PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte may have had the best intentions in declaring martial law in Mindanao following the escalating violence in Marawi City in Mindanao, but many Filipinos in America continue to be haunted by the ghost of Marcos-era martial law years.
“Takot ako. In the horizon looms big and clear contamination ng ISIS,” Duterte explained in a report on The Filipino Channel’s daily newscast “Balitang America,” as he rallied troops in Iligan City. “Before ang ating mga officials were really warning us on the intent of extremists to establish a caliphate that will compromise Mindanao, Indonesia, Malaysia..’Yun ang takot ko.”
Malacanang has submitted a report to both the Senate and House of Representatives which also reveals that the Maute Group had already infiltrated 75 percent of Marawi, with the plan of targeting Christian communities while trying to recruit Muslim youths.
Despite Duterte assuring the public that he will take responsibility for imposing martial law in Mindanao, Filipinos took to the streets to demand and end to the recent declaration.
In a report on “Balitang America,” they said the order risks violating human rights, and could even derail the ongoing peace talks between rebel groups and the Philippine government.
Some kababayans question why Duterte had to declare martial law in the whole of Mindanao, whien Marawi City is but a small part of the island. Duterte’s declaration that he will not hesitate declaring martial law in the whole nation only escalated their doubts and fears about his real intentions.
The Washington Post also ran a story debunking Duterte’s explanation he gave in a press conference in Beijing, as to why he declared martial law. According to the Post article, Duterte claimed the Malabang police chief was stopped at checkpoint on his way home from work and was slaughtered by terrorists. “They decapitated him then and there,” the Post quoted Duterte.
The Washington Post report said the Malabang Police is alive and they spoke to him on Friday. They also said they couldn’t find new evidence of televised beheadings on Mindanao, although the Post said there are unconfirmed accounts of beheadings circulating widely online.
Philippine Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno’s statements also gave an ominous tone about this latest development in the Duterte administration, amid complaints of extra judicial killings allegedly committed in the president’s war on drugs that has now reached about 9,000 fatalities.
In Sereno’s commencement speech before the graduating class of the Ateneo de manila University, the Chief Justice warns that impunity is on the rise and that fundamental rights are once again under threat.
According to a report on “Balitang America,” Sereno said it is important not only to make a stand on issues but to act as well.
“Given the present day when the possibility of history repeating itself loom imminent — no cause requires your commitment as human as human rights, justice and democracy.”
Do you share this concern? Or do you support Duterte in his decision to declare Martial law in Mindanao, and perhaps in the entire Philippines?
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Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
