Black smoke billowed from the area of Sarimanok in Marawi City on Saturday morning, May 27 as attack helicopters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines pounded the area where members of Maute group are believed to be holding their position.(Alex D. Lopez/davaotoday.com)
In the strongest terms we condemn terrorism in its various forms. It is an ideology that is totally against the tenets of any religion of peace. Especially so when terrorism is perpetrated while our Muslim brothers and sisters are preparing for the holy month of Ramadhan. Terrorism distorts and falsifies the true meaning of any religion. It destroys harmonious relationships among peoples of different faiths. It creates a world of suspicion and prejudice, of hatred and hostility.
A high ranking official of the Armed Forces of the Philippines said it would not recommend the suspension of freedom of expression but warned it would exercise its right to censure under the state of Martial Law in Mindanao.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) confirmed on Friday that there are foreign fighters involved in the Marawi siege.
Solicitor General Jose Calida says law abiding citizens have nothing to fear of the Martial Law imposed by President Rodrigo Duterte in Mindanao. Behind him are Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella and designated spokesperson for the implementation of Martial Law, Brigadier General Resituto Padilla in a press conference in Davao City on Friday, May 26. (Paulo C. Rizal/davaotoday.com)
Not bombing, but “surgical airstrikes with pinpoint accuracy” was how Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Brigadier General Restituto Padilla described their operations against terrorist group Maute in Marawi City.
The Philippine National Police in Davao region (PRO-11) said the right to form a public assembly such as protests or rallies against the government will be curtailed with the declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao by President Rodrigo Duterte.
Karapatan strongly urge Duterte to immediately lift martial law in Mindanao, and to stop loaded caveats regarding putting the entire country under martial law. There are inviolable rights that cannot be foregone, regardless of place, time or context.
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front and its top leaders said they are not in the position to question the factual basis of the declaration of martial law to contain the incident in Marawi City and prevent its escalation to other parts of Mindanao.
The Maute group called up a Roman Catholic bishop and threatened to behead a priest and 14 church workers unless the military stopped its operations in Marawi City.
