FIDEL D.

BANZON ORMOC UPSIDE DOWN

Maguindanao martial law

The declaration of martial law in Maguindanao sent jitters to those who have bad
experiences when it was declared by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos. Some innocent ones
were tortured; while others disappeared with the thin air.
I recall Baby Millana, a young girl barely 18 years old. I was then working at Saudi
Arabia when she disappeared. No one was able to trace how she disappeared. She was not a
militant or involved in any activist groups. I don’t point my finger to the military, but the martial
law had something to do with her disappearance. Bad elements may have taken her, especially,
she is a beauty. The only child of her old parents she was the cause of early deaths of them. The
pain of not finding her led to illness of her parents resulting to death.
However, martial law has two faces. It is either for the benefit of the Filipino or
embitterment to some. For those who are good citizens, martial law is not a move to be
frightened of. It is only those bad elements. The only thing, there are some members of the
military who think the martial law is an opportunity to abuse. Not all of the soldiers understand
the word empathy. They have to stand into the shoes of other people to know that the power
given them is limited.
In the Maguindanao martial law, there are things it achieved. Without having declared
martial law, it would be very difficult to dig out the arsenals of the Ampatuans. The House of
Congress may revoke the declaration, but martial law has already gained success. The intent of
the declaration of martial law is to give breathing space for the military to gather the thousands
of firearms and ammunitions and for the police authorities to gather evidences and testimonies of
witnesses without fear of the Ampatuans.
For me the declaration of martial law in Maguindanao is in order, though, the provisions
of the Constitution still remains to be debated. Before the decision by the House of Congress or
the Supreme Court on the legality of the martial law, the Ampatuans have already learned their
lesson. There is NO ABSOLUTE POWER to a human being. It belongs only to the Supreme
God in Heaven.
As long as no innocent bystander included in the arrest of those evil perpetrators of the
massacre victims, for me, martial law has done a good purpose. However, assessment by the
authorities to restore the civilian rule in Maguindanao should be given utmost priority. The delay
in restoring the civilian power may be abused and latter blame could no longer be attributed to
anyone.
The death of the 57 persons including our colleagues in the media may have opened the
minds of those politicians who have killer instincts. We are mere human beings answerable to
the Almighty Creator of Heaven and Earth. He owns our lives and time will come He will ask
the blood of those innocent victims for vindication. We do not need to wait for that day to come.
Now is the time to repent, because the signs are here. The economic difficulty, the increase in
lawlessness, wars, calamities, and the lack of love by our neighbors are composite signs we are
in the threshold of a great change. That day is nearer than we think to come.
The acts of the different religious leaders joining the political tour is one of those signs.
Instead of attending to their flock, they joined the flock to reign in power. They left the task of
spreading the good news of the Kingdom of God. Well, those are part of the signs we cannot
ignore. Hopefully the change of the times will be favorable to those men of goodwill the angels
heralded when Christ Jesus was born in Bethlehem. (Email g_duna@yahoo.com)