Palace defends martial law declaration

MANILA, Philippines – Despite the dismissal of the rebellion case against former governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. and six others, Malacañang said there was justification for its declaration of a weeklong martial law in Maguindanao in the wake of the Nov. 23 slaughter of 57 journalists, lawyers and members of a political clan.

“We continue to stand by the public policy wisdom of the declaration of martial law in Maguindanao, if you look at the positive outcomes from that declaration as well as the manner it was conducted,” deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar said.

Olivar noted that Quezon City Judge Vivencio Baclig, in his decision, merely ruled out probable cause for rebellion and “did not speak for the broader issue of the appropriateness of declaring martial law at that time, at that place.”

Click Philippine Star.