Calida: Martial law doesn't target law-abiding citizens

SOLICITOR General Jose Calida said Friday that President Rodrigo Duterte's declaration of martial law in Mindanao should not be a cause for concern for law-abiding citizens.

In a statement issued Friday, Calida also defended the president's declaration of martial law in Mindanao late Tuesday due to the attacks perpetrated by the Maute group prompted by military operations to neutralize Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon.

"President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has ample factual basis for such a proclamation. The festering rebellion of the Maute terrorist which has pledged allegiance to the virulent ISIS, otherwise known as 'DAESH' in Arabic, is a compelling reason why martial law was declared," Calida said.

Under Duterte's Proclamation 216, the President identified as rebellion, one of the grounds to declare martial law, Maute group's recent torching of schools and churches hospitals in Marawi as well as its act of raising Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) flags in some establishments.

"This recent attack shows the capability of the Maute group and other rebel groups to sow terror, and cause death and damage to property not only in Lanao del Sur but also in other parts of Mindanao," the proclamation r ead.

Isis province' Justifying the President's order, the Solicitor General bared that intelligence units have monitored long before the declaration of martial law terrorist groups' plan on turning Mindanao into an Isis province.

"Intelligence units have monitored Isis and Maute literature and publications containing orders to their adherents to attack the Philippine government and establish a 'wilayat' or Isis province in Mindanao," Calida said.

"The order to attack is not only focused on the government. People they consider as 'infidels', whether Christians or Muslims, are also targets of opportunity, whether they are found in Marawi, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Zamboanga, Cebu, Manila, and other cities," he added.

Calida also said the government has found worrisome the fact that the foreign terrorists have already recruited a number of Filipino youth.

This is evident, he said, in the recent Davao City bombing last September involving young Moros.

Instead of criticizing the President's order, Calida called on the public to submit to the wisdom of the President.

"Given the above clear and present dangers and atrocities happening in Mindanao, it is the President's constitutional duty to unsheathe the Republic's sword of martial law to crush the rebellion that threatens to divide our country," he said.

"The least we can do as law-abiding citizens is to repose our trust in the wisdom and determination of President Duterte to excise this evil from our land," added the solicitor gen er al .

Duterte's proclamation to place the whole Southern island under martial law was met with apprehension from different sectors, including human rights activists and victims of human rights violations during the infamous martial law declared by late president Ferdinand Marcos in 1972.

Ironically, the president's answer to the fearing public questioning the declaration is the assurance that his martial law will not be different from Marcos'.

"Martial law is martial law ha… so kayong mga kababayan ko (my countrymen) who have experienced martial law, it may not be too different from what President Marcos did … I'd be harsh," he said.

Under the Constitution, the President's declaration will be in effect for 60 days unless the Congress decides to revoke or extend it.

It can also be challenged before the Supreme Court, which under the Constitution has the power to annul the proclamation.

(By Keith A. Calayag/ SunStar Philippines)