The Philippines: A Century Hence

It Happened Before, It May Happen Again

2012-01-14T09:11:00.000-08:00

Don’t you know that the Philippines was once the 2nd richest country in Asia?

The Philippines once ranked second to Japan among the richest countries in Asia before and after the Second World War. It only became poor when being ruled and managed by corrupt politicians and their cronies.

We, Filipinos, are just like any other peoples in rich countries who have the potentials; the knowledge of “know-how” in almost every field of human endeavours, be it in science, arts, inventions, management, leadership, discipline and skills, among others. We have so many achievements other countries don’t have that made us distinct from them, such that: we have produced Dr. Jose Rizal as the Asia’s First Apostle of Nationalism; the late President Ramon Magsaysay, whose inspiring leadership was recognized not only in the Philippines but throughout Southeast Asia; we have the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) making the Philippines once the leading exporter of rice in the region; we have produced the late strongman President Ferdinand Marcos who transformed the country among the feared countries in Asia and gave it a name in the world community, plus; the peaceful transition of governance displayed through the People Power Revolution of EDSA 1.

There are more that can be cited as good qualities to let us say, “Yes, the Filipino can!” But hey! Look at the Philippines nowadays. Millions of Filipinos are suffering from the long-delayed effects of corruption while only few oligarchs and elites are enjoying from it. Calamities and tragedies are also visiting us almost every year leaving billions of looses to the yet still recovering economy. Thousands of Filipinos are leaving everyday to try their lucks abroad because the government can no longer provide the basic services every citizen needs. We are producing thousands of high-calibered professionals every year and yet these professionals are meant not to further our economic recovery but meant to serve other peoples outside the country. Today, Philippines ranked only 32nd among the richest countries in the world.

However, just recently, the Philippine economy has been the subject of analysis and forecasted to leapfrog and become the 16th largest economy in the world by 2050, according to a study by the HongKong and Shanghai Banking Corp. (HSBC). If this is true, then it must be something that we have to deal with, to guard and to be proud of. Then truly, history will repeat itself.

A Nation Divided, Part 1

2011-03-25T19:51:00.000-07:00

In 1998, when former President Fidel V. Ramos issued Administrative Order 308 entitled "Adoption of a National Computerized Identification Reference System", the Filipino nation was divided on their differing opinions and took the two opposing sides: some said "Yes"with the "thumbs-up" sign signifying approval and support to the order yet some said "No" and protested against its implementation. And so, the Supreme Court shot it down for reasons that accordingly, it violated the right to privacy and freedom of movement. That was a clear example of "the end cannot be justified by its means."

When former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared martial law following the gruesome massacre of 57 civilians in Maguindanao on November 2009, the Filipino nation was once again divided with their opposing views on the constitutionality of the declaration. But, wether the declaration was constitutional or not, the clear truth was already there undeniable, that 57 civilians were brutally killed defenseless and their murderers need to bring to justice.

Again, another concern strikes the nation divided by very a controversial issue as the Congress is trying to enact House Bill No. 96, also known as the proposed "Reproductive Health and Population and Development Act of 2010" whic was filed by Rep. Edcel Lagman of the First District of Bicol.

But what is HB 96 or Reproductive Health Bill all about?

The bill covers many areas of provisions, such as, emergency obstetric care, access to family planning, maternal death review, family planning supplies as essential medicines, benefits for serious and life-threatening reproductive health conditions, mobile health care service, mandatory age-appropriate reproductive health and sexuality education, responsibility of local family planning office and certificate of compliance, capability building of barangay health workers, ideal family size, employer's responsibilities, multi-media campaign, implementing mechanisms, reporting requirements, prohibited acts, and penalties, among others.

Last Friday, March 25, an estimated 40,000 Filipinos from all over the country, most especially Roman Catholics from Metro Manila and neighbouring provinces, joined prayers in an attempt to block the enactment of the RH Bill for many reasons:

The bill is being opposed by concerned citizens, especially the pro-life, pro-family and pro-God groups. The Roman Catholic Church expresses its opposition against the bill on many counts, most especially the procurement and distribution of family planning supplies for the whole country, when the availbale evidence from peer reviewed medical journals supports the hypothesis that when ovulation and fertilization occur in women taking oral contraceptives (OCs) or using intrauterine devices (IUDs), post-fertilization effects are operative on occassion to prevent clinically recognized pregnancy. Hormonal contraceptives and/or IUDs directly affect the endometrium. These effects have been presumed to rended the endometrium relatively inhospitable to implantation or to the maintenance of the preembryo or embryo prior to clinically recognized pregnancy. These make pills and IUDs abortifacient.

