Bishop wants Cotabato City placed under martial law

The spate of violence now plaguing in Cotabato City in southern Philippines has prompted a Catholic prelate to suggest placing the the area under martial law. An article on the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines' website on Sunday quoted Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Jose Collin Bagaforo as saying that the kidnappings have alarmed local businessmen in the area. On Friday, Filipino-Chinese businesswoman Conchita Tan became the latest victim of abductions in Cotabato City in the last three months. The kidnappers also shot dead retired Marine soldier Edward Doruelo and Richard Emberga, Tan's security escort and driver, respectively. "Asked of his recommendations, the prelate said he believes the Philippine Marines could be sent to Cotabato and that martial law be imposed to restore order," the CBCP article said. Emberga is the brother of CBCP Monitor contributor Orlando Emberga, the CBCP article added. Bagaforo added that President Benigno Aquino III may not have "full grasp of the situation" in Cotabato City, adding that the recent string of violence is not merely a matter of crime and order. Last December, then President Gloria Macapagal-Arrroyo — now Pampanga Second District representative — placed Maguindanao province under martial rule in the wake of the Nov. 23 massacre that killed 57 people. The Arroyo administration claimed heavily-armed men were massing to resist government troops in the province. The armed men were reportedly supporters and private armies of the powerful Ampatuan clan, which allegedly ordered the killings. After eight days, Arroyo lifted martial law in Maguindanao. It was the first such declaration after the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos placed the country under it more than 30 years ago. — With Sophia Dedace/VS, GMANews.TV