Maguindanao, Cotabato leaders welcome martial law extension

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines — Officials are optimistic of more successes in law enforcement with the extension of martial law in Mindanao until December 31, 2017.

 

Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu said on Monday that he is thankful to the members of Congress who voted in favor of its extension during a joint session last Saturday.

 

The governor is chairman of the provincial peace and order council, whose members include officials of the league of mayors in the province and representatives from the police and the military.

 

Maguindanao, which has 36 towns, is a component province of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which also covers Lanao del Sur and its capital, Marawi City, and the islands of Tawi-Tawi, Sulu and Basilan.

 

“This extension of the martial law runs well with our efforts to address violent religious extremism and in forging ahead with Malacañang’s war on illegal drugs in this part of the country,” Mangudadatu told The STAR on Monday.

 

Reports obtained from the office of Senior Superintendent Agustin Tello, director of the Maguindanao provincial police, indicated that from May 24 to July 22 alone, municipal police personnel and agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-ARMM arrested no fewer than 50 large-scale drug traffickers in joint operations supported by provincial officials.

 

Tello said the martial law also enabled provincial officials to freely move around and settle clan wars involving big Moro families during the period.

 

Under the 1987 Constitution, invasion and rebellion are the only justifications for the declaration of martial law.

 

Maguindanao is still under a state of emergency that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared three days after the infamous November 23, 2009 Ampatuan massacre.

 

The SOE has not officially been lifted despite the arrest of the alleged masterminds and perpetrators of the atrocity, which left 58 people dead, among them the wife of Mangudadatu, Genalyn, and 32 journalists.

 

Mangudadatu was vice mayor of Buluan town at that time and was to challenge the bid of Andal Ampatuan, Jr. for the gubernatorial post of the province during the May 2010 elections.

 

The Ampatuan clan ruled the province then with absolute intolerance for political opposition.

 

“I am even thankful that the SOE has not been lifted yet. We want it sustained,” said Mangudadatu, now on his third and last term as Maguindanao governor.

North Cotabato Vice Gov. Shirlyn Macasarte-Villanueva, presiding officer of the North Cotabato provincial board, said on Monday that they will draft on Tuesday a resolution expressing support to the martial law and affirming confidence to authorities enforcing it.

 

“We will respect the wisdom of our higher authorities towards that end,” she said.

 

North Cotabato is officially called Cotabato province but many still use its old name to refer to the province.

 

Not one of the 37 barangay captains in Cotabato City nor Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi, is against the extension of the martial law.

 

There has been a sharp decline in recorded crimes in Cotabato City since May 24, first day of the martial law President Rodrigo Duterte declared in connection with the siege a day before of Marawi City by Maute terrorists and a band of Abu Sayyaf bandits led by Isnilon Hapilon.

 

The trouble in Marawi City, which erupted on May 23 and challenged the current Mindanao peace process, has since dragged on.

 

Barangay officials said the martial law even hastened the efforts of Guiani-Sayadi in addressing unauthorized carrying of guns in Cotabato City.