Martial law shows Duterte's strong-arming, says analyst

MANILA, Philippines — The declaration of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao represent President Rodrigo Duterte's "inevitable strong-arming," a political analyst said.

Erin Cook, who covers Southeast Asia politics, said in analysis released by a Sydney-based think tank that the siege in Marawi City the past week can also be regarded as the peak of heightening violence between government forces and ISIS-inspired militants.

"The declaration of martial law amid the bloody insurgency has found far more supporters than critics, and raises questions about the immediate future for the archipelago," Cook said in an article published by Lowy Institute for International Policy.

The clash between government forces and the Maute terror group started with the manhunt for Isnilon Hapilon, a former leader of both the Moro National Liberation Front and terror group Abu Sayyaf.

On May 23, Duterte declared martial law in the whole of Mindanao after members of Maute group seized Marawi City in direct retaliation for the so-called surgical strikes against them and Abu Sayyaf.

Such proclamation prompted Duterte to cut his visit to Russia as he immediately flies home to oversee the situation in Mindanao.

The last president to declare martial law was Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who did so in Maguindanao province on Dec. 4, 2009 in the aftermath of the Ampatuan massacre. Martial law was lifted in the province on Dec. 12, 2009.

Article VII, Section 18 of the 1987 Constitution provides that the president has the power to declare martial law in cases of invasion or rebellion for a maximum of 60 days.

Duterte, however, had indicated that martial law in Mindanao might last longer and said that the declaration will continue "until the police and the Armed Forces say the Philippines is safe."

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Cook, a political analyst, noted that Arroyo's declaration of martial law on Maguindanao in 2009 faced heavy skepticism from both the Senate and the House of Representatives while Duterte's proclamation was met with support from members of both houses of Congress.

"Legal safeguards that kept the 2009 declaration of martial law following the Maguindanao massacre in check are unlikely to play out in the same way today," Cook said.

Majority of Philippine senators have expressed support for Duterte's declaration of martial law in Mindanao while only five senators from the minority bloc have called for a Congressional joint session to discuss the proclamation.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and other House leaders also said that representatives will not convene to discuss the declaration.

Under the Constitution, the two chambers of Congress may choose to call off a president's declaration of martial law and suspension of the writ of habeas corpus within a session.

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