MANILA, Dec. 13, 2009—Most Catholic bishops reached for comment by CBCPNews as of late Sunday afternoon agreed with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s lifting of Martial Law in Maguindanao Province.
CBCP President and Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar described the lifting as welcome news.
“My position is that Martial Law must not be unnecessarily prolonged,” he said in an SMS message to CBCPNews.
As far as former CBCP President Archbishop Angel Lagdameo is concerned, he said “while Martial Law has been lifted, the massacre of 57 individuals must still be dealt with as a heinous crime that cries for justice.”
Catarman Bishop Emmanuel Trance said there have been varied and opposite reactions to its imposition and it’s under review by Congress.
“Now it has been lifted for reasons that it has accomplished its purpose for government,” the prelate said “after the arrest of the alleged brains and perpetrators of the massacre remains the first step to give justice to the victims.”
He told CBCPNews “peace-building is a continuing task that imposition of Martial Law will not answer at all but rather its setback if it comes again.”
Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz offers a more pragmatic approach to the issue saying the declaration and lifting of Martial Law has not accomplished anything because its declaration “instigated more trouble in other places—as in kidnappings in provinces near Maguindanao.”
“It effect emboldened the many other political warlords—knowing by living experience that the GMA administration is but a paper tiger,” he added.
San Fernando de Pampanga Auxiliary Bishop Pablo Virgilio David said the decision to life Martial Law was a “welcome move.”
“Like former Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban, I wish the Supreme Court will not dismiss the case filed before it questioning the constitutionality of Martial Law within the particular circumstances in Maguindanao,” he said in an SMS message to CBCPNews.
He underscored the need for other institutions to work independently for check and balance.
Jaro Auxiliary Bishop Gerardo Alminaza said he has never agreed with President Arroyo’s declaration of Martial Law in Maguindanao because of his serious doubts of President Arroyo’s and her advisers’ motives.
“It remains to be seen what impact it may have on peace building efforts there,” he added. He further said he admits he doesn’t know the “inside story” behind the declaration.
Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines” co-executive secretary Fr. Victor Diolata, SSS, said “Although Martial Law was already lifted, the grounds (for its declaration) have not been resolved.” He said it is positive in the sense that the objectives they have set were more or less achieved because of its imposition a week ago.
Legazpi Auxiliary Bishop-Emeritus Lucilo Quiambao said he still have to see the initial effects of the lifting of Martial Law “specially the reactions of those directly affected negatively and positively.”
Marbel Bishop Dinualdo D. Gutierrez, interviewed in his office in South Cotabato said he agrees with the lifting because it is against freedom.
“They have not dismantled private armies, they just got firearms from the Ampatuans na galing din sa kanila,” he hastened to add.
Asked if there are still private armies, Gutierrez said “Yes, marami pang private armies” as he called on government officials to sincerely do their duties and curb private armies even without declaring Martial Law.
“They should utilize their intelligence networks,” the prelate said. (Melo M. Acuña)
