Movement launched against admin's 'fascist measures'

MANILA, Philippines — Several groups and personalities on Monday launched an alliance against reported extrajudicial killings in the conduct of the Duterte administration's so-called war on drugs.

The group, called Movement Against Tyranny, seeks to break the culture of impunity and fear that convenors say President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs, all-out war approach to armed conflicts and martial law in Mindanao has brought to the country.

Among the convenors of the movement are former Sen. Rene Saguisag, former Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares, former Quezon Rep. Erin Tañada, Free Legal Assistance Group chairman Jose Manuel Diokno, activist nun Sr. Mary John Mananzan, University of the Philippines Diliman chancellor Michael Tan, and veteran journalist Vergel Santos.

"The Movement opposes fascist measures such as the demonification of human rights victims and defenders as 'terrorists,' 'drug addicts, pushers and/or coddlers', 'extortionists' as well as the use of red-baiting to muddle issues and justify extrajudicial killings and other atrocities," the alliance said in a statement.

Red-baiting refers to attempts to discredit critics and their arguments by accusing or denouncing them as communists, socialist or anarchist. This is similar to labeling critics and the opposition as enemies of the state or as paid trolls in an attempt to undermine their credibility.

The group also aims to resist efforts to undermine courts, Congress, the Office of the Ombudsman, the Commission on Human Rights, the working press, the political opposition and ordinary citizens critical of the government.

People's organizations, human rights advocates, victims of human rights violations, media organizations and practitioners, anti-martial law veterans and activists and lawyers associations may join the movement.

The movement is also open to concerned legislators and executive officials, organizations of the Bangsamoro and indigenous peoples, faith-based groups, civic organizations and concerned individuals.

The alliance is scheduled to hold a rally on at Luneta on September 21, the anniversary of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos' declaration of martial law.

RELATED: Broader protests against Duterte’s militaristic drift

Martial law was declared over Mindanao on May 23 in response to the Maute terror group's attack on Marawi City, the capital of Lanao del Sur. Congress has agreed to extend the original 60-day declaration and martial law will remain in place until December 31.