Bombings Raise Specter of Martial Law

Ilagan added that Arroyo’s advisers such as Norberto Gonzales, Eduarto Ermita and other members of the national-security Cabinet are the same people who instigated Oplan Bantay Laya, the government’s counter-insurgency program. “They are the same people responsible for the extrajudicial killings of activists and critics. If they can commit martial-law acts without having to declare martial law, they are certainly capable of considering martial law as an option.”

Dangerous

Political scientist Benito Lim of the Ateneo de Manila University said it would be dangerous for Arroyo to declare martial law.

“She may try martial law but it’s a dangerous plan even for her. She would be playing with fire” if she did declare martial law, Lim said in an interview with Bulatlat.

Lim said Arroyo has no absolute control over the military. “Many junior officers are against the unconstitutional change of the Constitution. They are not supportive of their officials who have enriched themselves by supporting Arroyo.”

Ilagan, meanwhile, said the Filipino people have benefited from the lessons of history. “I don’t think it’s going to be the same situation. It would be a lot more difficult for this government to implement martial law.”

When Marcos declared martial law, Ilagan said there was silence for quite some time because the people had been shocked. A sizable number of activists had been arrested almost immediately, Ilagan recalled.

“If martial law is declared today, it would be met with public outrage, probably even street fighting,” Ilagan said.

“I think the level of armed resistance against this regime will heighten. They will claim the moral high ground to come out in greater force,” Ilagan said of Filipinos who will be forced to resort to violence. “There is no other response to a government using arms against its people but for the people to take up arms against an abusive regime,” he said. (Bulatlat.com)