Pro-life groups, and many professionals in the medical and nursing fields, believe that physicians and policy makers should understand and respect the beliefs of patients who consider human life to be present and valuable from the moment of fertilization. Patients should be made fully aware of this information so that they can consent to or refuse the use of artificial contraceptives.

However, the position of the Catholic Church and the pro-life groups does not mean that they espouse the attitude of "natalism" at all costs, as if the "number" of children, in itself, were the unmistakable sign of authentic christian matrimonial life.

The sexual act, properly exercised within marriage only, is ordained primarily to the propagation of life. If there are reasonable motives for spacing births, such as serious medical conditions in the mother, or extreme poverty, then the Catholic Church teaches that married couples may take advantage of the natural cycles of the reproductive system and use their marriage precisely those times that are infertile (natural family planning).

Other aspects of the bill being contested by concerned citizens include the classification of family planning supplies as essential medicines when their safety/toxicity profile and legal permissibility are questionable. At the same time, more importance should be given to the prevalent diseases, the top ten leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the Philippines, namely, infections such as pneumonia and tuberculosis. Financial resources allotted by foreign donors to assist the Philippine government programs could actually be better spent towards pursuing health programs targeting communicable diseases than purchasing artificial contraceptives.

Very pertinent to the debate about reproduction rights is the right to life. The Philippine Constitution says that the State "shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception. If artificial contraceptives are medically proven to induce abortion as one of their mechanisms of action, then procurement and distribution of such family planning supplies are unconstitutional and illegal.

Source: Reproductive Health Bill in the Philippines

My Reply to the Reply of the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh

2010-01-06T05:16:00.000-08:00

To Whom It May Concern,

My heartfelt thanks to your reply to my concern. However, I regret to tell you that I am not satisfied with your findings and action. I am not after any disciplinary action to be imposed unto your staff but to recognize and reconsider as to the truthfulness of my statements/claims as far as his treatment, voice and intonation in our conversation are concerned.

In your reply, re: With regard to the phrases "ANO PA SA ANG GUSTO NIYO" and "ANO PA SA ANG GUSTO NIYONG MALAMAN" which were spoken during your conversation with our staff that day, we have learned that the intention of the concerned staff was to ask if you have any more queries on the matter in order to address them and they were not intentionally said in disrespect to you or in a discourteous manner. Please be considerate that the second phrase "ANO PA BA ANG GUSTO NIYONG MALAMAN" was just a rephrasal in his attempt to cover-up his being rude and disrespectful when he first said "ANO PA BA ANG GUSTO NIYO". Perhaps he noticed his being rude when I asked him "ANONG IBIG MONG SABIHIN NA 'ANO PA BA ANG GUSTO KO'?" so he rephrased his first words.

With all the due respect, please do not reply this email anymore. After all, there is nothing more I can do than to treat this as an accepted practice by some government employees which must not be tolerated.

I retrospect, my apology for bringing to your attention this matter.

Respectfully yours,
Ranie F. Cuaresma

A Reply from the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh

2010-01-06T05:13:00.001-08:00

LOC-57-2010
06 January 2010

Mr. Ranie F. Cuaresma
Email: ranie070@yahoo.com

Dear Mr Cuaresma,

Greetings from the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh!

The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh wishes to acknowledge receipt of your email dated 03 January 2010, and would like to inform you that the Embassy had looked into your concern. On Saturday, 02 January 2010 being a non-working day, the Embassy has designated one of its staff as duty officer to attend to telephone calls from the Philippines and other countries as well as Filipino citizens living in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

With regard to the phrases "ANO PA SA ANG GUSTO NIYO" and "ANO PA SA ANG GUSTO NIYONG MALAMAN" which were spoken during your conversation with our staff that day, we have learned that the intention of the concerned staff was to ask if you have any more queries on the matter in order to address them and they were not intentionally said in disrespect to you or in a discourteous manner. We wish to inform you that the Ambassador has always emphasized and enjoined the officers and staff of the Embassy to be courteous and efficient in serving our Kababayans as well as the foreigners who are transacting business with the Embassy.

