Kabataan rep: Martial law extension 'free pass for rights violations'

MANILA, Philippines — Extending martial law in Mindanao for another year would give the military a "free pass" for more human rights violations, Kabataan party-list Rep. Sarah Elago said Wednesday.

During the joint session of two chambers of Congress, Elago brought up reports of cases of human rights violations since martial rule was declared in Mindanao. These did not sway Congress, both chambers of which voted for the extension of martial law until Dec. 31, 2018.

There were about 14,000 cases of human rights violations in the war in Marawi City, based on testimonies obtained by the regional human rights commission of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Elago said.

The International Interfaith Humanitarian Mission, meanwhile, has recorded five cases of indiscriminate firing, six cases of illegal arrest, 16 cases of threats, harassment and intimidation perpetrated by the military.

"Hindi ba sa ganitong mga kalagayan na ating narinig ang [Armed Forces of the Philippines] rin mismo ang naghahasik ng lagim at takot sa Mindanao? (Isn't the AFP itself spreading in Mindanao under these conditions?)" Elago told Congress.

"Hindi ba ang pang-aabuso mismo ng ating mga uniformed personnel, ng ating military ang siyang threat sa public safety? (Aren't the abuses by uniformed personnel themselves the threat to public safety?)" 

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Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana denied reports that government troops are have been committing human rights violations in Mindanao.

"We have strict guidance, rules to be followed by our soldiers in operations. Hindi po ako naniniwala na kami ang nagdadala ng lagim sa Mindanao (I don't believe that we are the ones bringing fear to Mindanao)," Lorenzana said.

Elago called on the military to look into the reported cases of human rights violations since martial law was declared in Marawi. Lorenzana welcomed Elago's suggestion and assured her that they will look into these allegations.

The Defense secretary added that they have not received reports despite testimonies obtained by agencies earlier mentioned by Elago.

On the declaration of Executive Salvador Medialdea that the Duterte administration is only seeking "unlimited peace" in Mindanao, Elago said that such statement is a "blatant lie."

Elago said that the government itself has been attacking Lumads in Mindanao even before there were local terrorist groups in the region.

"Kung sila mismo ay inaatake para lang magbigay daan para sa interes ng mga malalaking negosyo at dayuhan sa ating bansa, 'yan po talaga ay isang malaking kasinungalingan (If they themselves are being attacked to make them give in to the interests of big business and foreign corporations, then [Medialdea's statement] is a lie)," the Kabataan rep said. 

"Ang gusto po yatang mangyari dito ng ating administration unlimited peace, unlimited plunder, unlimited na pandarambong sa yaman na likas ng Mindanao at ng Pilipinas (It seems what this administration wants is unlimited peace, unlimited plunder, unlimited plunder of the natural resources of Mindanao and the Philippines)," Elago said.