerment of local authority and power in various municipalities that are subservient to the ruling clan. “People feel a greater sense of relief and freedom while traveling on the national highway between the two cities of Cotabato and Tacurong. Gone are the many armed escorts and bodyguards protecting officials and clan members against similarly armed enemies," he said. Political expediency Quevedo said it is not fair to blame the Arroyo government alone for the present political situation in Maguindanao, adding that “warlordism" in that part of the country had been tolerated by past administration for political expediency. “Arguably a greater share of the blame could be laid at the door of the present government. But the culture of dominant and changing local power has been with us in the once ‘empire province of Cotabato, which included the present Maguindanao, since at least the 1950s. To my knowledge, no government from the 1950s to the present did anything serious to root this out. In the past 60 years, all governments and many politicians from all parties wanting to get votes have cultivated this culture and ignored the periodic violence that erupted. It was a case of mutual political exploitation and expediency. We ourselves, ordinary citizens, have kept quiet in the past 60 years and learned the art of accommodation," he said. On the other hand, he took another dig at critics of the Arroyo government and even some sectors of media for giving a distorted view of the situation. He said criticism of martial law in Maguindanao is really based on total distrust of President Gloria Arroyo, with “survey after survey" paraded to say that this is the pulse of the people. Also, he said the stand of small protesting “militant" groups is given disproportionate media exposure while the political opposition and personalities from “militant" organizations are interviewed again and again to give their expected negative views on actions of government. “In a very real sense the extraordinary amount of media exposure that is given to the opposition in Manila provides a distorted view of the country as a whole," he said. Quevedo said that with the short stint of martial law, peoples’ hopes and expectations in Central and Central Mindanao regarding Martial Law will not all be realized. Bishops split over martial law Catholic bishops are split over President Arroyo’s declaration of martial law in Maguindanao, with some totally against and others approve of it with “reservations." While Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo agrees with it, hoping there was no ulterior motive behind it. Catarman Bishop Emmanuel Trance said Mrs. Arroyo’s declaration is “within her authority as commander-in-chief and brought about by a given situation like that in Maguindanao." Former Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president and Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo agreed with martial rule provided it “will be limited to what is necessary in scope and will be very short in time…" But retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Archbishop Oscar Cruz criticized the declaration. Cruz said placing Maguindanao under martial law is “a big shame that the Arroyo administration has allowed its own allies to become warlords, to have a lot of firearms and to form a big private army." “Now, through the declaration of Martial Law, the administration confesses that it cannot quell or resolve the Maguindanao shenanigan by the use of standard forces and law," he said. Cruz said martial law was an “overkill, over-reaction." Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles, a former military bishop, also had disagree with it, noting there is no rebellion ongoing in Maguindanao. “There is a grievous criminal situation but which does not warrant martial law," he said.- LBG, GMANews.TV