"Mindanaoans say it has deterred terrorist activities."
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Unless President Duterte extends what some perceive as “military rule” in Mindanao, martial law in this southern island region of the country will lapse on New Year’s Eve.
The President declared martial law in Mindanao as the Maute terrorist group, along with Abu Sayyaf, took control of Marawi City in May 2017.
To prevent the escalation and spread of terrorism in other parts of Mindanao, Duterte promptly issued Presidential Proclamation 216 on May 23 suspending the Writ of Habeas Corpus and placing the entire Mindanao under martial law.
Though there remains at least three weeks to go until martial law expires in the region, both the opposition and the militant groups here in Metro Manila have joined ranks to reject the possibility of extension of martial law, citing militarization, alleged human rights violations, extrajudicial killings, and military abuses.
They claim to have monitored dozens of cases of military abuses against the lumad, EJKs, and human rights violations since the proclamation of martial law in Mindanao. Guess what, they have never any presented concrete proof or evidence either to the authorities or to the two Houses of Congress for investigation to this day.
They are simply out of touch with reality. Worse, they are persistent in destroying the truth!
Zamboanga City Mayor Isabelle Climaco-Salazar, Marawi Mayor Majul Gandamra, and former Sulu Governor Sakur Tan laughed off the allegations of abuses and human rights violations.
In interviews over DZRB Radyo Pilipinas on Thursday morning, all three local officials attest they would be the first ones to hear of any abuses or human rights violations if there are any. Their constituents will instantly bring these to their attention.
Lawmakers from Mindanao have unanimously supported placing the entire island under martial law has been a deterrent to terrorist acts such as the bombings and kidnappings, as presence of military and police personnel in critical areas more than doubled and checkpoints became a familiar sight in the major cities in the south.
Martial law has also helped the anti-crime and anti-illegal drugs drive in the South.
While the threat to national security posed by foreign-inspired terrorism remains to be a “clear and present danger” in Mindanao, the constituents of this Promised Land continue to embrace President Duterte’s martial law.
Truth be told, the imposition of martial law in Southern Philippines had been long-overdue. It is an imperative measure to facilitate the delivery of essential public services to our fellow Filipinos—something that has been shamelessly neglected by Imperial Manila for decades.”‹