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Sunday, March 09, 2003
No need for martial law in Mindanao: Lina
By Lizanilla J. Amarga
"THERE has never been any plan by Malacaņang to put Mindanao under a State of Emergency or Martial Law," said Interior and Local Government Secretary Joey Lina during the Mindawide Power Crisis and Security Briefing at Pryce Plaza Hotel on Friday.
He said "no more than the President Gloria Arroyo herself" has declared this just hours after the Davao city twin bombings Tuesday and for several times after that incident.
Lina quoted the president as saying in several reports that she didn't need to take such a drastic measure.
"I would like to make it clear that the president even repeated again and again that she has enough powers not to declare Martial Law or State of Emergency in Mindanao," he said.
Lina's statements stemmed from the Regional Peace and Order Council chairman Gov. Jose Ma. Zubiri's repetitive questions concerning such "disturbing rumors".
Zubiri expressed apprehensions that these "disturbing rumors" be immediately squashed by the congressmen and cabinet members "for media might play with it".
"We need to cut this (rumors) out!" said the governor from Bukidnon.
Little done
In a separate press conference on Friday, former President Fidel Ramos said Lina is "probably correct" when asked whether he believes the latter's statement that Malacaņang has never even thought of putting Mindanao under state of emergency.
He cited events in April 2001 when the whole of Manila was declared under state of rebellion only to arrest some suspects and conduct some hot pursuit operations.
"But there was very little really done and it was lifted just over the weekend," he told reporters.
Ramos said the situation in Mindanao still does not warrant the declaration of such measures.
The security briefing was convened by Lina, Presidential Assistant for Mindanao Jesus Dureza, Presidential Secretary Paul Dominguez, National Transmission Corporation (Transco) president Dr. Alan Ortiz and PNP Gen. Edgardo Aglipay.
It was attended by House representatives Miguel Zubiri of Bukidnon, Alipyo Cerilo Badilles of First District Lanao del Norte, Bob Dimaporo of the Second District Lanao del Norte and Constantino Jaraula of the lone district of Cagayan de Oro.
Also there were Gov. Antonio Calingin of Misamis Oriental along with Tagoloan Mayor Bambi Emano.
Imelda Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte including her town mayors Jack Maruhom of Kauswagan, Elias Madid Ali of Baloi, Casan Maquiling of Munai and Parok Asis of Sapad among others were also in attendance.
Urgent call
Also regional PNP director Chief Supt. Manuel Raval and 4th Infantry Divison commanding general Maj. Gen. Cristolito Baloing.
Badilles revealed that a day after the Davao bombing, 21 congressmen from Mindanao were in a forum on how to respond to this crisis.
He said there were talks of declaring Martial Law in Mindanao or putting it under state of emergency particularly as they have to consider the Mindawide blackouts which occurred already twice recently.
But then, Badilles said Jaraula came to that forum with a resolution containing an urgent call to President Arroyo and all parties involved to go back to the negotiating table with the rebel groups.
"The general sentiment of all Mindanao solons was not to ask for State of Emergency in Mindanao but to come again to the negotiating table," he said.
Earlier, there were reports of how Davao mayor Rodrigo Duterte was pushing to Arroyo a proposal to declare Mindanao under state of emergency or even Martial Law.
Emano was also quoted saying there were some congressmen who were set to file a resolution that would allow Malacaņang to declare Mindanao under state of emergency.
Duplicated
Gen. Dionisio Santiago in a television interview said there were also suggestions that Arroyo is set to take such a step.
Zubiri said such reports are going to hurt the business and peace and order ssituation of Mindanao.
Also during the same top-level meeting, Lina confirmed his support to Emano in conducting a "local peace initiative" with his local rebels.
He said he hopes this can be "duplicated" by other local government executives in the hopes of attaining some form of peace in their respective areas.
Emano for his part said he has already talked with the top level Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), National Democratic Front (NDF) and New People's Army (NPA).
"All of their responses have been favorable except for their only condition which is their safety passage in coming and leaving the city," he said.
The mayor said he is set to call a meeting with all the top security officer of region to map out the details of this "safe coming and leavings" of the rebels next week.
Also Emano said he will put out a draft of the "peace covenant" for all the stakeholders to sign on.
"I can bring them (rebels) all down (from the mountains)...we will talk sometime next week and it will be right here in Cagayan de Oro city," he said.
The mayor admitted that though this might not really end all the problems in Mindanao but this could "just be the start" of a "renewed negotiations" between the rebels and the government.
Emano said he has already done this "peace summit" when he was still governor of Misamis Oriental in 1986 wherein a ceasefire agreement was signed by the rebels and him.
"It was the only ceasefire where no single violation was committed and I believe we can do it again," he said.
Lina said Emano's move and any "local peace initiative" is not only supported but encouraged by Pres. Arroyo.
(March 8, 2003 issue)
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