MANILA, Dec. 10, 2009—A Catholic Church official has called on President Arroyo to impose martial law in Basilan province too.

Bishop Martin Jumoad of Isabela in the violence-torn southern Philippines sees the move to be an effective measure in the war against crime.

If necessary, he said, the Arroyo administration should send more troops to protect the right to life of the people, and neutralize the Abu Sayyaf bandits and other lawless elements there.

“If martial law is the only way to neutralize violence in our place, why not impose it? I hope Basilan would also be placed under martial law,” Jumoad said.

The 53-year old prelate also claimed that the province also has several cases of extra-judicial killings and loose firearms.

Jumoad made the statement over church-run Radio Veritas Thursday following the Abu Sayyaf’s beheading of one of its three hostages and as lawmakers continue to debate on the legality of Arroyo’s martial law declaration in Maguindanao province.

The severed head of Mark Singson was found stuffed in a plastic bag after being dumped in a park on the island.

Singson and two other factory workers—Michael Tan and Oscar Lu—were taken by Al Qaeda-linked militants from the Hitech Wood Craft Corp. in the town of Maluso on November 10.

There was no immediate word on the fate of the two other hostages.

Bishop Jumoad has called for justice of the victim and said a long-term solution to the region’s problems must be found.

The perpetrators must be “arrested right away,” the church leader insisted.

“We condemn this inhuman and the cruelest form (beheading) of human rights violation,” also said.

According to him, the kidnapped victims are all Catholics belonging to the Sta. Teresa De Avila Quasi-Parish in Cabunbata in Isabela City.

Only last Sunday, he said, parishioners organized a candle-lighting activity to pray for the release of the kidnap victims.

“We are hoping that the perpetrators will be apprehended immediately and be brought to justice,” Jumoad added.

The Abu Sayyaf is blamed for the southern Philippines’ worst terrorist activities, including kidnappings and bombings.

The abduction of the three came just a day after a public school principal kidnapped by the extremists in nearby Jolo Island was also decapitated. (Roy Lagarde)