Gabriela solon to AFP: Since when is ‘practicality’ a basis for martial law?

"Since when did 'practicality' become a legal basis for martial law declaration?"

Gabriela Women's Party Representative Arlene Brosas posed this question to the Armed Forces of the Philippines after its chief General Carlito Galvez, Jr. said that it is only "practical" to extend martial law in Mindanao given the upcoming May 2019 elections.

In a statement to reporters, Brosas said that the 1987 Constitution lays out the basis for the declaration of martial law, which does not include "practicality."

"The constitution is very clear with grounds and reason [for the] imposition and extension of Martial Law. Practicality as basis of extension is nothing but a desecration of the constitution, which this administration is so fond of doing. It would be another miscarriage of justice and a blow on the sanctity of the constitution," she said.

President Rodrigo Duterte on May 23 last year placed the entire island of Mindanao under martial law after the ISIS-inspired Maute Group attacked Marawi City.

The declaration, which was only good for 60 days, was extended twice by Congress and is expected to end by December 31 this year.

Galvez said that while it is premature for now to recommended another martial law extension, it may only be sensible since the elections are upcoming.

"It’s still practical particularly that we will be having the plebiscite in January and also we have also the coming elections," he said.

Galvez also said the success of the previous barangay elections, even in Marawi, was a sign that the martial law was effective in Mindanao.

"We are also very happy that our stakeholders are satisfied that we are implementing Martial Law to the fullest of our capability as a professional armed forces," he said.

But for Brosas, the AFP must have been so "intoxicated with power" that they have under the martial law that they are pushing for its extension under the guise of practicality.

"We reiterate our previous statement that after a year of its imposition, Martial Law in Mindnaao achieved nothing but sow fear and terror among our Mindanaon brothers and have led to the abuse and harassment of our indigenous people," she said.

"It opened a floodgate to thousands of human rights violation and merciless death and massacre. It just fed the caprices and hunger of the fascist state at the expense of the people’s basic right," she added.

Brosas finds it "ridiculous" that the AFP would say that martial law is needed for a peaceful elections.

"For elections to be successful in Mindanao, the region and its people should be free. Lift Martial Law, free Mindanao, in its truest sense, and let the people undertake this political exercise without fear and hesitation," she said.

Galvez said AFP officials will visit Western and Eastern Mindanao in the following weeks to make an assessment of the successes of the martial law in the region. — BM, GMA News