With regard to your request for information on the Foreign Service Officer Qualifying Test, we would like to provide you with the enclosed copy of the Embassy's Press Release No. RVMI -71-2009 dated 20 December 2009 announcing the holding of said examination simultaneously on 28 March 2010 at the Philippine Embassies in Washington, DC and Vienna, Austria, and Philippine Consulate General in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and other examination venues in the Philippines. The press release can be downloaded from the Embassy's website: http://www.philembassy-riyadh.org/.

The Embassy hopes to be of service to you and will be happy to entertain any further queries on this matter by contacting the Administration Section at telephone numbers (01) 482 3559 and 4821802 extension 2127.

Sincerely yours,
ROMULO VICTOR M. ISRAEl, JR.
Charge d'Affaires, a.i.

A Wanton Pursuit: The Ladlad Case

2010-01-04T21:52:00.000-08:00

This is my comments to the news posted herein:

What is order in its philosophical sense? What is discipline in its moral sense? And what is morality in an undisciplined mind?

Order is harmony; a unity in diversity; the harmony of polarity. Harmony is the flow of melody, like a music, where all notes and tunes regardless of their ranges are sensibly arranged to soothe and calm even the most sensible ears of a baby. Harmony means peace, order and calmness; the marriage of the opposites, i.e. the union of a man and a woman.

In the beginning God created man and woman to be together for the divine purpose of procreation and to replenish the Earth. God created Eve from Adam's rib. God did not create a second Adam from the rib of the first Adam but a woman from a man's rib. This union of man and woman brings balance to the chaotic order of the inner cosmos which eventually produces the slightest beat of life.

Physics teaches us that two "negative" (-) poles of magnet cannot attract each others; that a magnet has both the positive and negative polarities in one single object; that no where we can find a magnet with only one polarity on both ends.

Now, what is discipline in its moral sense? Discipline means living in harmony with nature. Nature is a very broad term hence it means everything. This includes man's nature as a creation in harmony with the very purpose of his existence which is to procreate life through the blessings of love in harmony with the cosmos. We cannot promote morality without harmony, and we cannot promote harmony without discipline, and therefore there could never be morality and harmony in an undisciplined mind.

Mr. Nhazrudin “Rudy” N.D. Dianalan and the OFW's

2010-01-04T08:26:00.000-08:00

Personally, I have no objection with Mr. Nhazrudin Dianalan's bid for a senatorial seat. I also have no objection on how his modus operandi be launched for a nationwide or wordwide campaign either by the internet or through other media available. It is his constitutional right to run for any elective position suffice he met all the qualifications and none of any of the disqualifications enumerated in the Philippine Constitution. It is his personal decesion and nobody has the right neither to question nor to empede his ambition. But what I am going to laydown are just my comments to some of his statements as per the news: "OFW asks Comelec to reconsider his Senate bid" posted in the Philippine Daily Inquirer dated 04 January 2010.

In the news, Dianalan said "Kasapi represents the major regional groups in the Philippines: the Ilonggos, the Cebuanos, the Boholanos, the Ilocanos, the Bicolanos, the Warays, the Capampangans, the Maranaos, the Maguindanaos, the Tausugs, the Tagalogs, the Cordillera tribesmen. All these members and the OFWs in Saudi Arabia has pledged to contribute a minimum of one dollar each for (his) campaign."

He further added: “While most of (the 5,000 Kasapi) members cannot vote (as) their places of work did not offer an opportunity for them to register as absentee voters…they have instructed their respective dependents to deliver the message of Dianalan as the only candidate representing the voice of overseas workers."

In my more than a year of stay in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as an OFW, I never heard of the "Kasapi" or any "Filipino organization" in this foreign land that is working or looking after the welfare of the Filipinos here. On this part, perhaps I am just a less-informed individual. Most Filipinos I came to know never heard nor mentioned about this "Kasapi" or the like, and there are more than the 5,000 figures mentioned by Mr. Dianalan who are not members of the "Kasapi" and therefore there is no truth, and I refute, that "all OFW's in Saudi Arabia have pledged to contribute (for his campaign)". This, I believe, is just an additional statement to add weight to his motion to Comelec but there is no truth on it.

I also do not agree that Mr. Dianalan is the only candidate who can represents the voice of OFW's. He has no monopoly to do so.

If this "Kasapi" is true to its very purpose, can (they) please state their accomplishments since its founding date which already benefited the OFW's? And how about this "little" amount they can/will collect from the OFW's which is already a sure count of chicks from the eggs? There is no assurance that these will be accounted and spent for its very purpose. Imagine a P45 million collections without transparency? This is already something I am doubtful of its fate.

