Martial law in the Visayas? EDITORIAL

Military rule may be expanded to include the Visayas, President Rodrigo Duterte said when he returned to the country from an official trip in Russia after he declared martial law in Mindanao following the siege in Marawi City by the Maute terrorist group. One part of the Visayas, Bohol, was the target of an incursion by elements of the Abu Sayyaf Group recently.

We all know that the President speaks off the cuff but eventually changes tack once he gets fully apprised of the situation by his people. In this sense, the possibility of extending the martial law declaration to the Visayas not only depends on the assessment of the situation on the ground but also on the inputs by those who are more knowledgeable of that situation.

Consider that not all information on developments in the Visayas that reaches the President is objective. Remember the claim that he made at the height of the controversy over the killing of Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo months ago? He said that a Korean mafia is active in Cebu.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña is therefore correct in asking the President to first consult with Visayas officials, who are more knowledgeable of what is happening in their turfs, before deciding on expanding the martial law declaration to the Visayas. “It’s okay he did not consult the local officials there (Mindanao) because he is already from there. But I’m from here (Cebu) and there are those people like me.”

Osmeña also sees no justification in such an imposition, a view shared by Gov. Hilario Davide III, who is a lawyer. Davide noted that military rule can only be imposed in an area in case of rebellion or invasion (there’s actually another: when public safety requires it). Such a situation does not prevail in the Visayas.

Now, that should also prompt Visayans to help in ensuring that no deterioration of the peace and order situation in the Visayas would happen. Attempts by terrorist groups to expand their operations to the Visayas should be stymied. That can only be done if we do not wallow in complacency.

That is perhaps the reason why the President mentioned the possibility of declaring martial law in the Visayas—so Visayans would help ensure it won’t become a reality.