Bishops favor continued military control over ARMM

Some Catholic bishops have said they favor a continued emergency rule in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to suppress lawless elements. Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad and Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo said military intervention is helping much to weed out crimes in the region. “Yes, I am in favor of this [military control]. At this time I think other areas are not yet controlled by the government," Bagaforo said in an interview on Church-run Radio Veritas. Excerpts of the interview were posted on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news site. The CBCP article said Bagaforo and Jumoad believe there is a need for government presence in ARMM amid rampant violence especially in Basilan and Sulu. Bagaforo cited the continuing presence of private armies connected to local politicians amid claims the government are doing everything to dismantle these armed groups. For his part, Jumoad said military presence could control the spate of violence plaguing the ARMM. The CBCP article said both prelates made the claim after the Supreme Court affirmed this week the legality of the state of emergency declared over the ARMM by then President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo after the Nov. 23, 2009 Maguindanao massacre. The Aquino administration said it is not lifting the order even with the SC order because local government officials in ARMM want the state of emergency to stay in the region. — LBG, GMA News