OPPOSITION lawmakers on Sunday, November 19, slammed the Armed Forces of the Phillipines (AFP) for saying that martial law in Mindanao may be extended beyond December 31, 2017 despite the liberation of Marawi City from terrorists.
Gabriela Women's Partylist vowed to oppose any proposal to extend martial law.
"The recent pronouncement by the AFP on the possible extension of the martial law declaration in Mindanao is the military's assurance for the smooth entry of big businesses and foreign investors in war-torn Marawi City and other areas in Mindanao rich in resources," the group said in a statement.
"It is noteworthy that this pronouncement came as the US and China expressed their interest during the ASEAN Summit in rebuilding Marawi," it added.
Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate, for his part, said he believed the military is using martial law to enable it to launch operations with impunity.
"Until now many of those who wished to speak out against what truly happened in Marawi are still afraid of government retaliation," the Davao-based solon said.
For Zarate, what is clear is that President Rodrigo Duterte and his regime have failed to address the root cause of extremism in Mindanao even with the imposition of martial law for six months now.
"It is only by addressing the root cause of poverty in Mindanao by respecting the Moro people's right to self-determination and self-rule as well as implementing genuine agrarian reform and nationalist industrialization that would take out the reason for people to take up arms. Martial law is not the answer," ended Zarate.
AFP spokesman Brig. Gen Restituto Padilla earlier said martial law will be extended beyond December 31 if clearing operations in Marawi City are not done before yearend.
Martial law was declared in Marawi on May 23, shortly after fighting broke out between government troops and Islamic militants led by Isnilon Hapilon. Hapilon and Omar Maute, one of the leaders of the Maute group that aided Hapilon, were killed in a military operation in Marawi in October.
Under the 1987 Constitution, martial law was limited to 60 days. Congress extended it until December 31 this year.
Defense officials declared an end to the war in Marawi on October 23, exactly five months after it erupted and less than a week after Duterte declared the city liberated from terrorists. Clearing operations, however, have continued. (SunStar Philippines)