NO CAUSE FOR WORRY OVER MARTIAL LAW, OPAV TELLS LOCAL BUSINESS LEADERS
Business groups support martial law if it is for security and protection purposes No repeat of Marcos regime’s martial law abuses, presidential assistant says
Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino appeased business leaders who may be worried over the possible declaration of Martial Law in the Visayas. If President Rodrigo Duterte decides to place the Visayas under Martial Law, it would only be meant to protect the island from any act of terrorism, he said during a dialogue with business leaders yesterday. “Please don’t be afraid. Let us give more tools for our security forces to effectively protect us. With martial law, they would have the tools or power to do what they need to do,” said Dino.
Should President Rodrigo Duterte extend the coverage of martial law to the Visayas, it would be meant only to protect the island from any acts of terrorism.
This was the assurance given by Michael Lloyd Dino, Presidential assistant for the Visayas, in a dialogue with business leaders yesterday at the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (Opav).
The meeting was also attended by top officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Central Command (CentCom) and Police Regional Office (PRO) 7.
Dino said the business community should not be worried about President Duterte’s martial law declaration since it is totally dif- ferent from the martial law experienced during the Marcos regime.
He said that to equate it with abuses is not right because of the different time we are living in now.
“It is a different ball game now,” said Dino, citing the presence of social media, which makes it easier for everyone to immediately report abuses.
Dino, however, said he has no idea whether Duterte will expand the coverage of martial law to the Visayas. But if the President does, Dino said, it would be to ensure that there would be no spillover of the Marawi situation in Mindanao here and to prevent terrorists from entering the island similar to what happened in Bohol.
Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao on May 23 following skirmishes between government troops and members of the local terror group Maute in Marawi City. In April, 11 members of another local terror group, Abu Sayyaf, entered Bohol in the Visayas.
“Please don’t be afraid. Let us give more tools for our security forces to effectively protect us. With martial law, they would have the tools or power to do what they need to do,” said Dino.
AFP Centcom Major General Oscar Lactao echoed Dino’s statement, saying there is nothing to be afraid of and that the organization would function professionally.
PRO 7 Chief Superintendent Noli Taliño likewise said they will be supportive of President Duterte’s program to ensure security and peace and order in the community.
Cebu business leaders lauded the initiative of the Opav to reach out to the business community, saying they now better understand the rationale behind Duterte’s declaration of martial law.
Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Melanie Ng said they support martial law for security and protection purposes. She said no business will prosper if there is any cause for concern about any untoward incident.
Although they were caught off-guard initially, Ng said, they now understand the situation and were able to relay the right information to their members.
“So far here, it is business as usual. Investors are still coming. We continue to get a lot of inquiries, and trade delegations continue to come to Cebu and our events still continue as usual. So long as there is trust and confidence in the security forces, I’m sure that we are all protected,” said Ng.
Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Glenn Anthony Soco said if the declaration extends to the Visayas, the business community will deal with it proactively.
“Terrorism is a real threat. It can happen anytime, anywhere. It is not isolated in the Philippines. We have to be proactive in dealing with terrorism,” said Soco, adding that the dialogue with Opav and the security forces is already a testament that Cebu and the Visayas are prepared should the martial law declaration be extended here.
Soco also said the country’s economic growth remains resilient to internal and external shocks supported by its healthy economic fundamentals.
Terrorism is a real threat. It can happen anytime, anywhere. It is not isolated in the Philippines. We have to be proactive in dealing with terrorism. GLENN SOCO