Philippine Supreme Court upholds third extension of martial law

MANILA: The Philippine Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of a third extension of martial law in the country’s troubled south until the end of this year.

The high tribunal voted 9-4 on Tuesday to junk four petitions by groups of lawmakers, human rights lawyers and residents of the southern region of Mindanao questioning the legality of the extension until December 31.

Last December, the Senate and the House of Representatives voted to prolong martial rule in Mindanao in a bid to prevent Is-allied militants from regrouping and escalating tensions in the conflict-wracked region.

President Rodrigo Duterte first declared 60 days of martial law in Mindanao on May 23, 2017. Congress extended the declaration until December 31, 2017 at Duterte’s request to give troops more time to defeat the militants.

At the end of the first extension, Duterte again sought more time for martial law and Congress approved for the declaration to be effective until the end of this year.

The Marawi siege left the municipality in ruins and displaced more than half a million people. Over a year later, nearly 70,000 residents were still displaced and the main commercial area of the city has yet to be rehabilitated.

Critics have stressed that there was no reason for the extension of martial law and warned that it could be used to suppress democratic rights ahead of elections in May.

“It paves the way for imposing martial law nationwide, even if there is no threat to public safety,” said Neri Colmenares, chairman of the leftwing group Bayan Muna.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the Supreme Court’s decision represented a “unified stand against the forces of rebellion and terrorism” by the three branches of government.

“We are also pleased to note that the executive, legislative and the judiciary are on the same page in quelling the rebellion as well as combatting and dissipating terroristic acts destructive to lives and properties unleashed by ruthless and barbaric local and foreign armed lawless elements,” he said.