Rep. Antonio Tinio of Act Teachers party-list (File photo from the Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — Lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc claimed on Tuesday that President Rodrigo Duterte was merely peddling an “illusion” when he said that martial law extension in Mindanao will solve the insurgency problem.
“Talagang naglalako ng ilusyon si Pangulong Duterte na sa pamamagitan daw ng extension ay matatapos na ang pag-aalsa ng taumbayan sa Mindanao,” ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio said during a press briefing.
“May naniniwala ba ‘don?” Tinio asked, throwing shade to Duterte’s formal request to the House of Representatives.
Tinio said that in a letter, Duterte mentioned that “further extension of the implementation of martial law and suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao will enable the AFP, the PNP, and all other law enforcement agencies to finally put an end to the ongoing rebellion in Mindanao.”
“Alam naman natin na hindi martial law ang solusyon dyan. Ang solusyon dyan, in the end, eh tugunan mo ‘yong mga ugat kung bakit may mga rebelde,” Tinio explained.
“Kawalan ng lupa ng mga magsasaka, kawalan ng trabaho, ng disenteng kabuhayan, ng edukasyon, kaya nga kinakailangan pang magtayo ng sariling paaralan ng mga lumad dahil hindi nga naa-abot ang kanilang komunidad,” he added.
Duterte declared martial law and suspended the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao on May 23, 2017, after Marawi City in Lanao del Sur was taken over by the Maute terrorists, who were sympathizers of the extremist group Islamic State (IS).
Since then, Congress has given the nod to two extension requests. The first extension moved the deadline until December 31, 2017, while the second extension is scheduled to end on December 31, 2018.
READ: Duterte formally asks Congress to extend martial law in Mindanao ‘til end of 2018
READ: Senate, House allow 1-year martial law extension in Mindanao
The Supreme Court has also upheld the administration’s decision, citing ongoing rebellion as valid reasons for extension.
READ: SC affirms Duterte extension of martial law in Mindanao
With the third extension, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate expressed fears that the insurgency problem can be used as a justifying reason to place the whole country under martial law for next year — which is also an election year.
“Next year, we expect another letter, at sasabihin nila na hindi namin napigilan ‘yong rebelyon, at in fact nag-spread ito sa buong bansa, kaya ang buong bansa na ang ilalagay natin sa batas militar,” Zarate said.
“Malinaw na, mayroon nang pahiwatig na ang martial law sa Mindanao ay gagamitin rin ng administrasyon para mapaniguro na maipanalo ang kanyang mga kandidato mula sa lokal, papuntang national,” he alleged. /jpv