Martial Law Extended in Mindanao

The Philippine Congress overwhelmingly voted in favor of extending martial law in the southern island of Mindanao for one year in support of President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign to defeat terrorism.

Duterte declared martial law on May 23. 2017 after an armed group with Islamic State links attacked Marawi City. Two months later, Congress extended martial law to December 2017 after the military encountered some difficulties in urban warfare. In October, Duterte ended the Marawi siege and proclaimed government victory over Islamic State forces.

But a few days before the scheduled termination of martial law in Mindanao, Duterte wrote Congress that he needed another year to combat terrorism. Further, he said that Mindanao remains a “hotbed of rebellion” where “communist terrorists” are committing criminal acts of violence.

Duterte’s letter initially cited the “remarkable progress” of government forces in “putting the rebellion under control” after the imposition of martial law in Mindanao. He reported that 920 ISIS-inspired fighters have been neutralized, 139 terrorists arrested, and 61 charged in the courts.

But Duterte informed Congress that remnants of lawless armed groups “have continued to rebuild their organization through the recruitment and training of new members and fighters to carry on the rebellion.”

He mentioned a list of 185 people accused of committing terrorist acts who remain at large and could be “presently regrouping and consolidating their forces.” He warned that terrorists are now no longer based in Marawi but are already recruiting and gathering resources in other Muslim-dominated provinces such as Maguindanao, North Cotabato, Sulu, and Basilan.

Duterte also accused these groups of conspiring to establish the foundation of a global Islamic caliphate not only in the Philippines but in other parts of Southeast Asia as well.

The military report that Duterte used as a basis to justify the extension of martial law included threats coming from other armed groups such as the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG). The military said the BIFF was involved in 15 violent incidents in Maguindanao and North Cotabato. Meanwhile, the ASG is tagged in 43 acts of terrorism in Basilan Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, and Zamboanga.

After the collapse of the peace process in November, Duterte branded the communist-led New People’s Army (NPA) as terrorists. He included the communist rebellion as another threat that the government has to deal with in Mindanao, which therefore makes it necessary to extend martial law.

Duterte said the NPA committed 385 atrocities in 2017, killing 41 and wounding 62 state troops. He also blamed the NPA for the deaths of 23 civilians and the wounding of six others. According to the military, the NPA committed 59 acts of arson that targeted mining areas and corporate plantations.

For a majority of members of Congress, the reasons provided by Duterte were enough to extend martial law. Members of the ruling party asserted that Mindanao residents are in favor of martial law because it creates a safe condition to do business and deliver vital social services. They added that martial law is needed to fast track the rehabilitation of Marawi and other towns ravaged by the conflict instigated by local Islamic State supporters.

After getting the approval of Congress to extend martial law in Mindanao, Duterte expressed his gratitude and added that this emergency measure is necessary to decisively ensure the “total eradication” of terrorists and communist terrorists. He claimed that without martial law, military capability is constrained by numerous processes and bureaucratic procedures.

But those who voted against the extension of martial law reminded the government that the threats it cited do not constitute actual rebellion; hence there’s no basis to extend as stipulated in the constitution. They urged the government to go after those responsible for committing criminal acts by using the country’s penal laws and without resorting to martial law. They added that Duterte should have more trust in the capacity of the country’s military and police forces.

The inclusion of the communist rebellion in the list of terror threats worried some senators and several human rights groups because it could be used in the future to expand the scope of martial law. The military itself admits that the NPA has a nationwide presence.

But even without the formal declaration of martial law in other regions, activists claim that de facto military rule exists, especially in areas where the NPA is operating.

Whether Duterte expands martial law further, beyond 2018, Congress’ vote has boosted support for his administration. That could in turn embolden him to carry out some of his controversial plans, like overhauling the constitution or declaring a so-called revolutionary government.