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BY JOHNNY NOVERA
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The President must know, he is our President
THE TOP news of the week is that Congress in joint session last Saturday approved by a vote of 261-18 the proposal of President Rodrigo R. Duterte to extend by six months Proclamation No. 216 or martial law in Mindanao up to Dec. 31, 2017. This will continue the 60-day martial rule earlier declared and implemented by the President in Mindanao following the Maute attack and occupancy of Marawi last May.
The final vote count in Congress under joint session was a consolidation of the 16-4 votes in the Senate and the 245-14 House voting.
While the military said only about 60 gunmen are left to be cleared in a 49-hectare area of Marawi, and they expect to end the fighting soon, Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted President Duterte Friday last week giving instructions “not to rush things in Marawi City lest they endanger the lives of some 300 hostages still being held by the Maute gunmen.” It looks like the war has still no end in sight.
Thousands of evacuees uprooted from their homes should be prepared to suffer some more. Worse, hundreds of families have no more homes to come back to.
One lawyer we met in a coffee shop at a shopping mall thought our Supreme Court, in upholding martial law in Mindanao, appears to have been “Marshall Lawed” with their decision now saying that there is no limit to martial law powers. We did not ask any explanation. This must be a new legal term.
Of course, those of us who reside in the Visayas and Luzon regions may not know the actual situation in Mindanao. Some people would rather give the President the benefit of the doubt.
But business and tourism can become the biggest casualties of martial law. It will be interesting to find out how the airlines and passenger boats to Mindanao may be affected by this protracted extension of martial law in the area.
The Department of Tourism and the Department of Trade must work together to obtain also feedback from the hotel and restaurant business, the taxi business, pasalubong centers, or all establishments that cater to tourism and travel.
Why are business organizations in Mindanao not saying anything about martial law and tell our President how a prolonged situation like this can affect their business? They owe it to themselves, to their patrons and clients, and to the thousands of their employees to inform the President of their actual experience.
The President must know. He is our President. (For comments or re-actions, please e-mail to jnoveracompany@yahoo.com)/PN
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