Security council backs ML extension
Mayor Moreno says it is a defensive tool to combat terrorism
Members of the Regional Peace and Order Council in Northern Mindanao (RPOC-10), have unanimously passed a resolution in support of the extension of Martial Law (ML) in Mindanao, December 10.
For his part, Cagayan de Oro City mayor Oscar Moreno, who also the current head of RPOC10, reiterated his support to President Rodrigo Duterte’s call for ML as
soon as the Marawi City siege broke more than a year ago.
He was confident that the current ML is different from the Marcos-era ML, and will maintain and observe the Constitutional rights of the people.
“In fact, the way I look at it, this is more of a defensive (tool), and (it sends) a strong message (against) those who might engage in terrorism,” he said.
He also cited the city’s Barangay Tanod (enforcers) can help with the police and military personnel in observing the peace and order in the communities.
The RPOC-10 is composed of local government heads, with police and military officers, in Northern Mindanao region. Other than passing the resolution, the members discussed key issues, mostly relating to local based terrorist groups, and stringent checkpoints in national highways.
Meanwhile Pro-martial law and anti-martial law groups meet face to face here yesterday as Cagayan de Oro joins the world in the commemoration for the 70th international Human Rights day yesterday, December 10.
Individuals supporting the martial law and the military did not allow the entry of militant groups at the 4th Infantry Division (4ID), Camp Evangelista, barangay Patag this city.
But this did not stop the activists and still delivered a message to the military, tagging them as the number one human rights violator in the country, especially in the region.
From the provincial capitol grounds, the militant groups marched their way to the Misamis Oriental Provincial Jail (MOPJ) where they called for the release of the political prisoners, to the 4ID camp, and at the City Hall where they slammed City Mayor Oscar Moreno for recommending the extension of martial law declaration in Mindanao.
Rev. Fr. Allan Khen Apus, spokesperson of KarapatanNorthern Mindanao said Moreno’s recommendation means that he has a hand and a part of the extrajudicial killings and other human rights violations committed by state forces in the country.
Apus said it is ridiculous that Moreno thinks that the martial law declared by dictator Ferdinand Marcos and President Rodrigo Duterte are different.
“Mayor, paano mo nasabi? Daghan leaders who are victims of trumped-up charges, many are killed in the war on drugs, and some are now victims of forced disappearances. So you tell me mayor, is it at all different?” Apus said.
Apus said he thinks that Moreno is “scared” and urged him to step up against the government’s abuses.
“Basin gahuna-huna ka mayor nga sa imong pagtugot sa pag-extend sa martial law, basin wala-on ni Santo Rodrigo ang tanan nga mga kaso batok kanimo,” Apus said.
The group also hit the city government after it did not give the permit to rally in Divisoria, which for Rev. Fr. Roland Abejo of the Movement Against Tyranny in Northern Mindanao (MAT) is, a form of oppression.
Abejo for his part, also questioned Moreno’s statements about the city being peaceful, saying that the presence of military and police anywhere contradicts his claim.
About 2,000 individuals from Bukidnon participated the protests staged here yesterday, but before getting in the city, the group were held in checkpoints for over 5 hours.
Abejo called this as a form of harassment.
“Nganong mahadlok man kamo nga magpasulod sa katawhan dinhi sa Cagayan de Oro aron ibutyag ang tinuod nga panghitabo ilalom sa martial law ni Duterte,” Abejo said.
Abejo however said they will not be cowed and will continue to fight.
Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December – the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
This year, Human Rights Day marks the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a milestone document that proclaimed the inalienable rights which everyone is inherently entitled to as a human being -- regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.