Why martial law?
The Republic’s first experience with martial rule was in 1972 when the 1935 Constitution was in effect. It wasn’t a very pleasant one (actually an understatement).
The second came 37 years later under a new constitution that, obviously influenced by the lessons learned from the 14-year regime of Ferdinand Marcos, massively diluted the president’s martial law powers by allowing both the legislature and the judiciary to participate in its exercise, the former through its power to revoke/extend and the latter through an express grant of authority to inquire into the factual basis of the declaration.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s Proclamation 1959 was of very limited coverage and duration. Only the province of Maguindanao was placed under martial law and it ended nine days after it was declared on Dec. 4, 2009. There was therefore not enough data to gauge the people’s reaction to a move that has come to be associated with authoritarianism and abuse.
Tuesday night, President Duterte placed Mindanao under martial law. Under the constitution, the proclamation has a lifetime of only 60 days unless revoked or extended by Congress. But Duterte said that it will actually be longer and he that will be as harsh as Marcos in 1972. Ordinarily, that threat would have already sent chills down the spine, given our experience under Marcos. But nobody seems to mind. Why?
I see two reasons. The first is that the people trust Duterte. He has maintained his very high trust and approval ratings. The people do not suspect his motives for declaring martial law. They believe that he is not out to perpetuate himself in power; he just wants to defeat a very treacherous enemy.
Which brings us to the second reason: the “enemy.” The Maute group and the Abu Sayyaf have, deservedly or undeservedly, acquired a notoriety for their attack on unarmed civilians, kidnapping for ransom and beheadings. Then last Tuesday, they attacked Marawi City, burning a number of buildings.
People are afraid of them and want them taken out of the way. They look at Duterte as the only leader who is capable of doing that. Even the Church seems to hold that view. They’re urging Duterte to deal with the two groups decisively.
In fact, the only group that seems to be unhappy with Duterte’s martial law is the Left. While it was the attack on Marawi by bandit groups that triggered the declaration of martial law, its application is not limited to them only. The military and the police may also run after other armed groups like the New People’s Army and from all indications, it looks like they will, putting in jeopardy the ongoing peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front.
That is a legitimate concern but insofar as the vast majority are concerned, it is not enough reason not to rally behind Duterte and martial law.