Militant group condemns martial law extension, expansion

A militant group on Tuesday blasted the assurance of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana that there will be no abuses under the martial law in Mindanao should it be extended.

“His assurances are empty and crumble in the face of indiscriminate bombings in Marawi, the forced evacuation of Lumad communities in Surigao, the attacks on Lumad schools in Davao and destruction of picket lines of striking workers,” Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Secretary General Renato Reyes said in a statement.

The group condemned the plan for a possible extension and nationwide expansion of martial law and vowed to oppose any attempt of implementing so, Reyes said.

President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao on May 23, after the Maute group holed up in Marawi City and engaged the military and police in a series of firefight.

The siege is on its 50^th day on Tuesday and it has claimed hundreds of lives and displaced thousands of residents.

The 60-day martial law period will end on July 22, and there are several insinuations of its possible extension.

Some lawmakers are pushing for a five-year extension of martial law. Duterte himself said that he won’t lift martial law prior to his second state of the nation address (Sona), which will take place on July 24.

READ: Speaker pushing for 5 more years of martial law

Reyes said that the martial law in Mindanao will be prominent during the president’s second Sona rally.

“On his second Sona, Duterte is being pressed to address the outstanding demands of the people and to shun open fascist rule,” Reyes said. Daphne Yann P. Galvez, INQUIRER.net trainee / JPV