June 24, 2017 hawaii Filipino ChroniCle 1 ♦ JUNE 24, 2017 ♦ FEATURE HAWAII-FILIPINO NEWS LEGAL NOTES shadow oF history: Maui Filipino ChaMber inCreased sCrutiny revisiting the oF CoMMerCe awards Could lead to visa watergate sCandal 13 sCholarships denials and delays PRESORTED HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE STANDARD 94-356 WAIPAHU DEPOT RD., 2ND FLR. U.S. POSTAGE WAIPAHU, HI 96797 PAID HONOLULU, HI PERMIT NO. 9661 2 hawaii Filipino ChroniCle June 24, 2017 EDITORIAL FROM THE PUBLISHER Publisher & Executive Editor resident Rodrigo Duterte’s decla- Charlie Y. Sonido, M.D. Is Declaring Martial Law ration of martial law in the Philip- Publisher & Managing Editor Chona A. Montesines-Sonido pines was quick and unexpected. Really Needed to Fight Associate Editors To those in the international com- Dennis Galolo | Edwin Quinabo munity unfamiliar with the geog- Contributing Editor P Belinda Aquino, Ph.D. Against Insurgents? raphy of the Philippines, it’s ews spread quickly worldwide when Philippine Pres- worth clarifying that martial law was only de- Creative Designer Junggoi Peralta ident Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in Min- clared in Mindanao, a separate island-region of Photography danao, southern Philippines on May 23. Immediately, the country. Even within this vast island, outbreaks of violence and Tim Llena the specter of living under martial law during the insurgency are limited to smaller, less populated cities and towns. Administrative Assistant Marcos regime that lasted for years came to the For our cover story this issue, HFC’s associate editor Edwin Shalimar Pagulayan N Columnists minds of Filipinos when repression, political autoc- Quinabo first chronicles the initial violent outbreak between the Carlota Hufana Ader racy, and human rights abuses were rampant, as already well doc- Maute terror group and government forces in Marawi City that led Emil Guillermo umented in the annals of history. What most Filipinos do not to the President’s declaration of martial law. The loss of life and Ruth Elynia Mabanglo, Ph.D. Ron Menor know, especially Filipinos living outside of the Philippines, is that the insurgents’ attempt to occupy the city of about 200,000 people J.P. Orias President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo also declared martial law in was a dramatic incident in and of itself, but when martial law was Pacita Saludes Reuben S. Seguritan, Esq. 2009 in the province of Maguindanao following the infamous declared, it produced an even greater sense of urgency. Our cover Charlie Sonido, M.D. “Massacre of 58” committed by the Ampatuan clan. That martial story, then pivots into the political aftermath of the controversial Emmanuel S. Tipon, Esq. Felino S. Tubera law quickly desisted without much controversy. The reason -- the declaration. What do politicians, Mindanaoans’, journalists’, the Sylvia Yuen, Ph.D. president who declared it was Arroyo, someone not feared as hav- Philippine Supreme Court think of martial law? Experts on the Contributing Writers ing a history of or propensity toward autocratic rule. The fear of Philippines based in Hawaii chime in with their opinions not just Clement Bautista martial law this time around hits a fever pitch because of who is on martial law, but the President, as well as the history of parts of Teresita Bernales, Ed.D declaring it -- a president who is very much capable of becoming Rose Churma Mindanao striken with insurgency for decades. Is there really a Serafin Colmenares, Jr., Ph.D. a kind of dictatorial leader to take martial law to that next level, ISIS-inspired jihadi movement brewing in Moro-Mindanao? What Julia Crowley to use the military to commit human rights abuses, and to exact Linda Dela Cruz usually occurs when martial law is declared in terms of civil rights Fiedes Doctor political fear onto anyone who challenges his authority. President being suspended and the potential for human rights abuse? Will Danny De Gracia, II, MA Duterte already said he would be willing to expand martial law martial law spread to other parts of the Philippines? Is Duterte ex- Carolyn Weygan-Hildebrand Amelia Jacang, M.D. nationwide if necessary regardless of what Congress or the panding his drug war to include a war on terror? On the president, Caroline Julian Supreme Court thought about the idea. This would be in direct what is his motivation? -- all these questions are explored in our Raymund Ll. Liongson, Ph.D. Federico Magdalena, Ph.D. violation of the Philippine Constitution if Congress or the cover story. It’s said that the freedom is most guarded when threat- Deborah T. Manog Supreme Court disagreed with the president. The fact that Duterte ened. This is the context from which this story is written, and the Maita Milallos Paul Melvin Palalay, M.D. mentions a potential need to expand martial law speaks volumes ongoing narrative Filipinos must now face. Renelaine Bontol-Pfister about his thinking and propensity. It’s