DAVAO CITY —By midnight of December 31, 2019 the two-year martial law declaration in Mindanao is finally over. This, after the government announced its lifting citing the relatively peaceful condition of the island.
President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in the whole island of Mindanao in 2017 after Islamic State-linked extremists laid siege on Marawi City, sparking five months of fighting.
The first martial law declaration was supposed to last only for 60 days, as indicated in the Constitution but Congress voted to extend it until the end of 2017. Even after the city was liberated on October 17, 2017, President Duterte sought for an extension for the whole of 2018, and another until the end of 2019.
The declaration and extensions of martial law were met with resistance among critics and some sector of the Moro community. However, the local government officials thought otherwise as the fight against terrorism was heightened and efforts to curb crime rates became imperative.
Police and military round-ups took place while government elements continue to run after alleged terrorists and criminals. Militant groups, however, decry of unjust scenario when a number of warrantless arrests was figured among elements of militant organizations.
Change of heart
Moreover, recent development showed that the declaration is no longer necessary. Presidential Spokesperson Salvaor Panelo said that Duterte will no longer ask Congress for extension citing the assessment by the military and the police which indicated “the weakening of the terrorist and extremist rebellion” in Mindanao, Panelo emphasized.
“The Palace is confident in the capability of our security forces in maintaining the peace and security of Mindanao without extending Martial Law,” Panelo said. He also added, “The people of Mindanao are assured that any incipient major threat in the region would be nipped in the bud”.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) in a statement last week said that they are open to lifting martial law in Mindanao considering safety conditions as a criterion to such move.
“Peace and order in Mindanao is under control and continues to show marked stability, a condition that may eventually pave the way for lifting of martial law,” the PNP statement added.
Martial law promoter, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that he is not inclined to recommend another extension of the military rule in Mindanao, as authorities can “do their jobs.” “Kung ako lang, I will not recommend anymore the extension. ‘Tagal na masyado eh. We can do our job naman,” Lorenzana noted.
Instead of having martial law, Lorenzana proposed for a tougher anti-terrorism law. He said that Congress’ amendment of the Human Security Act would be a “better arrangement than martial law” and would “give some teeth” to the country’s law enforcement.
Presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte who earlier threw full support to the declaration, had a change of heart and called on the President to exempt Davao City from the Martial law coverage citing the relatively peaceful condition in her city.
Foreign leaders and dignitaries to include European Union Ambassador Franz Jessen, Romanian Chargé d’Affaires Mihai Sion, Swedish Ambassador Harald Fries, Dutch Ambassador Saskia de Lang, and Hungarian Ambassador Jozsef Bencz also observed and commented that declaration of martial law is unnecessary when all efforts are building to achieve peace.
But for Drieza Lininding, chair of the Marawi-based Moro Consensus Group, said the announcement was “long overdue but a welcome development.” He also said that the curfew in Marawi and Lanao del Sur should also be lifted “to ensure freedom of movement and maximize it for economic recovery.”
Cotabato City Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi, on the other hand, lamented the lifting of martial law, saying it had greatly improved the city’s peace and order situation. “We, the city officials, want martial law to be retained, but we will respect the decision of President Duterte,” the mayor added.
Investigation of martial Abuses
But letting go of Martial law has also triggered the call among human rights groups to call for an investigation on the alleged buss perpetrated by the agents of the state which according to them runs counter against human rights.
A report said Bishop Redeemer Yañez, a convenor of Barug Katungod and official of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) said that international human rights watchdogs should investigate the alleged violations of government forces to make the Duterte administration “account for the killings and other human rights abuses during the military rule.”
This developed as the “lumad” (indigenous peoples) group Kalumaran called for the immediate release of its vice chair, Datu Jomorito “Jomong” Goaynon, who had been in jail in the last 10 months because of what it said were “fabricated” charges against him.
The critics want the government to be held answerable to what they call witch-hunting among personalities whom the government perceived as threat to their interest.
What’s next?
Despite the impending lifting of the declaration, the fact remains, people who live in poverty has always the right to decent, a right embodied in the Constitution. People who felt shortchanged by abusive government entity or personality can always air grievance against government. All these should be done with or without martial law.
