Palace: More violence in Mindanao without martial law

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has asked critics to stop questioning the implementation of martial law in Mindanao following the successive bombings in three areas last month.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar claimed that the security situation in Mindanao would have been worse if it were not placed under martial law.

“Some are asking why those incidents happened despite the implementation of martial law. It would have been worse if there were no martial law in Mindanao because there would be no checkpoints,” Andanar told state-run Radyo Pilipinas on Saturday.

Andanar said people he recently spoke with in Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental shared the same view.

“So, huwag na silang makialam sa martial law sa Mindanao sapagkat maayos naman (They should just let martial law in Mindanao be because things are orderly),” he added.

President Duterte placed Mindanao under martial law after terrorists connected with international extremist group Islamic State laid siege to Marawi on May 23, 2017.

Marawi was declared liberated from terrorists five months later but Duterte did not lift military rule to enable government forces to run after threat groups in southern Philippines.

Congress, which is dominated by Duterte’s allies, has agreed to extend martial law in Mindanao three times. The first extension lapsed on Dec. 31, 2017 while the second one lasted until the end of 2018. The third extension will last until the end of this year.

Despite the implementation of martial law, Mindanao was rocked by three bombings that tested the mettle of government forces.

More than 20 people died and dozens others were injured in twin bombings inside and outside a Catholic cathedral in Jolo, Sulu on Jan. 27. Officials have said Indonesian suicide bombers aided by local terrorists were behind the explosions, which happened days after Sulu rejected the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), a measure that seeks to create a new autonomous region with greater economic and political powers.

A day after the Jolo bombings, a roadside bombing occurred in Magpet, North Cotabato, killing a policeman and injuring at least seven other persons. Police have blamed the New People’s Army for the incident.

On Jan. 30, two persons were killed and four others were hurt after a grenade exploded in a mosque in Zamboanga City.

Critics have raised doubts on the way authorities are implementing martial law, noting that armed groups still manage to harm people despite the stricter security measures. Human rights group Karapatan has expressed fears that the Jolo bombing would be used to rush amendments to the Human Security Act and “jeopardize” civil and political rights.

Despite the successive explosions, Malacañang said there is no need to expand martial law outside Mindanao and assured the public that the Philippines remains a “safe haven.”

Andanar said the government is “wary” about Region 10, noting that the plebiscite for the BOL would be held on Feb. 6. Residents of Lanao del Norte, except Iligan City, and the towns of Aleosan, Carmen, Kabacan, Midsayap, Pikit, Pigkayawan and Tulunan in North Cotabato would vote in the plebiscite.

“We do not want the terrorist groups to mar the peaceful resolution in Mindanao through the Bangsamoro Organic Law,” Andanar said, urging the public to cooperate with government forces to prevent untoward incidents.

“We have to be on alert. We have to cooperate with our government; we have to cooperate with the (Armed Forces of the Philippines); we cooperate with the Philippine National Police and our local government units. That is the surest way to ensure our safety,” he said.

 A peace advocate, meanwhile, said recent events such as the Mindanao bombings and virtual collapse of peace talks between government and the communists indicate the need for Filipinos to assert their Right to Peace pursuant to the resolution adopted by the United Nations in December 2017.

 The proposal for the upward declaration for Yes for Peace zones has been submitted to authorities for a pro-active, barangay-level approach toward “a just, unifying and lasting peace,” convenor Ernie Alcanzare, who was at the peace rally yesterday in Quezon City, said.