Abrigo: The scars of 2017 martial law

PRONOUNCEMENTS to conclude the two and a half year martial law in Mindanao is a good tidings in this season for many, though it leaves an indelible scar of disadvantage for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the war-torn Marawi City, the umbilicus of 2017 martial law.

The Duterte style military rule is not as bad as many thinks about martial law per se, but this remedy for civil crisis plunged the tourism industry in Mindanao, hampered the momentum of economic upswing as admitted, and forfeited our national treasured reputation from the eyes of our neighbor countries who prudently issued travel bans to Mindanao.

Martial law and similar strategies of governance can be easily drained down to memory lane. But the architects and champions of such policies is always remembered either as corrupt or upright leader. The holocaust for instance in 1941 to 1945 was not substantially publicized, but it was the executor Adolf Hitler that became popularly cruel.

For the 1971 martial law, it was then President Ferdinand Marcos that is ill-famed remembered for the massive violation of human rights; in the series of coup d’état during Cory’s stint, it was not the many coups recalled but the fearlessness of Gringo; but for this concluding martial law I cannot speak in behalf of many about President Duterte. But for sure Duterte has a record for tomorrow’s history.

Popularity, however, either reputation or repugnance does not necessarily mean a gauge of effective leadership.

Duterte has the full backing of the military and police in pursuing the war against the terrorists. The war in Marawi ended and reduced the business district into walls and holes by bombs and bullets; then the heroes bragged it killed hundreds of terrorists, and many raised a rank higher, and fulfilled.

Most of the IDPs will not celebrate Christmas I suppose, in accordance to hadith and Quran. But if the Duterte administration is sincere to end martial law in Mindanao for good, and hear the small-voiced IDPs, then the president has wrapped the best Christmas gift he could ever give to them.

And, without prejudice to religious affiliation as we are all Filipinos, may his excellency can satisfy us why the Malacañang employees are receiving P60,000 cash bonus each, and all government employees with P10,000 each; while the IDPs in the war-torn Marawi until now are still looking for their own ways to go back home.