Sultan Kudarat Blasts: In-depth Reports Needed

AN IMPROVISED explosive device (IED) went off in a night market in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat on Tuesday, August 28, killing three persons and injuring more than 30 others. The police and military blamed the blasts on the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), but Abu Misry Mama, the group’s spokesperson, promptly denied any involvement. Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea was quoted in reports on August 29, saying extending martial law is one of the options of the government. A second blast on September 2 left two victims dead.

Reporting on the above, media relied on views of government officials instead of broadening the perspective by seeking other sources for their insights. The context of terror attacks in the Philippines is complex and the media should not be limited to talking only to official sources.

CMFR monitored primetime newscasts (ABS-CBN 2’s TV Patrol, GMA-7’s 24 Oras, TV5’s Aksyon and CNN Philippines’ News Night) and the leading broadsheets (Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Philippine Star and the Manila Bulletin) from August 29 to September 3.

These media organizations noted that martial law is still in effect in Mindanao.  But in reporting Medialdea’s statement, journalists could have probed further to determine whether an extension of martial law by itself is going to quell terror attempts.

Martial Law in Effect

The media groups CMFR monitored also recalled that President Rodrigo Duterte asked Congress for an extension of martial law, which was granted in December 2017.

They also mentioned the blast in Basilan on July 31 this year which killed 10 people; and that ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack, which the military dismissed as “terrorist propaganda.” (“AFP: Any terrorist group can claim they are behind Basilan Blast”)

Sticking to government sources, the media reported the views of Vice President Leni Robredo, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, and Senator Panfilo Lacson, all of whom were not open to the idea of extending martial rule, with Robredo saying that perhaps it is not effective.

The media monitored had a total of 20 government sources, including police and military. Non-government sources include Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison who was also not in favor of extending martial law, the Maryland-based SITE Intelligence group which said that the IS East Asia Province claimed the bombing and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Chief Negotiator Mohager Iqbal who condemned the attack.

Conflict and Violence in Mindanao

Martial law has been extended twice since it was proclaimed by President Duterte in May 2017. The Basilan and Sultan Kudarat blasts should have provoked more thoughtful reporting, fully interrogating the knee-jerk response of the possibility of martial law extension. After all, even President Rodrigo Duterte has often wondered aloud whether martial law is any solution at all.

In ABS-CBN News Channel’s (ANC) Early Edition, Fr. Eliseo Mercado Jr., senior political adviser at the Institute of Autonomy and Governance said that “To call for an extension at this stage is rather premature. My position is to assess the gains of martial law at this stage.” International Alert Philippines’ Senior Adviser Francisco “Pancho” Lara Jr. said that there should be “a discussion on limited martial law, rather than what we have right now.” (“Experts urge review of martial law effect before another extension”)

The press should have pursued more in-depth inquiries into the underlying problems that drive violence and conflict in Mindanao. Coverage illustrates another missed opportunity for media to provide the public with a better understanding of the situation in Mindanao.

The report of Chino Gaston for State of the Nation with Jessica Soho was exceptional for adding more context to the incident, citing the views of Prof. Rommel Banlaoi, chairman of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research, who saw the hand of ISIS in the attacks. The blast, he said, was not only ISIS-inspired but ordered by ISIS, explaining that Mindanao is now recognized as East Asia Wilayah or an East Asia province of the ISIS state. (“2 nasawi, 14 sugatan sa panibagong pagsabog sa Isulan, Sultan Kudarat”)

Does Martial Law address the threat of ISIS in Mindanao? Media should not stop reporting on this question.