Mindanao needs new kind of martial law

I hail the Supreme Court’s decision finding factual basis for the imposition of martial law for 60 days in the whole of Mindanao, because it is what the people need in the region where Islamic-State-inspired groups like the Abu Sayyaf and Maute, as well as the New People’s Army, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and other lawless elements abound and continue to commit atrocities, like the ones happening now in Marawi City.

There really is a need to impose military discipline in areas where these bandits operate, to prevent and neutralize them if necessary, and to maintain peace and order and security for the peace-loving people living in those areas.

I am a Mindanaoan and it is a fact that the peace and order condition in the region has deteriorated because of the presence
of these bandits, and worsened the region’s socioeconomic and political situation.

We need the military and the police to continue and intensify the campaign against these dregs of society who kidnap local traders and foreigners for ransom, and impose revolutionary taxes or extort money from businessmen.

We also need to “kill” the virus being spread by the IS-inspired groups based in the region whose borrowed ideology is to kill and destroy those opposed to their beliefs in an effort to create a new global Muslim caliphate.

The Marcos-style martial law may be evil in the perception of some, but we need to impose a new kind of martial law in Mindanao to quell all kinds of lawlessness being perpetrated by new kinds of godless bandits operating in the region.

ROMEO ALCOSEBA, [email protected]