I just hope and pray that nothing personal will gain from it, if not for the common good.

A Reply to My Letter to Hon. Ezzedin H. Tago, Philippine Consul General, Jeddah, KSA

2010-01-04T06:51:00.000-08:00

From: Ezzedin Tago
To: filembry@sbm.net.sa; pc.jeddah@gmail.com; vp@ovp.gov.ph
Sent: Mon, January 4, 2010 3:35:45 PM
Subject: Your email re concern with an embassy staff

Dear Ms. Cuaresma,

I refer to your email sent to the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah's email address pc.jeddah@gmail.com on 3 January.

I regret to inform you that, from the area code, the number 00966 2 482 3615 which you called is in Riyadh. You may have called the Embassy in Riyadh and not the Consulate in Jeddah. I note however that you have sent a copy of the email to filembry@sbm.net.sa which is the Embassy's email. I trust the the Embassy will appropriately address the situation you mentioned in your email.

In the meantime, the FSO exam you read about is for entry to the position of Foreign Service Office class IV. The position is not for locally-hired employees in Saudi Arabia. You do not have to be a graduate of a foreign service course to take the exam. There will be a qualifying exam sometime in March this year in Dubai.

Sincerely,
Ezzedin Tago
Philippine Consul General
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

A Letter to Consul General Hon. Ezzedin H. Tago of Jeddah, KSA

2010-01-03T03:29:00.000-08:00

Below is an email to the Consul General Hon. (Mr.) Ezzedin H. Tago of the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at pc.jeddah@gmail.com, philcongen@pcgjeddah.com, courtesy copied to H.E. (Mr.) Antonio P. Villamor, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, KSA at pe.riyadh@dfa.gov.ph, filembry@sbm.net.sa, and to the Office of the Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines at vp@ovp.gov.ph. Please spend some times reading it.

Hon. (Mr.) Ezzedin H. Tago
Consul General

Dear Sir,

My name is Ranie F. Cuaresma, working as an Overseas Filipino Worker with Saudi Diyar Consultants – Architects and Engineers here in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and holder of a Philippine Passport No. XX00000 issued on 02 August 2008 at DFA Regional Office 1, San Fernando, La Union.

I would like to call your attention concerning the attitude/behavior/treatment of one of your embassy staff, and I want to relate to you the whole story:

That on 02 January 2010 at around 1:05 P.M. Saudi time, I called up this mobile number “0096614823615” believing it to be the contact number of the Philippine Embassy in Jeddah, as this number was sent to my mobile phone by the Mobily Telecommunication Company as a welcome message and information when I arrived in this foreign soil. My call was received and entertained by a “male” (voice) attendant.

That the purpose of my calling to above-quoted DFA contact number was to inquire about where to take the qualifying examination for Foreign Service jobs so I can apply for a possible post in our foreign embassies most particularly here in Saudi Arabia. I further told him that I cannot find in the DFA website (www.dfa.gov.ph) what exactly I was looking for, however, I further said that I have read about the Board of Foreign Service Examination in the said website believing that this is another kind of examination only for those graduates of Foreign Service course, so I decided to inquire in our Philippine Embassy through phone. The said male attendant who received my call clarified to me that this (Board of Foreign Service Examination) is the same examination I am looking for which I already understood at the onset of his explanations. However, at the middle of our conversations, he deliberately and intentionally uttered these words “ANO PA BA ANG GUSTO NIYO?” with the unpleasant, discourteous and disrespectful tune. I was a little bit flabbergasted so I asked him, “Anong ibig mong sabihin na ‘ano pa ba ang gusto ko?’” He replied, “ANO PA BA ANG GUSTO NIYONG MALAMAN?” with almost the same high-pitched voice. I sensed his being disrespectful to me which caused me to immediately stop our conversations, and with all the due respect I said, “A, akala ko kasi ibang eksaminasyon ito. But anyhow, you gave me the correct information. Thank you!”

My concern is to get the attention of this person, and perhaps a wake-up call to some of your embassy employees abroad to give at least the due respect to whoever is asking for help in their respective offices without discrimination in the name of public service, morality and ethics. We Filipinos abroad have nobody to trust, rely and ask for help, information or assistance that concerns our problems, issues and cases than our embassies and consulates. Their posts are not licenses to treat the least fortunate OFW’s unworthy of their attention and help. What’s more if those people calling for their help have lesser temper and lower education? They must remember that their offices are for public services and are public trusts.

