Why I Am Against Martial Law
By Boni Quirog, PhD | Columnist, The Bohol Tribune
Whether the President is Duterte, Aquino or Marcos, I am against martial law in the absence of widespread rebellion or invasion. I strongly believe that the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, together, can crush present threats without any martial law declaration.
The entry of 11 gunmen on a boat does not constitute an invasion. There are only less than 3,000 NPAs in the entire country. They are all rebels. But their presence cannot be described as widespread. All news sources say the Abu Sayyaf had been almost decimated; and the Maute Group is just a new name of old splintered Muslim rebel groups.
But make no mistake about it. I am in favor of tighter security. I am in favor of a holistic anti-terrorism approach. But I am not in favor of martial law in the hands of politicians.
Under Marcos’ dictatorial martial law, Amnesty International estimated that 70,000 Filipinos were imprisoned, 34,000 were tortured, and 3,240 were killed. Today, there is yet no martial law in the entire country, but more than 7,000 Filipinos had allegedly been killed; more than twice the number of those killed during the almost ten years of martial law under the Marcos dictatorship. What more if martial law is declared?
Under martial law, if your father, mother, brother, sister, friend or relative disappears, you cannot go to court and ask the authorities to produce the body of your missing loved ones. That is what is meant by the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus under martial law. You support martial law, and you don’t mind losing your rights? Fine with you, but not with me.
Yes to peace and order. No to martial law!
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