Unity and solidarity amid crisis

Some readers noted the “softness” of my last two columns which discoursed, as objectively as possible, on the raging issue of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, without blaming, faulting, or pointing a finger at anyone.

Support for military. Specifically, though I opined on June 18 that martial law was validly declared and the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus was validly suspended by the President at least in Marawi City, if not in the whole of Mindanao, I nonetheless thought that the petitioners, led by Rep. Edcel Lagman, did the nation a favor for giving the Supreme Court the precious opportunity to issue a “win-win decision” by laying down guidelines on how martial law may be proclaimed and implemented, and how the privilege may be suspended and implemented in parts of or in the entirety of the country in the future.

And though I opined on June 25 that the Supreme Court could find the review of the declaration of martial law and suspension of the privilege undertaken by Congress via separate, not joint, sessions to be less than a faithful observance of the letter and spirit of the Constitution, I nonetheless wrote that the Court need not find fault with anyone (neither the leaders of Congress nor the petitioners represented by former solicitor general Florin Hilbay) and merely issue guidelines on how Congress should pass upon such proclamations and suspensions prospectively as future guides.

By so doing, I was hoping to avoid divisive bickering and to focus on how to support our military in its campaign to end the Marawi siege and on how to assist in the relief and rehabilitation of over 200,000 innocent victims of the armed conflict.

I thought we should no longer fret over divisive legalisms but concentrate instead on how to help end what the CNN described as “the deadliest urban fighting in the Philippines” with (as of July 1) 422 people (militants, soldiers and civilians) that authorities reported as having been killed, the dislocation and separation of families, and the devastation of homes and livelihood in the conflict areas.

Beyond politics and religion. Laudably, Vice President Leni Robredo, head of the Liberal Party, led the opposition in echoing the need for unity and solidarity during her visit last week to the Marawi evacuees at the Al Markhazie Islamic Institute in Lanao del Norte, unequivocally declaring:

“More than at any other time in our country today, this is the time we need to show that we are one.” Significantly, she praised the military’s effort “to do everything to finish the problem against the Maute group.”

Crossing religious lines, Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle meditated early on: “We ask ourselves, ‘Why are humans capable of hurting other fellow human beings?’ We grieve for you, for all Filipinos, and for everyone in the world whose lives are destroyed because of violence.”

Anxious for the safety of Fr. Teresito “Chito” Suganob (vicar general of the Marawi prelature) and about 200 other civilians who were kidnapped and held hostage by the rebels, Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, pleaded, “As the government forces ensure that the law is upheld, we beg of them to make the safety of the hostages a primordial consideration.”

Muslim, Protestant, ecumenical and other religious groups aired similar calls.

Rehabilitation and peace process. I hope the leaders of the legislature and local government units will follow suit and settle as quickly as possible the seething intramural in Ilocos Norte. Already, it has taken its toll on the work of Congress, the judiciary and the provincial board.

While the siege of Marawi may be ended soon, there is still relief and rehabilitation to follow. Rebuilding homes, curing illnesses, reuniting families, healing psychological grief, and reeducating radicalized young people will overwhelm government and private-sector resources.

Truly, unity and solidarity will be indispensable even after the shooting is over. They are also essential in the pursuit of a comprehensive peace process with the moderate Moro groups and with the National Democratic Front.

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