May the guidance of the Divine Providence be always with us all.

Sincerely yours,
Ranie Cuaresma

The Two Faces of Martial Law (Part 3)

2009-12-20T22:26:00.000-08:00

The reason martial law was widely accepted by the public, despite criticism that there was no rebellion to justify it, was that it required extraordinary powers to crush the warlords. The massacre was the catalyst of the conflict between central government authority and that of the Ampatuans. Besides, the scope of this martial law is limited to Maguindanao and there are constitutional constraints Congress can use in the exercise of its oversight powers of review under the 1987 Constitution to check abuses of martial law powers.

Whether or not there was a rebellion to justify Proclamation 1959 became moot when the President rescinded martial law after eight days.

That there were no reports of abuse by the army and the national police in their arrests without warrants, raids on the Ampatuan premises and the seizure of hidden arms caches helped moderate public objections and calm fears that martial law would be used to cancel the elections next year and to perpetuate Ms Arroyo in power.

If it had not been for the police actions under martial law, the evidence of abuse of power, the unexplained assets and killings since 2001 could not have been uncovered. If it had not been for these raids and arrests, the horrifying remains of the atrocities of the massacres could not have surfaced.

Although the legal grounds for Proclamation 1959 have remained unsettled, at least the “shock and awe” impact of martial law has set in motion the criminal prosecution of the Ampatuans for multiple murder.

At least, the state has stamped its presence and reasserted its authority over monsters it has created. One aspect of martial law 2009 that requires deeper examination is: How did the state abandon its power to regional warlords? What compromises and tradeoffs were involved that made the state a captive of provincial warlords?

Source: Ampatuan case takes ironic twist.

The Two Faces of Martial Law (Part 2)

2009-12-19T01:16:00.000-08:00

After the imposition and revocation of martial law in Maguindanao Province, the Filipino people have came to realize that an iron hand does not always have a brute image but also one that meant to restore the damages what the brute image had done.

In our memory lies both the good and bad moments of our existence. More often we prefer to reminish only the good times and put the bad times into oblivion for these only bring nothing but heartaches and nightmares. The Marcos era and martial law is one of them.

I was only a small lad when martial took effect during the 70's. Eventually, as I grew older I came accross with those books written by the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos justifying his actions as the president in placing the entire country under the rule of the military law. "An Ideology for the Filipinos" and "A Revolution from the Center" are the books he wrote, among others.

Most Filipinos see martial law on its brutal side only, especially those victims of its Machiavellian rule and its warrantless arrest or the suspension of the priviledge of the writ of habeas corpus, but they failed to see its other side. Perhaps the contention is based on experience. But there are more who treat martial law era as crime-free era, not because all the news were screened by the government but because only few criminals have the nerves to challenge the might of the law. Some victims might really be innocent and deserves justice but there are more of them who deserved their fate more than anybody else, as one author said, "sometimes we need to sacrifice some few for the greater good", that means sometimes "the end justifies the means".

What limits our contention is the very obvious reason that we are bound by laws made by man himself. We failed to realize that there are more better versions of the laws inscribed in our judicial journals, and there are more ways to circumvent them. Otherwise, these are perfect laws and must be observed without conditions and or hesitations. The Constitution is not an exemption.

When President Arroyo imposed martial in Maguindanao Province she believed nothing is violated, and in that crucial decision she made only time will tell she was right. So far, no violation of human rights was observed nor any complaint was served, and no expansion of its scope as pre-concluded by those who blatantly opposed it.

Perhaps we should treat martial law not on what it is but on who will impose it, in the right place at the right time.

The Two Faces of Martial Law (Part 1)

2009-12-16T21:43:00.000-08:00

The imposition of martial law in the province of Maguindanao following the gruesome massacre of 57 civilians, including 30 mediamen and two members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, had raised two kinds of reactions from the Filipino people. Let's take a look how the Filipinos reacted:

The Anti-Matial Law:

1. Satur Ocampo, Bayan Muna: "should Congress and the Supreme Court conspire with the executive in supporting a 'patently’ unconstitutional order, we will have no choice but to appeal to the people to go to the streets not only to call for the revocation of martial law but to push for the immediate ouster of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.’’

