Joma sees more ‘gross’, ‘systematic’ rights abuses amid Mindanao martial law extension

Communist leader Jose Maria Sison and President Rodrigo Duterte. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS)

The “gross” and “systematic” violation of human rights in Mindanao would certainly escalate as the military continues to take over amid the extension of martial law in the region until end of 2018, Communist Party of the Philippines (CCP) founder Jose Maria Sison said on Friday.

Sison said martial law under President Rodrigo Duterte would surpass the rate and proportions of military rule under the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

“As the unnecessary and egregious martial rule by Duterte will expand nationwide, the violations of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the people will surpass the rate and proportions of martial rule under the Marcos fascist dictatorship,” Sison said in a statement on Thursday.

Sison, a friend-turned-critic of Duterte, believed that the president plans to destroy the CPP and its armed wing New People’s Army (NPA) before the end of 2018.

According to Sison, the President plans to achieve this by concentrating attacks on Communist rebels in Mindanao, and then in Luzon and in Visayas should when Mr. Duterte decides to expand martial law nationwide.

On Tuesday, Congress overwhelmingly authorized Duterte’s request for the extension of martial rule in Mindanao from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018. Duterte cited the persistent threat of terrorism and rebellion in Mindanao to justify his request.

The Communist leader also revealed that some “patriotic” and “progressive” military officers were worried that Duterte “is misusing” the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) as his private armed unit.

“Military officers of the AFP who are patriotic and progressive are seriously concerned that Duterte is misusing the AFP and PNP as if these were his personal armies,” Sison said.

“They are critical of the promotion of officers on the basis of their friendship and personal loyalty to Duterte,” he also claimed.

But Sison said the progressive soldiers were most aghast by his termination of the peace negotiations between the Philippine government and National Democratic Front (NDF).

Duterte called off the peace negotiations at the time when the government and CPP panels were about to meet for the fifth round of formal talks in Oslo, and sign the drafts of the general amnesty of political prisoners, the unilateral ceasefires, and some parts of the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (CARES).          /kga