Vidal: Martial law can preserve peace and order

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal is amendable to a de facto martial law in Tablocan City and Leyte if only to preserve peace and order in the area.

“Because a man is hungry and there is nothing to eat and drink…I am not surprised this happened,” Vidal told reporters yesterday. He said that, sometimes, the  rule of  law can be violated.

Vidal issued the statement following persistent reports of widespread looting in the typhoon-battered areas. Thousands have lost their homes and belongings when the super typhoon Yolanda, described to have been the biggest in the world, so far, struck the Visayas a week ago.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary Manuel Roxas has announced that a de facto martial law is now in effect over the Province of Leyte to stop the looting and to secure the relief goods.

More police and military personnel have also been sent to the area.

Meanwhile, Vidal said it is imperative that leaders set political considerations aside in relief efforts because it is the life of people that is at stake. Vidal said he observed that relief goods have not reached some areas in Leyte despite the many contributions pouring in.

“…sometimes announces regarding government responds… political color comes in that’s unfortunate. They must remember that many people were hungry and thirsty,” he pointed, adding there was no system as to the distribution of the relief goods because of ‘political color’,” he said.

What happened in the Visayas, he said, is “discouraging” as it brought grave destruction “like everything was flat.”

Vidal recalled that typhoon Ruping that struck Cebu in 1990 tore the roofs off of 10 big churches here, the same way that Yolanda damaged several churches in the province. In Northern Cebu alone, 22 parishes were damaged by the typhoon.  — /JMO (FREEMAN)