From a garbage collector to a peace advocacy group, the declaration of Martial Law by President Rodrigo Duterte has gained the support of residents here to quell the threat of terror in the country.
Mitchi Gregersen, an eco-aide of Bgy. Sumapang Matanda in this city, said that he might get “freaked out” if the incident in Marawi City happened here.
“Unang-una, apektado ang trabaho ko. Kailangan kong kumita para may maipakain ako sa kapatid ko at mga pamangkin ko. Dama ko naman na hindi papayag si Pangulong Duterte na magulo ang takbo ng buhay ng bawat Filipino. Umuwi nga siya agad-agad mula sa pagbisita niya sa Russia para personal niyang matutukan ang gulong hinahasik ng mga terorista sa Mindanao,” Gregersen said.
He said that situations ike this needs strong decisions. He also said that this martial law in Mindanao is very different from the martial law declared by former President Marcos.
‘Dama ko naman na ayaw ni Presidente na mamayagpag ang mga terorista sa ating bansa,” he explained.
The Yes for Peace group on the other hand, said that now is the time for both Christians and Muslims in Mindanao to unite in order to achieve and sustain ang long lasting peace in Mindanao by supporting the government.
“The so called terror group that has made alliance with ISIS have brought misery to the people of Marawi City and nearby areas in Mindanao. The declaration of Martial Law is a manifestation that President Duterte will use all powers at his disposal to keep the peace,” Ernesto A. Alcanzare, lead organizer of the Yes for Peace movement, said.
He added that hopefully, “Yes for Peace”—the revolution of pen and ink against guns and bullets—will now succeed because the need for the people to our individual and collective human rights for peace has just been highlighted by the incident in Marawi. — Emil G. Gamos