Martial law extension opposed, defended
The move to extend martial law in Mindanao is drawing mixed reactions.
At least three Catholic prelates have expressed opposition to the move while key defense and security officials are for martial law.
Bishops Antonio Ledesma of Cagayan de Oro, Jose Colin Bagaforo of Kidapawan, and Dinualdo Gutierrez of Marbel believe such an extension is no longer needed.
“No need for martial law,” Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma said in an interview.
“Keeping peace and order can be handled adequately by the police and the military with proper safeguards for respecting human rights,” he added.
Retired Marbel, South Cotabato Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez expressed the same sentiment.
“No need. We are okay in Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos City),” he said.
Kidapawan Bishop Jose Bagaforo is also convinced that martial law should no longer be extended in the south so that the people can go back to their normal lives.
“It is about time we normalize everything. Everyone in the government says, including the military and police that peace and order is at its top and their governance is well placed, so we end ML. There is no more need for it,” he told church-run Radio Veritas.
Last week, President Duterte asked both chambers of Congress to allow another extension of the martial law in Mindanao until the end of 2019.
He cited the positive effect of the military rule in Mindanao after it supposedly resulted in “substantial progress in addressing rebellion” as well as “promoting the overall security and peace and order situation” there.
Martial law extension backed
While prelates opposed martial law extension, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana expressed belief that extending it for another year will helperadicate terrorists lurking there.
Lorenzana made the remark after President Duterte had earlier approved the military and police recommendation to prolong martial law in Mindanao and has relayed his request to Congress on the matter.
Martial law in Mindanao, first declared by the President in May, 2017, following the terror siege in Marawi City, will expire at end of the month.
“One more year matapos na problema natin doon [One more year so we can finish our problem there],” he added.
Lorenzana expressed belief that extending martial law in the south will be effective to drive out the terrorists, especially the foreigners.
He said that five to 10 foreign terrorists who are experts in bomb making and propaganda were allegedly able to enter the country via the southern backdoor base on a report they received.
Unfortunately, the intelligence community could still not determine the veracity of the report stating the arrival of the foreign terrorists who are said to be Malaysians and Indonesians.
“It will be effective, I will assure you kasi maglalagay kami ng isang division sa Jolo [we will be putting one division in Jolo]. Martial law kailangan natin iyun [We need martial law there],” Lorenzana said.
“If our laws are stricter, masyadong loose ngayon, eh [It so loose today]. I can do that without martial law,” he said.
Lorenzana also said that martial law is supposed to be the last option of government in fighting terrorism in Mindanao if we also have a very good human security law.
Meanwhile, Director General Oscar Albayalde, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, said there were no human rights violations reported to authorities in Mindanao since it was placed under martial law by President Duterte in 2017.
Albayalde said the allegations of abuse and rights violation by individuals and groups who go against the extension of martial law in the area were “not even substantiated.”
“We haven't heard any or a single case of human rights violation in Mindanao since the implementation of martial law. These are all allegations by the same sectors of society but no case was ever filed,” he said.
Albayalde asked the public to support the extension of martial law and vowed that if they have received reports of possible human rights violations related to the imposition of martial law, the PNP would let the people know.
As for the PNP's part, a total of 674 police personnel have already been charged for cases related to human rights violations since the start of the Duterte administration, he said.
In a separate radio interview on Sunday, Chief Superintendent Benigno Durana Jr., PNP spokesman, said that they have monitored active threat groups in Mindanao, particularly Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), communist rebels and Islamic State (ISIS)-inspired terrorists, so the extension of martial law will be helpful in dealing with the problem.
He said the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have already signed an agreement recommending the extension of martial law in Mindanao for one more year.
“We are not here to interpret the law or interpret a policy. We just have to provide the necessary inputs and allow the leaders and politicians in Congress to decide whether there's a need to impose martial law and extend imposition of martial law for another year,” Durana said.
Opposition groups have continuously slammed the proposed third extension of martial law in Mindanao, saying the 1987 Constitution only allows the declaration of martial law based on two merits: invasion and rebellion.
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said there has to be a “strong reason” for the government to recommend another extension based on the recommendation of the PNP and AFP.
Rights group Karapatan said human rights violations were being committed in Mindanao and another extension of martial law will only lead to more abuses.
One example of rights violation, according to opposition groups, was the arrest of National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) consultant Satur Ocampo in Talaingod, Davao del Norte last November 28.
Police said Ocampo and 17 others were arrested in a checkpoint for alleged trafficking of minors. But Ocampo's group said they were rescuing the minors from a lumad school which was taken over by military forces.