The Lanao del Sur chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines has declared its support of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Proclamation No. 216, which imposed martial law in Mindanao following the siege of Marawi City by the terrorist Maute group.
In a statement, the IPB Lanao del Sur chapter said its member-lawyers support Proclamation No. 216 “to allow the Philippine government the opportunity to address the current Marawi crisis.”
The group “recognizes the constitutional prerogative of the President to declare martial law on the basis of rebellion or invasion… without conceding as to the sufficiency of the factual and legal basis of the declaration,” said incumbent chapter president lawyer Mino Macalandap.
“While we fervently pray and desire for the government to restore peace and order in the city and return to our homes as soon as possible, we also passionately appeal to the wisdom of the President to avoid turning our beloved Marawi into a city of ashes and embers,” the group’s statement added.
The IBP chapter noted that while residents of Marawi—the capital and largest city of Lanao del Sur province—are “relieved” the military has taken charge to overcome the Maute group and make the city safe again, “there is growing concern about the military’s ‘surgical airstrikes’ which continue to destroy several buildings and homes of innocent civilians.”
Macalandap and the lawyers also noted reports of “callous military men who disregard human rights” and who “destroy or take away random properties of civilians” in conducting its house-to-house searches of the Maute terrorists.
“We call on the authorities to bring the Maute group to justice,” the local lawyers said, noting the bandits’ acts “caused immeasurable damage to Marawi City and terrorized the residents, to such a scale that a humanitarian crisis may be unfolding.”
“We categorically denounce their acts of lawlessness, their violent ideology, and their contemptuous disregard of innocent lives,” they added.
The lawyers called on the Duterte administration to ensure that constitutional safeguards are complied with, and to implement its military actions “in a manner that will minimize damage to property and with due consideration of the rights of innocent civilians caught in the war zone.”
They also appealed to the military and the police to avoid “unnecessary harassment” of civilians in implementing precautionary measures. “We remind our men in uniform that any person taken into custody for invasion or rebellion should be released after three days if no charge has been filed against him or her,” they said.
IBP-Lanao del Norte also called on the people to respect the martial law declaration and to cooperate with authorities in the implementation of “additional, albeit inconvenient, safety measures,” while urging them to know their rights under military rule.
“In these trying times, and especially during this Holy Month of Ramadhan, we exhort the people to practice civility, to exercise restraint, to respect the properties of other people, and to abide by the rule of law,” the statement added.
The lawyers urged residents to be vigilant and to report any suspicious activity “that may threaten the peace and security of our beloved city, as well as violations of their rights that may occur in the implementation of safety measures.”
“Now, more than ever, we, the members of the IBP Lanao del Sur Chapter, assure the people of our legal assistance and support,” they added. “We remain steadfast and will continue to promote adherence to the rule of law and the supremacy of the Constitution.”