It’s right to declare martial law in Mindanao

While we were expecting economic gains and a strong bond of friendship between Russia and the Philippines, unfortunately due to trouble in Marawi City in Lanao del Sur, Pres. Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte had to cut off his historic four-day visit to Russia because of clashes between the Maute terror group and government forces in Marawi City.

Apparently, when a military-backed police team was sent to Marawi City to serve search warrants against Maute leader, Isnilon Hapilon and some members of his terror group suddenly 15 fully armed Maute men opened fire on the personnel from the military’s 103rd Brigade Philippine Army 1st Infantry Tank Division and this developed into a siege in Marawi City, which hopefully the military can diffuse very soon.

To reinforce the military/police in Marawi, on Tuesday afternoon, two Air Force planes dropped several bombs in selected areas of the city, particularly in the border with Lanao del Sur beside Lake Lanao. These clashes erupted while Muslims are preparing to start the fasting month of Ramadan, which is expected to begin this Friday May 26. For the record, it was only last November when President Duterte revealed the link between the Maute group to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) after the encounter between the military and the Maute group in Lanao del Sur.

Incidentally, three years ago, we saw on Facebook certain Muslim groups flying the black Flag of the ISIS in Marawi City. But alas, their presence in the Philippines was flatly denied by the Aquino regime who insisted that it was only ISIS propaganda. If there is anything that the Aquino regime totally knew, it is how to use propaganda to sell their ideas to the Filipino people. Because the Aquino regime failed to address the Maute Group, now they have grown into the terror group that threatens our peace today.

It is unfortunate that Pres. Duterte had cut off his official visit to Russia. I’m sure that his Russian hosts understand the situation happening in the Philippines, after all Russia too has similar problems with their Chechen Muslim separatists.

No doubt that the situation in Marawi City is critical and I got messages from Muslim friends (notably from Mr. Ramon Salapuddin) in Marawi City that peace loving Muslims do not support the Maute terror group and above all, they totally agree with Pres. Duterte’s declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao. Pundits have asked… why the entire Mindanao. Let me just tell them that many parts of Mindanao are also being terrorized by the New People’s Army (NPA) so it is high time to check this threat to our peace.

We also learned from news reports that the Maute Group apparently took control of a government hospital and has 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, I dare say that Pres. Duterte rightfully declared Martial Law in the entire Island of Mindanao because Pres. Duterte is a decisive leader and best of all, he put a time cap of 60 days on this declaration of Martial Law. If only then Pres. Ferdinand Marcos put a time cap to his declaration of Martial Law.

With Martial Law in place in Mindanao, 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 Pres. Ferdinand Marcos on Sept. 21, 1972.

On Dec. 5, 2009, then Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared Martial Law in the entire province of Maguindanao in the wake of the brutal Maguindanao massacre. Again, this is because Pres. Arroyo was a decisive leader. We expected that during the siege of Zamboanga on Sept. 9, 2013, then Pres. Benigno “P-Noy” Aquino should have also made the same declaration to diffuse the tension in Zamboanga City, 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, however, apparently the Maute Group has become a major headache of the Duterte government. Now this group has grown bigger and bolder and one thing that the military/ police learned during this encounter is that the Maute Group has the support of a lot of residents in Marawi City.

Again, we urge the military/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 with our laws. Mind you, the Abu Sayyaf was able to infiltrate Bohol because of help from within. These are valuable lessons we learned.

* * * Email: vsbobita@moscom.com or vsbobita@gmail.com.