Let’s not talk about martial law in Visayas
FORMER President Fidel Ramos on Friday said the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte should not entertain the idea of expanding martial law in the Visayas and other parts of the country.
He said the government should even consider limiting the martial law’s coverage to specific localities, such as Lanao del Sur.
“Let’s not talk anymore about martial law in the Visayas and other parts of the Philippines,” said Ramos in a press briefing in Makati City.
Ramos questioned the imposition of martial law over the entire Mindanao and said the idea of expanding it to the Visayas and the entire country was a product of panicky statements by some of Duterte’s men.
“I am not saying the President is panicking. I am saying that some members in his delegation are making panicky statements. If it’s true that he has said that martial law may be extended to the Visayas or even nationwide, then that it being panicky,” the former president said.
Hours after he declared martial law in Mindanao, Duterte bared that he might expand the coverage of his declaration to Visayas if the Islamic State-inspired Maute Group spreads its activities outside of region.
“I may decide to expand the area to include the Visayas because it is just a walking distance actually. Because of the many islands, they can always escape there and begin another terroristic activity,” Duterte said in his speech upon arriving from Russia on Wednesday.
Ramos said Duterte was not entirely wrong in declaring martial law in Mindanao but hinted at certain failure of organization on the ground.
“Declaring martial law is probably the right solution, but only for a limited part of Mindanao,” he said.
He said the government must take the strong measures without abusing human rights out there while martial law is in place.
He noted that there are a lot of peaceful areas in the region.
In the end, he said, it is the President who has to make the decision and answer for the consequences of his action.
In the end, Ramos clarified that he does not regret supporting Duterte’s presidential bid. “My support for him continues to be there,” he said.
Ramos, a former head of the defunct Philippine Constabulary, had played an important role in the martial law of late President Ferdinand Marcos, which was blamed for countless human right abuses. Marcos declared martial rule in the entire country in 1972. (SunStar Philippines)