Too early to recommend martial law extension in Mindanao — CHR
MANILA, Philippines — It is still premature to recommend the extension of martial law in Mindanao, the Commission on Human Rights said Thursday.
In a statement, CHR spokesperson Jacqueline De Guia said a close assessment of the effectiveness of martial law and a clear response to alleged human rights violations are needed.
“There is a need to be cautious of compounding justifications for its extension, considering that a state of national emergency on account of lawless violence was also declared in Mindanao prior to the martial law declaration,” De Guia said.
The mouthpiece of CHR added the commission trusts the police and military forces in addressing lawlessness and threats of violence in the southern Philippines without martial law.
Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Carlito Galvez on Wednesday said that while it is sensible to extend the military rule in Mindanao given the upcoming election and expected plebiscite in the area, he said that it is still too early to call for martial law extension.
For his part, Philippine National Police chief Dir. Gen. Oscar Albayalde said it will back the extension of martial law in Mindanao if the government is inclined to extend it.
President Rodrigo Duterte placed the whole of Mindanao under martial law on May 23, 2017, after terrorists linked with the Islamic State laid siege to Marawi City.
The Congress twice voted to approve the extension of martial law, which is expected to last until December 31, 2018.
Human rights group Karapatan had documented at least 49 cases of extrajudicial killings in Mindanao since the declaration of martial law.
It added there were 22 cases of torture, 116 victims of frustrated extrajudicial killings, 89 victims of illegal arrest and detention and 336,124 victims of indiscriminate gunfire and aerial bombings. At least 404,654 individuals have also reportedly been displaced largely because of these bombings.
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