Church leaders are calling for the government troops to declare a suspension of military operations for the safe release of two soldiers held captive by the New People’s Army in North Cotabato province.
Philippine National Police Director General Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa said they would uphold human rights in case President Rodrigo Duterte declare Martial Law in Mindanao.
In a statement released Friday night, Rigoberto Sanchez, spokesperson of the NPA Southern Mindanao Operations Command said the NPAs carried out an order “to exact revolutionary justice” against a certain Marlon Lomantas at 2:20 am whom they claimed is a former military man “turned active intelligence agent of the 39th IB and a known drug trader” in Barangay Sibayan.
Some local officials who were present Thursday when President Rodrigo Duterte made a statement that he will declare Martial Law if they will not help him curb terrorism and violence in Mindanao viewed it more as a “challenge” than a threat.
Progressive organizations here denounced Friday the recent pronouncement of President Rodrigo Duterte that he will declare Martial Law if local officials in Mindanao will not help him curb terrorism and address the drug problem.