Nothing wrong with martial law as long as it is used constitutionally – UK envoy

Britain’s top diplomat to Manila has said that he sees nothing wrong with martial law as long as it used in accordance with the Constitution and there is government accountability.

“It’s not what mechanism do you use, it is how you apply those rules of mechanism,” Ambassador Asif Ahmad told journalists at an iftar reception, the traditional Muslim dinner marking the end of daily fasting during Ramadan, which he hosted at his residence Wednesday evening.

President Rodrigo Duterte imposed 60 days of martial law in Mindanao, home to 22 million, after violence erupted two weeks ago in Marawi City, where clashes between government troops and Islamic militants have continued. Marawi has a population of 20,000.

The late strongman Ferdinand Marcos placed the entire country under martial rule in 1972 and human rights abuses committed by security forces were rampant. 

Early this week, some lawmakers petitioned the Supreme Court to nullify Duterte’s proclamation of martial law, insisting that the situation in Marawi is an isolated one.

Ahmad said he believes that “there is a need to deploy the military” to keep the situation under control, but stressed that “if you need to deploy the military into your own civilian population it needs to be done under the code of law.”

“If you choose martial law that is one way of doing it,” he said.

Asked if martial law in Mindanao was necessary, he replied: “I don’t think there is something intrinsically wrong with declaring martial law or declaring state of calamity or state of emergency. It is how you use those facilities constitutionally to be held accountable and to bring the situation under control.”

The crisis started when government forces launched an offensive in Marawi to capture Isnilon Hapilon, leader of the local terrorist group Abu Sayyaf, who is on the United States’ most wanted terror list. Washington has offered a $5-million bounty in exchange for his capture.

Hapilon, who reportedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, is said to be its Southeast Asian leader.

Military said the militants, led by Hapilon and another armed Muslim organization, the Maute group, have been planning to seize the city, but was preempted by government troops, resulting to fierce gunbattle and prompting thousands of civilians to flee.

Nearly 180 people were killed, including 120 militants. — RSJ, GMA News