We support Martial Law in Mindanao

While President Rodrigo "Digong" Duterte is on his historic four-day visit to Russia, here at home, notably in Lanao del Sur, clashes between the Maute terror group and government forces erupted. This happened as a militarybacked police team was to serve search warrants against Maute leader, Isnilon Hapilon, and some members of his terror group when 15 fully-armed Maute group apparently opened fire on the personnel from the military's 103rd Brigade, Philippine Army 1st Infantry Tank Division in Marawi City.

To reinforce the military and police in Marawi, on Tuesday afternoon, two Air Force planes dropped several bombs in selected areas of the city, particularly in the border of Lanao del Sur beside Lake Lanao. The clashes erupted while Muslims are preparing to start the fasting month, which is expected to begin this Friday May 26th. Last November, no less than President Duterte revealed the link between the Maute group to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria or ISIS after the encounter between the military and the Maute group in Lanao del Sur.

Because of what's happening in Marawi City, Duterte has cut off his official visit to Russia even if he hasn't even met his host Russian President Vladimir Putin to return back to Mindanao and personally supervise his order of placing the entire island of Mindanao under Martial Law for 60 days. I am sure that his Russian hosts understand the situation happening in the Philippines, after all Russia, too, has similar problems with their Chechen separatists who are also Muslims.

No doubt that the situation in Marawi City is critical. The Maute group apparently took control of a government hospital and have laid siege to many parts of Marawi City. Of course they have the help and support of many people living in that city. In order to diffuse the tension, Duterte rightfully declared Martial Law in the entire island of Mindanao because he is a decisive leader and best of all, he put a time cap of 60 days on this declaration of Martial Law. With Martial Law in place, the military can swoop down on the Maute group in Marawi City and disarm and arrest all those who support this terror group.

Mind you, this is not the first time that Martial Law was declared in the Philippines since the declaration of Martial Law by then president Ferdinand Marcos in September 21, 1972. In December 5, 2009, then president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared Martial Law in Maguindanao in the wake of the brutal Maguindanao massacre. Again, this is because Arroyo was a decisive leader. We expected that during the siege of Zamboanga City in September 9, 2013, then president Benigno "PNoy" Aquino III should have also made the same declaration, but unfortunately he did not want such a declaration on his head even if it was necessary at that time.

Meanwhile the Abu Sayyaf has been on the run in this past couple of months, apparently the Maute group has become a major headache of the Duterte government. If you recall, when we read over Facebook of a report that ISIS had planted its flag in Lanao del Sur three years ago, the Aquino regime flatly denied the existence of this group. Now this group has grown and one thing that the military and the police learned during this encounter was that, the Maute group had support of a lot of residents in Marawi City.

Again, we urge the military and the police intelligence groups to seriously look into who are the major supporters of the Abu Sayyaf and the Maute group. It is high time that anyone, Muslim or Christian for that matter, who helps or aids any terror groups, is a traitor to this country and should be dealt with in accordance to our laws. We learned that the Abu Sayyaf were able to infiltrate Bohol because of help from within.

I am sure that the yellowtards and their trolls would have a heyday chastising Duterte for his declaring Martial Law in Mindanao. But if you ask me, Duterte is the right man to make such a declaration. After all, he is from Mindanao! More importantly, many parts of Mindanao are being controlled by armed groups like the New People's Army and by declaring Martial Law the military can achieve a lot to bring peace in that troubled island of Mindanao.