Church Leaders Warn vs. Nationwide Martial Rule

MANILA, Dec. 11, 2009- Leaders of the influential Catholic Church warned the Arroyo government against a martial law spill over other parts of the country.

Some bishops may have allowed it in Maguindanao due to its "complicated" situation there but imposing it in other areas is another story, retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz said.

Cruz, who is opposed to the military rule in the Southern Philippine province, said the government is simply at the wrong hands for a martial law.

"For me, President Arroyo has no more credibility to govern the country," he said.

The prelate has urged the public to be "extra" vigilant against a possible nationwide martial law declaration.

Cruz reiterated that Arroyo and her allies would do everything to have justification for sinister plots just to cling to power.

He claimed Malacañang wants to protect the President from the scandals that have rocked the government under her term.

Arroyo, the outspoken archbishop said, was surely aware that there would be an accounting after the end of her term.

"What is happening now is something to worry about. This is already dangerous... that's why the public should be vigilant," he said.

Marbel Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez also called on the public to be vigilant against the possible imposition of nationwide martial law.

"I've been saying this before that President Arroyo has a bad plan and that is to remain in power," he said.

"That's why I'm appealing to everyone to organize for a communal action against this," said Gutierrez.

But the church officials said declaring a nationwide martial law would be a kiss of death for the Arroyo administration.

"It's like a volcano waiting to explode if she (Arroyo) will do it," Cruz said.

In Manila, the military is bracing for a possible spill over of the ongoing turmoil in Maguindanao as crackdown continues on the people behind the Nov.23 massacre there.

This was after reports that at least 300 supporters of the influential Ampatuan political clan, the suspects in the grisly killings that claimed 57 lives, have left for Manila to escape the ongoing military operations in Maguindanao. (Roy Lagarde)