President Rodrigo Duterte shows solidarity with the soldiers during his visit to the troops of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade at Camp Leono in Tacurong, Kudarat on June 7, 2017. (PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Almost 40 days since the declaration of Martial Law, but government’s fight to reclaim Marawi City from ISIS-linked Maute group goes on.
The attack of the Maute group in Marawi City last May 23 prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to sign Proclamation No. 216 which declares a state of Martial Law and suspension of the Writ of Habeas Corpus in Mindanao, for the period “not exceeding 60 days.”
Duterte signed the proclamation while he was in Moscow, Russia to meet with President Vladimir Putin.
But will the President lift Martial Law after 60 days?
President Duterte said he will ask the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police for their decision if Martial Law can be lifted after 60 days.
Duterte said it was the police and the military who advised him to take “immediate action.”
“(PNP Director General Ronald De la Rosa) was there with the PNP, (Defense Chief Delfin Lorenzana) and you and the rest of the commander said, ‘You have to take… hindi nila sinabi sa akin martial law, but you have to take a strong action on this Mr. President,’” Duterte said during his speech at the ceremonial turnover of China’s military assistance in the fight against terrorism in Mabalacat City, Pampanga Wednesday night, June 28.
“When will Duterte lift the martial law? I am not a soldier, I am a field worker, I do not go around. As a matter of fact, I cannot go to places where I want to go, because the military constricts my movement. So the persons or the organizations who advised me of the need for immediate action..,” he said.
Duterte added: “For as long as they say it is not safe for anybody and everybody then martial law will continue to exist in Marawi. And maybe in some parts of the Visayas if there’s a spillover.”
Kill, destroy
Duterte described the ISIS as a group “bereft of an ideology.”
“What they know is just to kill and destroy,” he said adding that he cannot assure that there is no Maute group in Luzon.
“Wala akong assurance diyan. It’s a mass insanity, actually. Every generation has that kind of ano…iyong panahon ng tatay natin, Hitler was a madman. And yet, he was able to contaminate a lot of people with his ideas about, ‘yung killing of mga Jews, ganoon. Papatay by the millions and for nothing. Ganoon itong ISIS, so I cannot even properly respond to a question of what to expect in the days to come,” he added.
Duterte said when he was warning the public “not to force my hand into it”, he was already aware of the threat of terrorism.
“Though I did not specifically mention, just to avoid, you know, creating panic or anxiety among our people. But I was very sure that trouble was coming,” he said.
The President also stressed that narco-politicians targeted by his administration in the war on drugs have “promoted ISIS” and gave them support and arms.
Protests
Militant groups and some lawmakers condemned the declaration of Martial Law saying it will only intensify abuses against basic sectors.
Anakpawis Partylist Rep. Ariel Casilao said the declaration has “triggered” abuses of residents in the communities and activists in Davao City.
“We urge President Duterte to heed the people’s clamor and immediately lift the martial law declaration, to avert rights abuses committed by government forces, ward off disheartenment of the victims who actually supported his presidency,” Casilao said.
Anakpawis plans to file a resolution urging lawmakers to assess the impact of the Martial Law declaration on the rights of the basic sectors in Mindanao.
He added that the incident substantiates that the martial law declaration “is not exclusive against the extremists that instigated the Marawi City crisis, but included legal-democratic activists as targets.”
Ben Te, deputy secretary general of Kabataan Partylist feared that continuing Martial Law will “fan the armed resistance of the Moro people and their struggle for self-determination.”
“Duterte must heed the cries of the Moro and the Maranao, and instead, fight imperialism and tackle the roots of armed resistance and conflict. Otherwise, the people will take matters into their hands as they fight for national liberation,” Te said.
Responsibility
Meanwhile, Duterte reiterated that he will take full responsibility for his declaration of Martial Law.
He also said he is willing to go to jail.
The president said he will not be seen in public these days to focus on the crisis in Marawi. Duterte is expected to continue visiting army camps to boost the morale of the government forces. (davaotoday.com)
