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.
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.
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.
Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza said the Martial Law in Mindanao declared by President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday will target “anybody who will disrupt the peace.”
The the National Democratic Front said the imposition of Martial law in Mindanao will have a negative implication in the ongoing peace talks with the government.
Traffic enforcers here will still apprehend drivers using cellular phones while on the road because of an existing ordinance signed by then mayor Rodrigo Duterte. This despite the suspension of the Anti-Distracted Driving Act, or the Repubic Act 10913 on Tuesday, merely five days after it was implemented.
The Communist Party of the Philippines warned that human rights abuses will escalate across the country because civil and political rights would be curtailed under the Martial Law imposed by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
The Department of Education (DepEd) Region XI announced on Thursday that there will be no suspension of class schedules during the school opening amid the declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao.
