Martial law extension up to AFP, PNP – Rody

MANILA, Philippines — The decision to extend martial law in Mindanao will be in accordance with the recommendation of the military and the police, President Duterte emphasized yesterday.

“They are the two entities that would be relied upon heavily by a president or a head of state when he entertains extreme measures (such as) martial law (and) state of emergency,” Duterte said in a press briefing in Davao City, referring to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

He stressed he agrees with the AFP’s assessment regarding the need to address continuing terror threats in Mindanao.

“Whatever the military and the police say, they are the ones who will be engaged if there is trouble there.  We should give credence to it,” Duterte pointed out.

He said he does not think security forces would fabricate reports on the security situation. “It is all for us to see, evolving everyday, especially that corridor in Maguindanao and Marawi,” he said.

Duterte faced the media after the  launching of TienDa Farmers and Fisherfolks Outlets, a partnership between the Department of Agriculture and the Ayala Malls at the Asian Food Market in Abreeza Mall, Davao City.

He also expressed belief soldiers were not involved in abuses in Marawi, contrary to allegations raised by some human rights groups including Amnesty International (AI).

AI earlier said Islamic State-linked militants and soldiers were both guilty of abuses.

“I do not believe that the soldiers were there to steal. I was there. They were billeted in houses,” he said.

“I am not ready to put to task my soldiers,” he added.

He scoffed at reports that some of the things stolen from houses were appliances, saying these were too big to stuff inside soldiers’ backpacks or move out of houses. Security forces only carried their weapons and backpacks during the fighting, he said.

Accepted?

Earlier yesterday, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said Malacañang has “actually accepted” the military’s recommendation for martial law to be extended in Mindanao due to prevailing security threats, but it’s President Duterte who will ultimately decide on the matter.

The AFP, through spokesman Maj. Gen. Restituto Padilla, said on Friday martial law in Mindanao may have to be extended beyond Dec. 31 as terror threats remain.

“In other parts of Mindanao, the implementation of martial law continues with the maintenance of checkpoints in key areas to address any possible movements of private armed groups, armed elements, lawless individuals and other threats to the security and peace that we have.” Padilla said.

In a radio interview, Andanar said the Palace respects the AFP’s assessment of the security situation in Mindanao, including its recommendations.

“They’re actually the ones familiar with the subject, especially national security, and they have all the reasons to give their thoughts because what’s most important is the security of every Filipino,” Andanar said in English and Filipino.

He pointed out that despite security concerns, the government is busy undertaking the rehabilitation of Marawi, liberated in October after a five month siege by Islamic State (IS)-linked Maute and Abu Sayyaf militants.

“And Mindanao, we know is still beset with many problems. After the defeat of Maute and ISIS, there should be rehabilitation and clearing operations – and there are elements, rogue elements of our society that we should really keep an eye on,” he said.

While the military had neutralized Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, Andanar noted that the group’s members remain active. 

Police said they have foiled a plot by terror groups to disrupt the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit last week in Manila.

Justified

For three senators – Joseph Victor Ejercito, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Gregorio Honasan –extending martial law in Mindanao is justified in view of persistent terror threats.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, who hails from Mindanao, said he would first “wait for and listen to their (military) basis and reasons” for pushing for extending martial law.

“They do not want a repeat of Marawi. With martial law in place, there is control of firearms. With martial law, even the private armies of warlords are kept in check,” Ejercito said in an interview over radio dwIZ.

Ejercito was in Marawi yesterday to turn over P1 million from the city government of San Juan as well as to assess the damage to the city, being the chairman of the Senate committee on urban planning, housing and resettlement.

He said martial law now is very different from the one implemented during the time of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, which was meant to prolong his term.

He said that the current martial law is purely for security purposes and the necessary safeguards against abuses are in place.

Since it was imposed last May 23, Ejercito said that there were no reports of rampant abuses committed by the AFP or the PNP.

