Martial law abusers to be punished, Palace vows

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang is ready to prosecute and punish those who commit abuses under martial law in Mindanao even as it urged critics to be “considerate” in their judgment of the efforts of security forces on the ground. 

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Lanao del Sur Chapter has claimed the military rule in Mindanao, which was imposed by President Duterte last May 23 after a series of terrorist attacks in Marawi, has led to abuses like warrantless searches of houses and commercial establishments. 

The lawyers’ group said government forces in Mindanao also ransacked and illegally intruded into residential and commercial establishments and disregarded the plain view doctrine in searches and seizures.

According to the group, the military and police disregarded the right against deprivation of property without due process of law, the right to be secure in one’s person, house, papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures and the privacy of communication and correspondence of innocent civilians.

Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella maintained the government does not condone any form of abuse or illegal activity.

“We will investigate and if evidence warrants, prosecute and punish all those who committed abuses, especially sexual violence against women,” Abella said.

“The President, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police and the Department of National Defense secretary, who is the Mindanao administrator for martial law, do not encourage or tolerate abuses by the military or the police in Mindanao or elsewhere,” he added. 

Abella cited a recent statement by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) that it has yet to find evidence of abuse in areas under martial law. 

“Should there be, proper complaints must be properly filed,” he said. 

Abella appealed to critics to support the government forces’ efforts to secure the areas plagued by terrorists. 

“Unless based on fact and evidence, we ask critics and advocates to be more considerate in their judgment of the efforts and context of our soldiers’ challenges and be more supportive of their efforts to protect the Filipino way of life,” he said. 

In a press conference in Davao City on Friday, Abella called on critics to “grow up” and to be “more sophisticated.” 

“We are actually supposed to be united against a common enemy. And actually, what we are having is, somebody trying to establish a state within a state,” Abella said, referring to the Islamic State. 

“That is a clear and present danger. What don’t you get about that? I think it is about time that we really just grew up and became more mature, and became politically more sophisticated and actually, aside from that, we’re really just more concerned and supportive of one another,” he added. 

Abella also clarified the government is providing enough support to security forces in Marawi after the military launched its “Support our Troops” campaign.

The campaign, which was being led by the Armed Forces Civil Relations Service, involves the selling of statement shirts meant to drum up public support for soldiers in the battlefield. 

“The government has provided enough assistance to the families of our fallen soldiers,” Abella said. 

“The Support Our Troops Campaign is an initiative of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to boost the morale of our soldiers in the battlefield by showing that fellow Filipinos rally behind Filipino soldiers in fighting the terrorist rebels in Marawi,” he added. 

Program for teachers

The Department of Education (DepEd), for its part, launched its psychological aid program for the teachers and school personnel displaced by the fighting in Marawi.

A total of 44 displaced personnel were part of the first batch of DepEd employees who underwent the program conducted earlier this week in Cagayan de Oro City. 

DepEd said the program aims to help teachers and personnel who have experienced traumatic events in the war-torn city regain a sense of normalcy in their lives.

On the other hand, the CHR called on the government to intensify its programs to support the thousands who were displaced by the ongoing conflict in Marawi City. 

Following reports that evacuees have died after falling ill in evacuation centers, the CHR said attention should be given to a more systematic, organized and gender-responsive approach to delivering service.

“(There should be) better facilities for the evacuees, including those that address the specific needs of women, such as private spaces for breastfeeding mothers,” the CHR said. 

“Sanitation should likewise be given importance to avoid spreading diseases. Psychosocial care should also be extended to address the trauma of the firefight, especially to children. Other commodities, such as food, water and relief supplies must be sustained to address hunger, dehydration and other forms of distress,” it added. 

The CHR said around 220,000 residents had been displaced by the ongoing conflict. 

Majority of them are staying with relatives, while around 20,000 are in evacuation centers. 

The CHR said medical support should be provided not just to those in evacuation centers, but also to those living with their relatives to lessen cases of unattended illnesses and deaths as spillover casualties of the ongoing conflict.

The commission also reiterated its call to the government to reconsider using airstrikes and other modes of extensive bombings to lessen innocent casualties and rescue the civilians still trapped inside Marawi City. 

“Addressing armed conflicts has always involved other dimensions beyond issues on security,” the CHR said. 

“Our call is to comprehensively address the ongoing siege and its effects to cover other aspects of human life in which preservation of human rights is key,” it added. – With Janvic Mateo