By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The local leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, an organization that has been deemed a terror group in countries like the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, voiced his group’s support for the declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao, a pronouncement recently made by President Rodrigo Duterte.
In a recent radio interview, Imam Omar Betita said it is better to declare Martial Law following the terror attack in Marawi City in order to find out who specifically is behind it. Current reports cite members of the Abu Sayyaf and Maute Groups are responsible for the violence.
Betita said his group called for a meeting following the president’s announcement and decided it best for those with family in Mindanao to not return home for the moment due to the unrest.
Meanwhile, some local Muslim businessmen in Bacolod City claim their businesses have been affected by the conflict, as many of their goods come from Mindanao. Nonetheless, some expressed their support for the president’s move, hoping it will address the longstanding conflict in Mindanao.
Last Tuesday evening, Duterte declared the entirety of Mindanao under Martial Law. He also announced, upon his return from Russia, he may also place the Visayas under the same status, due to its close proximity to Mindanao.
However, in a recent interview with online news site Rappler, 3rd Infantry Division commander, Major Gen. Jon Aying, stated the possibility of a spillover of violence is unlikely as he believes terror groups do not have sympathizers in the Visayas./WDJ