AFP assures Filipinos it will abide by Constitution on implementing martial law

July 18, 2017

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) assured the public the military would strictly abide the Constitution on the implementation of martial law in Mindanao as President Rodrigo Duterte wants it to extend until the end of this year. “We would like to allay the fears of our people about the extension of martial and its force and effect, your AFP remains committed to the strict adherence of existing laws including that of human rights in the enforcement of said martial law,” Col. Edgard Arevalo, AFP public affairs chief, said Tuesday.. “We urge the public to give the same degree of cooperation and assistance that they have contributed, that they have exhibited that led to the successful of implementation that yielded positive results, after all law abiding citizens should not have a problem with martial law,” he added. Arevalo did not reveal the specific recommendation of the AFP on the matter. “The Armed Forces of the Philippines through the Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Ano has reported to the president the AFP’s assessment on the operations that is still on-going and the current status of the operations in Marawi but we cannot tell you what exactly those recommendations were as those are matters of national security,” he said. “Suffice it say that there are various other security considerations and concerns that we have to take into account to ensure that our gains in combatting terrorism in Marawi will be sustained,” he added. Arevalo also expressed disappointment on a pronouncement of Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding Chairman Jose Maria Sison who criticized the extension of martial law. “On the part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, we are saddened by this pronouncement, it is unfortunate that that was the interpretation of Mr. Joma Sison on the pronouncement of the president as regards his intent to request the senate to grant the enforcement of martial law extended up to Dec 31,” he said. “We feel that this is not exactly directed on any particular group, the intent of the martial law in the first place and its purported extension subject to the grant of the senate is intended to quell the rebellion in Marawi and to ensure that we will continue with the gains that we have achieved in our combat, in combatting terrorism in Marawi and specifically to be able to quell the group or stop the group that provides support, sympathy and refuge to this terrorist group,” he added. “So the intent of the declaration of martial law and its possible extension, again subject to the approval of the senate is to protect our people and to protect the gains that we have achieved in our fight against terrorism in Marawi,” Arevalo noted. (Robina Asido/DMS)