Negros Oriental is a test of the State’s management of violence
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Sun, 04 Aug 2019 16:13:26 +0000
THE imposition of martial law in Negros Oriental to stop the recent spate of killings there has been raised many times by so many groups that it surely requires expert and thorough study by the government.
The Constitution explicitly says that the President as commander in chief of all armed forces of the Philippines “may call out such armed forces to prevent or suppress lawless violence, invasion or rebellion.”
There is no reason for thinking of an invasion in the province by any group, foreign or otherwise. But there is ample cause for thinking that the situation or violence in Negros Oriental is now so extreme or desperate that martial law may be the remaining policy tool that will suffice to stop the state of rebellion and lawlessness in the province.
The level and scope of violence cannot be doubted. From July 18 to July 27 alone, at least 17 people have been killed in different areas of Negros Oriental.
The victims include a varied group of local government officials, soldiers and policemen, most of them in positions of authority. And it includes a number of civilians.
Local opinion in Negros on martial law is varied, ranging from open clamor for the measure to fears of its consequences.
Local government officials in the province, in offering vivid testimony on the killings, express support for the declaration of a province-wide martial law.
Mayor Emarie Agustino of Ayungon town reports that former Ayungon mayor Edsel Enardecido and his cousin Leo were shot dead by unidentified men who entered their houses. Four police officers were reportedly tortured before they were killed by communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels, also in Ayungon.
Mayor Guido Reyes of Guihulngan City, where most of the killings occurred, says martial law will instill discipline among the people.
Lawyer Anthony Trinidad; Arthur Bayawa, principal of Guihulngan Science High School; his sister Ardale, chief of the Curriculum Implementation Division of the Department of Education; and Romeo Alipan, chairman of Barangay Larena, were among seven persons killed in Guihulngan in one day.
Mayors Jose Cardenas of Canlaon City, Merci Goni of Bais City, Peve Ligan of Sta. Catalina and Mabinay Vice Mayor Jango Uy said they are all for martial law.
Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo insists, however, that the killings were isolated cases.
Negros Oriental first district Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong says there is no need for martial law at this time because additional government troops have already been deployed in the province.
Brig. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, has given assurances that the military is on top of the situation in the province,
“With or without martial law, the senseless killings should be stopped now,” Arevalo said.
Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas, Central Visayas police director, downplayed the possibility of declaring martial law, saying the incidents were being blown out of proportion.
In a pastoral letter, San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza appealed to President Duterte not to declare martial law in Negros Oriental.
The human rights watchdog group Karapatan, which has been accused of being a communist front, warns of a spike in human rights violations once martial law is declared in Negros.
For his part, President Duterte has bluntly blamed the NPA and its guerrillas for most of the killings in the province.
The President says he is now awaiting the recommendation of his security advisers on how to address the unabated killings. He overtly warns of “a more severe measure” to address the situation.
Whatever policy he settles on, it should suffice to stop the violence.
We have sometimes spoken in this paper that the maintenance of peace and order and the termination of lawlessness essentially involves the State’s “management of violence.”
Lawless violence in Negros Oriental must clearly be managed now.