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MANILA – The decision of President Arroyo to place the province of Maguindanao under martial law has caused uproar and drawn strong condemnations from various sectors.

Leila de Lima, head of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), maintained that the government has no basis in declaring martial law, adding that it “is not what we need right now.”

""There are two factors that must be considered before declaring martial law – rebellion and chaos. This is not what we need right now. What we need is to arrest all suspects and armed men involved in the massacre," De Lima told ABS-CBN News.

Mrs. Arroyo officially declared martial law in the province of Maguindanao on Saturday morning in relation to the November 23 massacre of 57 innocent civilians in the province.

President Arroyo imposed martial law in an effort to rein in the Ampatuan family, a clan that until the massacre had ruled the province with the backing of the ruling coalition.

With the declaration of a state of martial law, the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Maguindanao, except for certain areas identified as bailiwicks of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), has been suspended.

In her separate interview on ANC’s “Dateline Philippines Sunday,” De Lima disclosed that this new development in Maguindanao prompted the CHR en banc to hold an emergency meeting Sunday morning.

The CHR is worried about the possible violations of human rights in the province as well as the effects of the declaration on ordinary citizens, she added.

The former president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, meantime, branded Mrs. Arroyo’s move as an “overkill” and illegal.

Lawyer Feliciano Bautista pointed out that there is no invasion and rebellion in Maguindanao, thus, there is no need for the President to issue Proclamation No. 1959.

Nacionalista Party senatorial bet Adel Tamano added that steps on solving the Maguindanao massacre should have been done within legalities.

“The Maguindanao massacre was an outrage but you do not solve it by committing an outrage on the rights of Mindanaoans, specifically those of Muslim Mindanao, by declaring unconstitutional martial law,” he added.

Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (2nd district) has also urged the public to be “extra” vigilant against a possible nationwide declaration of martial law.

Calls for vigilance

Bishop Bert Calang of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente called on Congress to carefully study Proclamation No. 1959.

Calang feared that President Arroyo might eventually place the entire country under martial law.

UNO president Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay also expressed fears that the imposition of martial law in Maguindanao could be a ruse to allow authorities to hunt for evidence of election fraud during the 2004 presidential election.

"There have reports that the Ampatuans have threatened to make the Arroyo administration pay by telling all they know about the massive cheating in the province during the 2004 presidential elections," he said.

"If such reports are true, then this reduces the martial law proclamation into a hunt for evidence of election fraud," he added.

Binay, a human rights lawyer who had been detained when martial law was imposed in 1972, also called for vigilance in the face of government's supposed efforts to downplay the restrictions on human rights.

"It is a supposedly a smiling martial law, without the restrictions that are associated with martial law," he said. "Those of us who lived through, suffered, and fought during the martial law years can attest that there is no such thing as smiling martial law."

The MILF, meanwhile, said the imposition of martial law would not likely affect peace talks with the government.

MILF spokesperson Eid Kabalu said the group has asked the government to coordinate with the MILF as it pursues suspects in the Maguindanao massacre to avoid possible mis-encounters between government and MILF forces.

Kabalu added that his group is being constantly informed of the developments in the military operations on the massacre.

Businessmen divided over martial rule

Businessmen are divided over the declaration of martial law in Maguindanao. Many businesses in Maguindanao have closed shop, fearing that violence may erupt in the province flowing the imposition of martial rule.

Some said the declaration may prevent bloodshed, but others also feared that innocent civilians may be arrested.

Julhanni Bandila, executive director of the Maguindanao Chamber of Commerce, said he is not against the imposition of martial law, although he added that it has its share of good and bad effects.

“It will prevent unexpected lawless violence. Dahil diyan maraming checkpoints na na-establish within the area of Shariff Aguak. Pero actually, not all municipalities in the province are affected with this issue,” Bandila said in an interview on ANC’s “Prime News” Saturday night.

He related that residents in Shariff Aguak town were really affected. “Balita ko lahat ng tao umaalis na sa Shariff Aguak. Nag-evacuate na sila, and all business establishments nag-sarado na… kasi takot na ang mga tao sa increased military numbers sa Shariff Aguak.”

In Metro Manila, the Makati Business Club (MBC) opposed the imposition of martial law in the province.

The group, which is known to be critical of Mrs. Arroyo, said the declaration may raise fears in the international community.

According to MBC president Alberto Lim, the martial law declaration may be expanded.

But the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), a business group close to the Arroyo administration, said otherwise.

PCCI said martial law may be good for the economy. PCCI President Edgardo Lacson noted that the declaration would ensure peace in key cities such as Davao, General Santos and even Manila.

Lacson added that it would also allay fears of violence that are preventing foreign businesses from investing in the Philippines.