Priest, bishop support state of emergency

ARMED men hiding from the law in Maguindanao have resorted to stealing farm animals, striking fear in the hearts of villagers and forcing them to flee their homes, a parish priest said on Wednesday.

That’s why, President Macapagal-Arroyo did right to approve the National Security Council’s recommendation to extend the state of emergency in the province indefinitely, Fr. Eduardo Vasquez said.

“It’s much better if the state of emergency stays,” the priest at the St. Therese of the Child Jesus parish in Datu Piang town told the Inquirer in a telephone interview.

Armed groups, including those being tracked down in connection with the Nov. 23 massacre of 57 persons, have been blamed for the disappearance of farm animals in Barangay Nabundas in Shariff Saydona Mustapha town.

“The armed men are taking away their animals right before their eyes. The villagers fear for their lives. Most have sought refuge in relatives’ homes in other towns,” Vasquez said.

Since the residents have abandoned their homes, the priests said he has not celebrated a Mass in the village since last month.

At Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting in Baguio City, Ms Arroyo decided to extend indefinitely the state of emergency in Maguindanao, Cotabato City and Sultan Kudarat that she proclaimed in the aftermath of the massacre.

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