Ejercito said that his committee would be working closely with Task Force Bangon Marawi to provide them with whatever legislative support they need to accomplish their task.

Zubiri, who is also from Mindanao, wants the AFP and National Security Adviser to brief them on the situation in the region so that the senators would know if an extension of martial law is necessary.

“If the reasons are compelling enough such as the security concerns on construction and rehabilitation of Marawi and other conflict areas as well as the containment of terrorist groups around the island for a limited period, then I could consider it,” Zubiri said.

“As a Mindanaoan, my primary concern is always the security and safety of our civilian population in the region. And with that stability, I believe rapid growth will follow,” he added.

Honasan, chairman of the Senate committee on national defense and security, said that there is no reason for concern about the continued imposition of martial law in Mindanao.

He said martial law has helped the AFP in its clearing operations.

Once the AFP makes a formal recommendation to extend, Honasan said that the Senate would make an assessment of the situation and act accordingly.

No to extension

Congressmen belonging to the genuine opposition in the House of Representatives are against the proposed extension of martial law in Mindanao.

“The military has to understand that martial law is a temporary response to an extraordinary security problem such as rebellion and invasion,” Ifugao Rep. Teodoro Baguilat Jr. said.

“Martial law will not normalize the situation. Investments will not come in. Distrust by Muslims of the administration will persist with military rule,” he said.

Baguilat said the government should focus on rehabilitating Marawi City and undertaking social and political reforms in Mindanao now that the Maute group and some foreign terrorist sympathizers have been obliterated.

“But let’s not forget this narrative: Congress and the Supreme Court bent the rules and trifled with the Constitution to give President Duterte the mandate to use martial law in repressing a small bandit-turned-terrorist group in Marawi,” he said.

Rep. Tom Villarin of Akbayan said the proposal to extend martial law in Mindanao is a manifestation of “creeping authoritarian rule that is sapping our democracy and any vestiges of the rule of law.”

“By having unlimited martial law, we cater to the desires of President Duterte to hold power beyond the mandate of our Constitution. Such desires become a clear and present danger to democracy,” he said.

“It’s becoming a habit that martial law is the only solution to terrorism and all peace and order problems. It creates a climate of fear and surrender by our people of their freedoms to strongman rule. The Marawi tragedy is now unfortunately being used to justify a sweeping policy approach of containing terrorism and a peace process negotiated under the nozzle of the gun,” he said.

Another opposition congressman, Edgar Erice of Caloocan City, said, “Martial law must be the very last option. It’s a solution that would have costly side effects on our democratic institutions. It’s a quick fix that would eventually turn out to be not the solution to our problems in Mindanao.”

For his part, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate said the military wants to place Mindanao and the entire country under martial law “so that they can operate with impunity.”

“The Duterte regime has not addressed the root cause of Muslim extremism, which is poverty, and the military’s answer to this problem could never solve it,” he said.

Earlier, Rep. Edcel Lagman of Albay said the President could declare martial law or ask Congress to extend such declaration only if there is actual rebellion or invasion.

On Friday, Maj. Gen. Restituto Padilla, the military’s principal spokesman, floated the possibility of extending martial law in Mindanao into 2018 to contain armed groups, including the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and Abu Sayyaf.

He said the military might have “to request an extension to be able to address the remaining threats in the area.”

The President declared martial law on May 23. It was good for 60 days. Before it expired, he requested Congress to extend it up to the end of the year. The legislature granted his request. 

Also voicing opposition to martial law extension is the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said they believe the military could maintain peace in Mindanao even without martial law.

“With the liberation of Marawi, there is no reason to extend martial law and (the CHR) instead urges the government to lift it,” De Guia said in a text message to The STAR.

“The commission has consistently maintained that it has full trust and confidence in the capability of the Armed Forces to maintain peace and order in Mindanao,” she added. – Jess Diaz, Marvin Sy, Janvic Mateo