Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte (davaotoday.com file photo)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – After the Supreme Court dismissed all the petitions against the imposition of martial law and the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao, Presidential son and this city’s Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte called on the people to stand united and render full support to Martial Law.
“The Supreme Court decision affirming the legality of the declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao clearly shows that the threat of terrorism is a clear and present danger that needs to be addressed by each and every Filipinos,” Vice Mayor Duterte said in a statement on Tuesday.
He added that the decision also affirmed that the country’s welfare was in the mind of President Rodrigo Duterte when he imposed the martial rule.
“Now that the legal debacle is done and over with, we should stand united and fully support the Martial Law in Mindanao,” he said.
The vice mayor also urged the people to remain vigilant at all times and report to authorities anything and anyone suspected to be involved in terrorism.
“For our part here in Davao City, we keep on finding more effective means to keep our community safe at all times,” he asserted, as he also hoped that other local government units do their part and not just rely on the national government in the fight against terrorism.
“This is not just a fight of President Duterte but our fight,” the young Duterte emphasized.
The SC dismissed on Tuesday all petitions questioning the constitutionality of the imposition of Martial Law in Mindanao. Eleven magistrates voted for the dismissal of the petitions.
The decision also gained condemnation and criticism from other sectors of the Philippine society, including the members of the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives.
AFP appreciated decision
The Armed Forces of the Philippines expressed appreciation to the decision of the SC as Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Año, in a statement issued on Tuesday said: “The AFP is very glad and expresses its appreciation to the Supreme Court for the favorable ruling which is supportive of Martial Law in Mindanao.”
The Año said they take the SC ruling as “a vote of confidence that we are doing what is right and what is necessary for the restoration of the rule of law, peace, and order in the whole island.”
“We remain committed to our mandate to protect our people and the integrity and sovereignty of our country,” he said.
Año added that the AFP’s mission is not yet done and assured the Filipino people of the country’s armed forces are focused and determined to carry on the fight until peace and order are fully restored in Mindanao and Marawi is liberated from the US-linked Maute Group “the soonest time possible.”
‘Baseless’
Meanwhile, ACT Teachers Party-list, on the other hand, said the dismissal of the petitions showed that SC “is complicit in President Duterte’s baseless declaration of martial law covering the whole island of Mindanao without substantial proof of any rebellion in all its provinces and cities.”
“The high court today sanctioned the placing of entire Moro, Christian, and indigenous communities under military rule, and the grave humanitarian crisis, specifically the dire situation of evacuees, death of children and cases of mental illness caused by the military operations. Human rights violations against hundreds of thousands of civilians ensued and are continuing as we speak,” Rep. France Castro said.
She also expressed fear the decision will send a dangerous precedent for future militarist solutions–not just in Mindanao but the entire country.
Militarist solutions, Castro added, is proven to be more ominous than the problems the Duterte administration purports to solve, such as terror acts, alleged rebellions, and the drug crisis.
Militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan also issued a statement deploring the SC decision on Martial Law.
“The SC has just made it easier to declare Martial Law nationwide even on questionable grounds. It has also given the Duterte government the legal basis to extend Martial Law beyond 60 days,” Bayan said in a statement on Tuesday.
It said the militarists in government “will surely be emboldened by the decision and the SC also becomes complicit in the abuses being committed under Martial Law.” (davaotoday.com)
