Maranaos accept Rody apology

DAVAO CITY , Philippines  – The Maranao people have accepted the apology of President Duterte for his declaration of martial law and for the destruction and violence that followed the launch of military operations to rid Marawi City of Islamic State-inspired Maute terrorists.

In a statement yesterday,  Zia Alonto Adiong of the Lanao del Sur crisis management committee and an assemblyman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said that they have accepted the President’s apology.

As the Marawi crisis entered its 30th day yesterday, Adiong stressed they feel the sincerity of the President in his apology “and we applaud the genuine concern exhibited by no less than our commander-in-chief for the sufferings of our people over the course of this man-made crisis.”

Adiong likewise explained they understand the need for the national leadership to take strong action against the militants.

“I am very, very sorry. Pakiabot na lang doon sa mga kapatid nating mga Maranao ang aking paghihinanakit rin sa nangyari na ito (Please tell our Maranao brothers that I’m also hurting because of what happened),” the President said during a visit to an evacuation center in Iligan City Tuesday afternoon.

“We understand that given the actions taken by the ISIL-linked local militant group against civilian properties, business establishments, religious symbols, educational institutions, government utilities and heath facilities, the national leadership needed to take a very strong action,” Adiong said.

In his remarks at the Iligan evacuation center, Duterte said he hoped he and the soldiers would be forgiven for the tragic unfolding of events in Marawi.

“I have no choice, they’re destroying Marawi,” he said, referring to the militants.

Adiong expressed hope Duterte’s apology would open more opportunities for productive communication between the Maranao people and the President.

“We also hope that this apology opens the gate for a more productive dialogue between the President and our people so that the President may hear the pain, suffering and the voices of ordinary Maranaos so that he may take guidance from it in his subsequent actions,” he said.

Adiong also said they hope the President would be able “to deliver the much-needed reconstruction, rehabilitation and rebuilding” of Marawi City and Lanao del Sur. The President had vowed he would never leave Marawi City in ruins.

On Tuesday, Duterte emphasized that martial law would only be limited to Mindanao as the situation at present doesn’t call for expanding it to the entire country.

He was reacting to concerns over his remark that his martial law could be a “copycat of Marcos.”

Duterte had expressed willingness to withdraw military forces in Marawi City if the Supreme Court rules against his May 23 proclamation placing the entire island of Mindanao under martial law.

He had warned though that if the situation in Mindanao would take a turn for the worse, he might again impose martial law without consulting anyone.

 His “second martial law,” he warned, could be a “copycat” of Marcos’ declaration in 1972, characterized by human rights abuses.

“Martial law is here. Whether or not I expand it to cover the entire the Philippines is something else. And at this time, it is not called for,” the President said in a press conference in Cagayan de Oro last Tuesday.

Duterte said he and Marcos have their own reasons for declaring martial law, a power that he described as “inherent in the Office of the President.” 

Officials claimed Duterte was just referring to the depth and breadth of martial law and not to abuses when he made the “Marcos copycat” remark.

They could not say when the President would lift military rule in Mindanao, saying it would depend on the assessment of military ground commanders.

While claiming he has no immediate plans to place the Philippines under military rule, Duterte dangled anew the possibility of suspending the privilege of writ of habeas corpus in the Visayas. He noted that suspending the privilege would allow authorities to arrest terrorists immediately.

“The mechanism of the habeas corpus is to prevent the terrorists to gain a foothold in the Visayas. Kasi mas doble na ang sakit (the problem might double),” the President said.

“If some of the terrorists are there, I need to pick them up immediately and then find out if they are really a threat. If not, then we will release them immediately. But if they are confirmed terrorists, I do not have the time to apply for a judicial warrant or a warrant of arrest, just because we cannot agree with each other,” he added.

The writ of habeas corpus requires arresting officers to present the body of a detained person before a court to prevent unlawful arrest or illegal detention.

Under the 1987 Constitution, the President may suspend the writ “for not more than 60 days in case of an invasion, rebellion” or “when the public safety requires it.” –  Alexis Romero, Gerry Lee Gorit