President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has declared Martial Law in Maguindanao on Saturday, December 5, 2009.

PGMA issued the proclamation several after at least 57 people, were killed on November 23 in what has been considered as on of the worst violence in the country. The Ampatuans, a clan that is considered powerful in the said province are the prime suspects on these heinous killings.

According to Malacañang, the armed groups in the province of Maguindanao simply shows a sense of rebellion that prompt the said declaration. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita justify this by quoting Section 18, Article 7 of the Constitution, that says:

“The President in case of invasion or rebellion, when the public safety requires it, he [or she] may, for a period not exceeding sixty days, suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus or place the Philippines or any part thereof under martial law.”

As expected, this declaration got several reactions from different political people and observers. There are so many speculations about the possible outcome of this martial law declaration. And in this light, common people like us have to right to know what’s really going on, and how this will affect us in the next coming days.

What are your reactions? Is this declaration constitutional and truly promotes the welfare of the people in Maguindanao? What are the implications of this in the Philippines in general? What about its economic and business effect? Please, please, share your comments / opinions with us. We really need to know.

Thanks.

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