PAFI SUPPORTS MARTIAL LAW PROCLAMATION IN MINDANAO

THE Philippine Ambassadors Foundation Inc. ( PAFI) expresses its support for the proclamation by President Duterte of martial law in Mindanao in accordance with Article VII, Section 18 of the Philippine Constitution of 1987. PAFI is deeply concerned about the situation in Mindanao that has seen attacks causing death and destruction by extremist elements, including foreigners of various nationalities, professing allegiance to the so- called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. PAFI strongly deplores the presence of those foreign fighters and urges all Philippine authorities concerned to exert all effective efforts to prevent the entry of such foreigners into the country.

PAFI hopes that all foreign countries, in observance of the United Nations Charter, will respect the situation in Mindanao as an internal affair of the Philippines and desist from all forms of intervention.

PAFI calls on all fighting parties, government and non- government, to observe international humanitarian law including, in particular, provisions applying to non- international hostilities that ensure the protection of the safety and well- being of the civilian population regardless of sex, age, religion, language and ethnicities. It is to be noted that international humanitarian law prohibits, among others, the taking of civilians and humanitarian workers as hostages and their use as human shields as well as indiscriminate armed attacks that inflict harm or damage to civilian persons and properties. AMBASSADOR LAURO BAJA JR. PAFI Chairman