GET REAL

How can Marcos martial

law be good?
By: Solita Collas-Monsod - @inquirerdotnet
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 12:16 AM May 27, 2017

Reader, there have been so many discussions in the print and broadcast media
about the pros and cons of imposing martial law in Mindanao, especially the legal
and constitutional aspects. I leave it to the lawyers to discuss these, but I do have
an opinion on related matters to share with you, not necessarily in the order of
importance.

First, on whether martial law is the answer:

1. I beg to differ with President Dutertes assessment that martial law under the

dictator Ferdinand Marcos was good. The economy collapsed, crime went up,

real wages went down, corruption became world-class, extrajudicial killings

were at their highest (until this administration). Not to mention torture and

disappearances. If that is good, I dont know what bad is.

2. Marcos martial law failed to address the peace and order problems that were the

articulated reasons for its declarationas evidenced by the fact that the

communist and the Moro problems are still with us today. On this basis alone,

how can Marcos martial law be considered good?

3. Mr. Duterte says his martial law will be harsh. But the 1987 Constitution has

safeguards against martial law, because we learned from the Marcos experience.

That means Marcos martial law was measurably harsher. And it did not succeed.

Next, lets tackle the question of whether the Islamic State threat is real (the
reason President Duterte hurried backto save the Filipino people from this
threat).
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1. There can be no doubt that the threat is real. Maria Ressa, who has written two

books on terrorismSeeds of Terror: An Eyewitness Account of Al-Qaedas

Newest Center of Operations in Southeast Asia in 2003 and From Bin Laden to

Facebook in 2013has been pointing out the Filipino connections to the

terrorist networks and hoisting the red danger flags for years.

2. Then there is the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism

Research, with Dr. Rommel Banlaoi as executive director and former chief

superintendent and top intelligence officer Rodolfo Boogie Mendoza as

president, who also have been pointing at the dangers, especially since 2012.

3. So why did the government not take notice? Well, Reader, you have to admit that

when President Duterte left for Russia, he had in tow both the AFP chief of staff,

Gen. Eduardo Ao, and the PNP chief, Director General Ronald Bato dela Rosa.

Obviously, they thought everything was well in hand, and the so-called crisis

caught them by surprise. Otherwise, there would have been complete staff work

on its implementation at the ready.

4. Problem of intelligence? Oh, I think the intelligence was there. But I also think

that the police and the military are not properly coordinated, and the intelligence

people have difficulty communicating with the leadership. Then there is the

political problem: When a new dispensation comes in, says Banlaoi, it has to have

its katropa along. So add to kaibigan, kaklase, kabarilan this new sign of power:

katropa. If you are not katropa, your memos dont mean a thing. Finally, there is

the possibility that the war on drugs put the war on terror a far second, at least

for the police.

But, dear Reader, the legislative branch seems to have its problems, too.

The 1987 Constitution is very clear that within 24 hours following a proclamation
(of martial law) or a suspension (of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus),
Congress shall convene, without need of a call. This was included in the
Constitution to make sure that what Marcos didi.e., close the doors of Congress
to prevent a meetingwould never happen. But now Congress, as a sign of its
trust in the President (notably Senators Sotto and Ejercito, Speaker Alvarez,
Senate President Pimentel) and forgetting the system of checks and balances in
our democracy, seems prepared to accept his action, even without convening or an
explanation.

So what do we have? An executive and a rubber-stamp legislature with problems

on upholding the rule of law?

The Supreme Court, our last bastion: no rubber stamp, we hope.

Read more: http://opinion.inquirer.net/104328/can-marcos-martial-law-

good#ixzz4j1MCkHmY