Militants rally vs Martial Law extension, crackdown

SAN PEDRO CITY—Progressive groups in Southern Tagalog rallied Wednesday morning, as Congress deliberate on the proposed extension of Martial Law in Mindanao.

Peti Enriquez of Karapatan-Southern Tagalog said the group gathered early morning in Cabuyao City, Laguna for a short program before heading to the House of Representatives.

The Congress convened in a joint session to decide on President Duterte’s request to extend Martial Law in Southern Philippines for 2018.

“It is baseless to extend Martial Law in Mindanao. The suspension of writ of habeas corpus is directly violating civil rights specially at this time that progressive organizations and individuals are being tagged as fronts of the Communist Party,” Enriquez said.

Duterte placed Mindanao under Martial Law on May 23 following attacks by the Maute Group in Marawi City. The president said extending Martial Law would help state forces to completely end rebellion in Mindanao.

But Enriquez said their group has recorded rights violations in Mindanao specially among the Lumad. She said at least 255 individuals were found in the Army’s order of battle since the declaration of Martial Law.

In Southern Luzon, Karapatan noted a “systematic political crackdown” against activists.

Enriquez said 10 people on a fact finding mission in Nasugbu town in Batangas province on November 20 were arrested and charged. Leaders of mass organizations also faced charges following an aerial bombing by the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Nasugbu on October 24.

Counter-insurgency operations in Batangas resulted in a series of clashes between the government and New People’s Army (NPA) rebels. The latest encounter in the province happened November 28 and left 15 rebels dead.# Maricar Cinco, @maricarcincoINQ, Inquirer Southern Luzon