2. Luzviminda Ilagan, Gabriela: "the President had two objectives in issuing the proclamation: to weaken the case against the Ampatuans in Mindanao from murder to rebellion, which would be eligible for bail and lay the groundwork for a declaration of martial law all over the country on a spurious basis."

3. Neri Colmenares, Bayan Muna: "the declaration of martial law was clearly a prelude to a no-election scenario in 2010. If the presence of armed men is the basis, then the government can claim that the presence of the NPA and MILF and MNLF in other areas would justify the declaration of martial law all over the country."

4. Tayo ang Pag-asa Youth Movement (TPYM): Described the martial law proclamation as “dangerous, needless and self-serving”.

5. Alvin Peters, TPYM Spokesperson: "the move exposed the government's misguided propensity to present a military solution when what is needed is to strengthen civilian institutions such as the courts and the media”; "Proclamation 1959 is an invitation for more violence and sets a dangerous precedent as it weakens civilian institutions. Instead, it provides special powers to the military and the police, both of which have poor records in upholding civil liberties.”

6. The League of Filipino Students warned the martial law declaration in Maguindanao “may be the prelude towards a failure of elections in the country.”

7. Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT): "We're one with the public in demanding justice for the victims of the Ampatuans. However, we cannot allow Malacanang to use our outrage at the massacre to justify this dangerous and unconstitutional declaration of martial law.”

8. Pacifico Agabin, Former Dean, University of the Philippines College of Law: "the martial law declaration was unwarranted and unnecessary."

9. Marvic Leonen, UP Law Professor called for vigilance against possible abuse of martial law power in Maguindanao. "Martial law does not automatically suspend the writ of habeas corpus or justify illegal arrests and detention".

10. Ramon Arguelles, Lipa Archbishop: “There is no rebellion there, there is a grievous criminal situation but which does not warrant martial law."

The Pro-Matial Law:

1. Eduardo Ermite, Executive Secretary: (Reading from Proclamation 1959), "The declaration was prompted by reports of 'armed groups in the province of Maguindanao' establishing positions 'to resist government troops, thereby depriving the Executive of its powers and prerogatives to enforce the laws of the land and to maintain public order and safety' and of the 'deteriorating condition of peace and order to the extent that the local judicial system and other government mechanisms in the province are not functioning, thus endangering public safety.”

2. Prospero Nograles, House Speaker, Philippine House of Representatives: "the issuance of Proclamation 1959 will help the executive department to effectively restore the functions of the local government units in the province of Maguindanao and to preserve and restore public order and safety.”

3. Cebu Rep. Antonio Cuenco said he chose not to look at the constitutionality of the martial law proclamation, but at the benefits it brought to the people of Maguindanao.

4. Mayor Osmeña said he was in favor of the proclamation “to avert a tribal war.” “The risk of major bloodshed in Mindanao is much higher,” he said, but stressed that he would fight any attempt to extend the condition nationwide.

5. Pablo Garcia (2nd Dist. Rep., Cebu), Pablo John Garcia (3rd Dist. Re., Cebu) and Ramon “Red” Durano VI (5th Dist. Re., Cebu) said it was an executive prerogative to place the hotly contested area under martial rule.

6. Pablo John Garcia (Cebu): “A lot of people might want to act like experts...(but) in a crisis, we should leave it to the president to decide in accordance with the constitution."

7. Randy David, Columnist, PDI: I am more inclined to think that the sudden imposition of martial law in Maguindanao is Ms Arroyo’s way of neutralizing the fallout from her well-publicized close relationship with the Ampatuan clan. It is her way of demonstrating not just a setting aside of personal and political ties, but a radical dissociation from everything the Ampatuans have done in Mindanao. She expects martial law to erase all the images of leniency and accommodation that attended the government’s initial handling of the Ampatuan suspects in the wake of this gruesome massacre. But more than this, I think that Ms Arroyo is fully aware that this event can quickly get out of hand and re-ignite interest in the re-opening of the highly-disputed 2004 Maguindanao election returns that, according to the “Garci tapes,” ultimately gave her the presidency. Martial law gives her the breathing space she needs to deal with this risk in a more methodical way.

8. Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the President took the "bold step" in answer to the cries for justice of the victims’ kin. "We'll have to point out to you, especially the judicial system, no judges will take the case. No judges will issue the proper search warrant and the warrants of arrest in the area, an that's part of the reason why this has to be done.''