Duterte’s leftist allies want martial law lifted

MANILA, Philippines - President Duterte’s leftist allies in the House of Representatives are calling on him to lift his martial law declaration in Mindanao.

“We strongly urge President Duterte to immediately lift martial law, especially with the military’s own pronouncement that the affected areas are now under control,” Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate said.    

He said the military and the police could deal with the Maute group without the need for martial rule “if they only performed their jobs efficiently.”  

“Instead of further listening to the extremist advice of the militarist members of his Cabinet, we call on the President to investigate and dig deeper into this clear breach of security – with the military and the police apparently totally in the dark despite their vast resources and the millions of so-called intelligence funds under their disposal,” he said.

The President’s limited martial law proclamation has a precedent. 

In December 2009, then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo placed Maguindanao under martial law days after the Maguindanao massacre. Arroyo lifted her proclamation after a few days.

While in Moscow, Russia on an official visit, Duterte on Tuesday night placed the entire Mindanao under martial law following a series of attacks by the outlawed Maute group.

The Maute bandits engaged the military and police in clashes in Marawi City. 

Zarate urged all “democratic forces” to oppose martial law.

“We call on the people to initiate actions and activities calling for the immediate lifting of martial law in Mindanao. Only the people’s collective will and action can prevent or defeat this growing militarist thrust of the Duterte administration,” he said.

Due to “creeping militarism” in the Duterte administration, Gabriela Women’s Party yesterday filed Bill 5712, which seeks to prohibit the appointment of military men in the bureaucracy.

For his part, opposition Rep. Edcel Lagman of Albay urged the House and the Senate to convene in joint session to inquire into the factual basis of the President’s martial law declaration.

He said under the Charter, the President is authorized to proclaim martial law in any part of the country if there is “invasion or rebellion, when public safety requires it.” –  With Mayen Jaymalin, Sheila Crisostomo, Helen Flores, Elizabeth Marcelo, Gerry Lee Gorit