Arroyo decision to impose martial law raises hackles
MANILA: Philippine lawmakers engaged in heated debate today over President Gloria Arroyo’s decision to impose martial law in a southern province following a political massacre that left 57 people dead.
Opposition members of both houses of Congress moved to overturn what they said was the “unconstitutional” imposition of military rule in Maguindanao province last Friday, but conceded they were unlikely to succeed.
“The imposition of martial law
in Maguindanao is wrong. It is against the constitution. The alleged rebellion exists only in their imagination,” Senator Mar Roxas said,
but lamented that his views “were not shared by the majority”.
Arroyo’s critics voiced fears that she may expand martial law to cover the whole country in a bid to prolong her six-year term beyond next year.
They also drew parallels between Arroyo and the late dictator
Ferdinand Marcos, who used martial law to jail his political opponents and keep himself in power for part
of his 20-year rule.
A popular revolt toppled his regime in 1986, and he died in exile in Hawaii three years later.
If both houses sit together, Congress can revoke or extend martial law by a simple majority vote. However Arroyo’s ruling Lakas Kami CMD coalition has a comfortable majority in the lower house.
Arroyo chose not to attend the joint session, but instead sent her justice secretary to defend the move.
With debate dragging on late tonight and parliament in recess tomorrow, a vote was likely not going to occur until next week.
Hostage crisis over in the Philippines
MANILA: Armed bandits have released dozens of students and teachers they held hostage for several hours in the southern Philippines on Thursday.
At least 65 people were seized at a village primary school near Prosperidad on the east coast of Mindanao island. Military spokesman Lt Col Romeo Brawner later said that all the hostages had been freed, following a stand-off. There is no sign it was linked to the killing of 57 people on Mindanao last month though there is much lawlessness in the southern Philippines. About 15 gunmen — described by officials as members of a criminal gang — took part in Thursday’s abductions.
