Testing the water

We seek justice for Ampatuan, Maguindanao massacre victims, not
martial law. Hindi maitutuwid ng isa pang pagkakamali ang isang
pagkakamali. Civil liberties are already at stake here. The ampatuans
are murderers, not rebels. Armed groups have been massing up in
maguindanao since time immemorial. These groups, except for the Moro
Islamic Liberation Front, are even mostly government-sponsored. Why
martial law now? What's cooking?
Declaring Martial rule over Maguindanao is practically a crackdown on
civilian armed multipliers that were actually created by national and
local leaders to confront Muslim secessionists. Until the monsters
that they created began to pounce and prey on the very people they
were made to protect. Their loyalty rested on that piece of land’s
most powerful clan whose members, for years, have been closest to the
heart of their queen.
What could the queen be thinking? We could only guess. Her real
intention in putting the province under full military control is known
only to her and her closest lieutenants. One thing is certain though:
They are up to something which is far beyond the November 23 Ampatuan
massacre that claimed the lives of around 60 individuals, mostly
journalists. On an early morning press conference Saturday, Press
Secretary Cerge Remonde, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and the
chiefs of the armed services and the national police announced that
Proclamation 1959, that placed Maguindanao under military control, was
the government’s response to local and foreign clamor for justice for
the victims of the massacre. Quite plainly, that is putting words into
our mouths. And I didn’t like it. We never asked for it or anything
like it. The government is vested with enough powers to ensure that
all perpetrators in the mass killing are punished.
It was not only very alarming but chilling. Let’s just hope that the
president overreacted. No more no less.
There were at least 68 journalists killed and hundreds of political
activists, lawyers and other “left-leaning” personalities summarily
executed all over the country since President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
assumed the presidency. Judging from how quickly the government
placed Maguindanao under Martial rule after 60 people were killed, it
is only logical to assume that she could replicate the move for the
whole country. What’s next? Jolo? Basilan? Quezon? Or all known
election hot spots? She only has to expand the coverage of her
proclamation, seek congress’ approval and voila! Elections are
suspended. “Rebels,” (activists, journalists etc) are immediately
“invited” for a free board and lodging vacation inside military camps.
We have a lot to worry about, considering the records of the present
administration. We cannot doubt the fact that the queen, given the
feasible and palatable “excuses” such as the Maguindanao massacre,
would cling to power.
Let us not give her the reasons to do so. We should take calculated
risks, be more circumspect in our actions and be most vigilant. If
she’s testing the water, let’s make it too hot for a dip and too
freezing for a plunge.