already suspect that martial Also in this issue, frequent contributor to HFC Sheryll Bonilla, Seneca Moraleda-Puguan law was even necessary to encompass all of Mindanao that in- Lilia Q. Santiago, Ph.D. gives us a detailed accounting of the Watergate scandal that even- Jay Valdez, Psy.D. cludes many areas untouched by terror, instability, or insurgents tually resulted in the impeachment of President Richard Nixon for Glenn Wakai such as the Maute group. obstruction of justice. It’s a timely piece as the U.S. Congress and Amado Yoro Philippine Correspondent: In fairness to Duterte, the swift and strong move to contain a special investigation led by Robert Mueller look into President Greg Garcia insurgents in Marawi City is more than justifiable. The threat Donald Trump’s possible ties to Russia during the presidential cam- Neighbor Island Correspondents: of extremism spreading is also real. But the president could paign and whether he obstructed justice by firing former FBI Di- Big Island (Hilo and Kona) wipe out rebellion as well as maintain a formidable military rector James Comey who was investigating retired General Grace Larson | Ditas Udani force in the area without declaring martial law. More appropri- Michael Flynn. Is history repeating itself? Kauai ately, perhaps, he could implement other legal instruments to Millicent Wellington This issue is jam-packed with other Filipino news and our reg- Maui achieve the same goal that would not suspend the writ of habeas ular columns. Christine Sabado corpus or basic citizens’ rights as does martial law. Remember, Lastly, we present a Wedding and Bridal supplement for en- Big Island Distributor martial law is a very rare legal instrument that governments gaged couples ready to take that next step of marriage. The sup- Grace Larson | Ditas Udani around the world use only in the most extreme, urgent situa- plement is filled with ideas and resources to plan a memorable Kauai Distributor Amylou Aguinaldo tions, and have not been used at all in most thriving democra- wedding, as well as articles that inspire us to live out successful Nestor Aguinaldo cies. At the same time, the decades long violence in parts of marriages. Jimmy Iloreta Mindanao caused by the NPA, the MNLF, MILF, Abu Sayyaf I’d like to close by wishing that all our wonderful fathers who Maui Distributor Cecile Piros and other insurgent groups is something that thriving democra- do so much for our families -- had a “Happy Father’s Day!” Thank Molokai Distributor cies do not have to contend with. Added to the lingering prob- you, dads, for all your support, love, and guidance. Maria Watanabe lem there, jihadism, extremism influenced by ISIS, and Oahu Distributor increased drug trade, have made the situation worse, almost de- Until next time, warmest aloha and mabuhay! Yoshimasa Kaneko Jonathan Pagulayan manding that something be done by the federal government, Advertising/Marketing Director something that goes beyond what has already been tried. Peace Chona A. Montesines-Sonido talks, community building, attempts at economic stimulation Account Executives and attracting foreign investments to Mindanao, particularly in will evoke red angst among the people and be the beginning of Carlota Hufana Ader the poor and instable areas, must remain as possible solutions Duterte’s downfall. Duterte could easily avoid any one of these J.P. Orias The Hawaii Filipino Chronicle is published for uplifting the region. These cannot be abandoned. But where dramatic endings by simply discontinuing martial law, continue weekly by The Hawaii Filipino Chronicle Inc. and is located at 94-356 Waipahu Depot, and when military power is needed, that too, must be an option. the status quo of measured military operations in Mindanao, and Waipahu, HI 96797. Telephone (808) 678- 8930 Facsimile (808) 678-1829. E-mail fil- What ultimately must be recognized is that force can only con- do what he has been doing that has kept his popularity high. But [email protected]. Website: tain violence; the real battle is one of counter-ideology. Rebels given his personality, his political unorthodoxy, Duterte is al- www.thefilipinochronicle.com. Opinions expressed by the columnists and contribu- must abandon their cause themselves, willingly, through reason most destined for infamy and will likely choose to be a headline tors do not necessarily reflect those of the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle management. Re- and a shift in ideology. in Philippine history, not a footnote president who coasts along production of the contents in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission from Maybe Duterte, the first president from Mindanao, will fi- to leave Mindanao’s mess exactly the way his administration the management. All rights reserved. nally be the leader to bring about peace in Mindanao, and mar- inherited it. For better or worse, Mindanao is ripe for change. Printed in the U.S.A. tial law is the first step towards that end.