The Smokescreen That is Martial Law in Maguindanao

How do we understand the imposition of martial law in the province of Maguindanao with the government’s issuance of Proclamation No. 1959?  A backdrop that is more or less sketched in broad strokes may help.

Of course, it was an offshoot of the massacre that happened in the bailiwick of the warring clan of the Ampatuan’s, who are known as close allies of President Gloria Arroyo.  The said gruesome crime involved the raping, mutilating, beheading, mowing down and burying in shallow graves of around fifty-seven armless, defenseless women, journalists, and passers-by.  It has been said that the mass murder was election related.  But, it is definitely more monstrous than how the Mafia eliminates the dons, and the Yakuzas would only cut a finger or two – and spare their victims’ families and those who are not indebted to them.  The Maguindanao massacre reminded us particularly of the sub-Saharan ethnic cleansing.  Definitely, the Ampatuan’s were able to establish themselves as “better” than the other warlords of the Philippines: the Dimaporos of Lanao del Norte, the Josons of Nueva Ecija, the Singsons of Ilocos Sur – among others.

The Ampatuan’s are said to be behind the massacre.  And they are allies of President Arroyo.  That would explain the kid gloves treatment that the culprits initially received from the government forces.  Instead of arresting officers, an emissary from Malacanan was sent to Maguindano.  Instead of arresting the Ampatuan’s, they were merely “invited” by the officers. 

The subsequent raids in different places in Maguindanao so far yielded caches of ammunitions and high-powered guns – complete with clear indicators that such military hardware actually proceeded from the stockpile of the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Armed Forces.  Indeed, the Ampatuan’s are allies of the national leaders.

Because they already have at least the big names among the Ampatuan’s, the government is now saying that a brewing rebellion was in the offing so a martial rule was decided upon.  The government reasons out that the supporters of the Ampatuan’s – who are armed and are refusing to be arrested – are massing together and may cause security problems in the area.  Their bosses are now in government custody; and they understandably want them back.