ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — The business sector in Mindanao supports the declaration of martial law in the island, a Zamboanga business leader said, arguing that it will boost investor confidence in conflict-affected areas.
Pedro Rufo ‘Pocholo’ Soliven, regional governor of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the business sector wants a peaceful business climate for investment.
Zamboanga City was besieged by a faction of the Moro National Libeeration Front led by Nur Misuari in 2013 and has been on alert against attacks due to continuing military operations against the Abu Sayyaf Group in Sulu and Basilan.
Soliven said security operations in the past four decades were a failed experiment, saying the government treated criminality and violence with a "kid glove policy."
Soliven, also chairman of the Regional Development Council, said many areas in Mindanao, including this city, are not on the radar of foreign investment despite their potential because of the perceived negative image.
“I believe and strongly support the martial law declaration because this will boost the trust of investment in this part of Mindanao and the Mindanao as a whole,” Soliven said.
Ronald Go, president of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said last Wednesday that the declaration is "clearly a message to these elements that Mindanaoans are not going to allow these ruthless people to get away with their crimes against humanity, that their terroristic activities will not be tolerated anymore."
He said that the declaration "may lead to short-term setbacks as investors may be wary of the implications of a state of martial law but, as a community, this should be looked upon as a short-term sacrifice that will ensure our long-term progress."
The Mindanao Development Authority, the government panel tasked with setting an "integrated development framework" for Mindanao, has also backed the declaration of martial law, which was done in response to clashes in Marawi City with the Islamic State-inspired Maute group and the Abu Sayyaf faction of Isnilon Hapilon last Tuesday.
It said it "fully supports" the declaration.
The declaration has raised concerns on potential rights abuses similar to those done during martial law under ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos. The government has started paying reparations to an initial list of human rights victims from that period.
The Department of National Defense, the Philippine National Police and the Palace have assured citizens that human rights will be respected and upheld even though martial law has been declared.
Vocal supporters of martial law, including House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez of Davao del Norte, have said that most of those opposed to martial rule are not from Mindanao and should just shut up.
Mindanao-based groups Suara Bangsamoro and Konsyensya Davao have said that martial law is an overreaction to the crisis.
Konsensya Dabaw said that "with past experiences of large-scale repression against Mindanawons, and so much at stake in Mindanao’s present and future, we cannot be trusting and naively believe that martial law under President Duterte would be a better experience."
Suara Bangsamoro, meanwhile, has said "urban militarization and aerial bombings will worsen the security crisis in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. The group fears that civilian lives and livelihood will become collateral damage to a problem that is deeply rooted in landlessness and the Moro’s right to self-determination."
MinDA said in a statement last Wednesday that: "We cannot let terror, lawlessness, and violence shatter what we have built for Mindanao all these years. We call on our fellow Mindanawons to stay the course – be vigilant, but continue to be warriors of peace by spreading hope not fear." — Roel Pareño