Martial law in Mindanao 'successful' in containing Marawi crisis

Malacañang and the military on Friday hailed the first month of the implementation of martial law in Mindanao as a success, saying it was key in containing the crisis in Marawi City.

Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said martial law helped prevent extremists from establishing a “wilayat” in Mindanao.

“So the main goal of preventing is actually, has already been, I believe, hugely successful in the...We have prevented the establishment of this wilayat,” he said, referring to the control of territory by the pro-Isis Maute group

Eastern Mindanao Command deputy commander and Mindanao martial law spokesperson Brig. Gen. Gilbert Gapay noted that the military was able to prevent the Marawi crisis from spilling over to other areas, mainly because of the checkpoints and curfews implemented as part of martial law.

"I am glad to report that after a month, we have prevented the spillover of terrorism in Eastern Mindanao," he said.

"To date, we have conducted a total of 13,149 checkpoints all over Eastern Mindanao. While curfews are continuously being implemented in 210 municipalities and barangays in our area of responsibility. This is in coordination with the LGUs and the PNP," he added.

Gapay also emphasized that the martial law implementation had no reported abuse, as reported by the Commission on Human Rights. He promised that the military would continue to uphold human rights in the next 30 days.

“We shall continue to observe the safeguards we have established like the establishment of the multi-sector advisory group, legal action or quick reaction teams, continuous troop information education on the rules of engagements, and other guidelines as we continuously implement martial law in Eastern Mindanao,” he said.

“As we enter the second month of implementation, we’d like to assure the public that we shall continue to work for the safety and security of everyone, as mandated to us with utmost respect to human rights and the rule of law,” he added.

Despite implementing martial law, the government's efforts to take back Marawi City has dragged on for over a month, with the death toll rising to 375: 26 civilians, 280 terrorists, and 69 government security personnel. 

Martial law critics

Abella said the government was not taking lightly comments on martial law by critics, with the National Interfaith Humanitarian Mission reporting cases of forcible evacuation, indiscriminate bombardment, destruction of properties, divestment of properties, threat, harassment, and intimidation amid the Marawi crisis.

“Let me just go back to… the President’s instruction to the military is to protect and save lives. That is the general intention, okay?” he said.

“The President likewise noted that if one is a law-abiding and peace-loving citizen, martial law is not a problem. And that one should worry about… one should worry about… because martial law is intended for the lawless elements and the rebels around,” he added.

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, one of the petitioners who questioned Duterte’s martial law declaration before the Supreme Court (SC), on Friday denounced the move as brining "horror and misery" to affected areas.

“Thirty days of martial law in Marawi City and the rest of Mindanao have aggravated the situation in Marawi City to inordinately horrific and miserable proportions,”  he said.

But Abella twitted critics, noting Duterte even apologized for the Marawi crisis and the martial law and their consequences. 

“Remember, we are not one another’s enemies. We are actually—supposed to be united against a common enemy. And actually, what we are having is, you know, is somebody trying to establish a state within a state,” he said.

“You know, I think it is about time that we really just grew up and became more mature, and became more politically more sophisticated and actually, aside from that, we’re really just more concerned and supportive of one another,” he added. —JST, GMA News