Martial law extension in Mindanao draws mixed reactions | SunStar – Sun.Star

THE approval of the Congress on Saturday, July 22, to extend martial law in Mindanao until December this year has drawn mixed reactions from different sectors.

Labor leader Wildon Barros said the decision of Congress to extend the military rule is an anticipated move as he believes that the more it is extended, the more human rights violation is committed by the government.

Barros added this will only alienate the Moro people, particularly the Maranaos who have fled their homes in Marawi City, if the destruction of their homes and properties continue.

The martial law extension, he said, will not dismantle the Maute Group but it will create more armed factions who will take up arms against the government.

It was rigged from the start, said Cristina Palabay, secretary-general of the human rights group Karapatan, referring to the approval of the extended martial rule, and had only one intended outcome to rubberstamp the Congresss imprimatur on the legality of the declarations extension.

Palabay said Dutertes martial law can never be different from the version of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

The factual bases of both declarations (Dutertes and Marcoss) have been proven as outright lies, if not products of the militarys creative imagination, she said.

A government that uses military hubris to allegedly quell terrorism or armed revolutionary rebellion is one that is most afraid of the people, driven to terrorism or rebellion by years of oppression, exploitation, poverty, and mendicancy to foreign interests. Securing the public is the least of their interest, Palabay said.

Vic Escober, 53, a fisherman, said: Lets give Duterte the chance to end the Marawi crisis and neutralize the Maute group and restore peace and order there once and for all. The extension of martial law is the only way to do that.

Belinda Yucatan, 48, farmer said its better to leave it to the government to deal with the Marawi crisis.

My only hope is that human rights will be upheld and violence will not spill over to other parts in Mindanao due to martial law extension, Yucatan said.

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Martial law extension in Mindanao draws mixed reactions | SunStar - Sun.Star