Palace dares martial law critics: Prove rights violations

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang yesterday dared critics of martial law in Mindanao to prove allegations of human rights violations by government forces or just shut up.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque claimed that groups accusing the security forces of abusive practices have not filed charges.

“My challenge is this: Where are the complaints? Let us not accuse our soldiers. Many soldiers offered their lives. Many of them were wounded, hurt or lost limbs. Let us not accuse them of committing violence if we do not have proof,” Roque said in a press briefing in Marawi.

“We recognize the heroism of soldiers and we give them the presumption of good faith. To the accusers, the burden of evidence and burden of proof lie on you. Where is your evidence? Otherwise, just shut up because you are not the ones dying for the country,” he added.

Earlier, human rights group Karapatan said it has recorded 49 cases of extrajudicial killings in Mindanao since President Duterte declared martial law last year.

Karapatan also claimed to have documented 22 torture cases, 116 victims of frustrated extrajudicial killings, 89 victims of illegal arrest and detention and 336,124 victims of indiscriminate shooting and aerial bombings.

Bombings have also displaced at least 404,654 persons, according to the group.

Karapatan has asked the Commission on Human Rights to look into the abuses and has demanded the lifting of martial law, which was declared after Islamic State-inspired terrorists laid siege to Marawi City on May 23, 2017.

Roque said he has seen the professionalism of soldiers involved in the security operations in Marawi.

“Because they are professional, they have mechanisms to punish violators of the law, especially the laws of war,” he said.

Roque previously said it is not yet time to lift martial law in Mindanao, an area that officials said is facing threats from IS terrorists and communist rebels.  

No negative impact on businesses

Roque also claimed that martial law in Mindanao would not have a negative impact on businesses.

“During the first quarter, we achieved our growth target. We’re on track to achieving our growth target, so I think there is no negative effect,” he said.

“In Marawi, it seems positive because it gives confidence to businessmen to invest because of the presence of security forces,” he added.

Contrary to Roque’s claim, however, the Philippine economy expanded by 6.8 percent in the first quarter, lower than the government’s growth target of seven to eight percent because of higher commodity prices.

‘Mindanao people love martial law’

Given a choice, the people of Mindanao want martial law to stay across the region, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. said yesterday.

The people themselves are asking the military and political leaders for the retention of military rule due to its remarkable contribution to the improvement of the peace and order in the entire Mindanao, according to Galvez.

“We talked to the people and they love martial law. They have been telling us they want Mindanao to be under martial law forever,” he said.

He added that the people do not seem to mind the setup because its enforcement is being directed not against any peace-loving individuals but against lawless groups.

“Very effective because we can search houses once we have monitored or have suspicions that there are hidden firearms or illegal materials hidden inside these particular places,” Galvez said.

During the first quarter of this year, government enforcers of martial law, he said, were able to seize or recover 6,000 firearms of various calibers, particularly in Sulu. These, however, represent a small percentage of loose firearms still in the hands of various lawless groups in Mindanao.

“There are around 80 percent of loose firearms that we have to recover in Mindanao,” Galvez said in a press briefing during his visit in Marawi City yesterday.

Nationwide martial law possible

The threat of declaration of martial law all over the country persists, Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison said yesterday.

In a statement posted on the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) website, Sison said pro-Duterte the constitutional commission (Concom) is drawing up a draft federal charter that would be an easy vehicle to declare martial law nationwide.

“Within the so-called constitutional commission, there is the drive of certain pro-Duterte elements headed by a retired general to draw up a draft federal charter that makes easier the declaration of martial law by citing lawless violence or a series of offensives by the New People’s Army (NPA) as the basis for the declaration of martial law,” Sison said.

The drive of the pro-Duterte elements, according to Sison, is an indication that the threat of martial rule – declared before or after charter change – continues to exist and does not augur well for the resumption and success of peace negotiations while Duterte is the president.

“Instead of trying to scapegoat the NPA and make it the pretext for martial law declaration, state terrorism and fascist dictatorship, the Duterte regime should let the peace negotiations succeed in addressing the roots of the armed conflict and laying the ground for a just and lasting peace through comprehensive agreements on social, economic and political reforms,” Sison said.

Sison had earlier said that only a “substantial progress in the peace negotiations” between the Philippines and the NDFP can convince him to return to the country.

Sison issued the statement in an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN.

Sison said the government and the NDFP, the umbrella organization of the CPP and its armed-wing the NPA, can only be able to round up three vital agreements if the fifth round of talks would ever resume.

The agreements include the ceasefire between the government and the NDFP, amnesty proclamation and important portions of the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (CASER).

Sison said he wants to return to the country at the proper time and expressed optimism that it may happen within the year.

An interim peace agreement is likely to be signed once the formal talks resume on June 28, according to Sison.

“So, by June 14, it’s all ironed out. Of course, I may be proven wrong because everything depends on that joint announcement. But I don’t see any problem because there may be some misunderstandings but they can be solved,” he said.

The rebel group believed CASER would address the root causes of the armed struggle, with provisions on genuine agrarian reform and rural development and nationalization of certain industries.

“I think within one round, we can finish CASER and that would be a signal for me to return to the Philippines,” Sison said.

Sison went to the Netherlands in January 1987. – With Jaime Laude, Jose Rodel Clapano