Martial law in Leyte and Samar

President Noy should declare martial law in Tacloban City and other areas hard-hit by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” to restore order.

Anarchy reigns in the Eastern Visayas city and other places in Leyte and Samar provinces as looters and rapists are having a heyday.

There should be a shoot-to-kill order on roving bands of criminals who pillage, plunder and rape.

That’s the only way to stop them.

Had martial law been declared after reports of total anarchy filtered into Manila, the seat of government, looting and rape would have been minimized if not totally prevented.

Especially so—to repeat—if the President issued an accompanying shoot-to-kill order on pillagers and rapists.

The wise decisions the President made during the siege of Zamboanga City and in the aftermath of the Bohol earthquake tragedy have been cancelled out because of his vacillation in declaring martial law in the Eastern Visayas.

The claim of  critics that P-Noy is a “weak” president is again beginning to sink in the people’s consciousness.

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I can understand the President’s abhorrence for the declaration of martial law in the Eastern Visayas.

His family, particularly his father—former Sen. Ninoy Aquino—suffered during the dictator Marcos’ martial law years.

Marcos placed the country under martial law on the pretext of preventing a communist takeover, but his real reason was to perpetuate himself in power.

Declaring martial law in the Eastern Visayas, which was ravaged by the earth’s strongest howler, is a necessity to restore law and order.

The people will understand if P-Noy declares martial law  in Tacloban City and other areas in Leyte and Samar as they know he doesn’t have the makings of a dictator.

Anyway, he still has to get the approval of Congress if he decides to do so.

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The police official who said  the death toll in the Yolanda tragedy could easily reach the 10,000 mark has been sacked.

What’s wrong with telling the truth?

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I am forming a medical and mercy mission to Eastern Visayas much bigger than the 17-member mission that went to Tacloban City on Monday.

The Chinese General Hospital has volunteered 20 of its doctors while St. Luke’s Medical Center’s Sagipbayan Foundation has pledged 15.

I have received pledges of donation from friends such as Ambassador Tony Cabangon-Chua and Richard Skaggs, a former Hollywood producer.

Skaggs said $1 million worth of medicines are being collected from US philanthropists and some Hollywood stars and will soon be on its way.

If you wish to donate cash through me, you may do so payable to my foundation—Ramon Tulfo, Good Samaritan Foundation.

If you decide to send your  donations  in kind you may send these to the  Isumbong Mo Kay Tulfo office, 5th floor, Citystate Center, 709 Shaw Blvd., Pasig City.