MANILA, Philippines — While saying it respected the extension of martial law in Mindanao, the Commission on Human Rights on Friday, December 15, stressed “the need to address account of human rights violations on the ground.”
While the government has reported the situation in Marawi City as normal, “the communities still bear the damage and consequences of the armed conflict,” the CHR said, noting that “internally displaced persons continue to occupy shelter sites in Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, as well as other areas in Northern Mindanao, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and even Metro Manila.”
“There is also a need to investigate allegations of looting by the military, unlawful/arbitrary arrests, military presence in IDP camps, cases of profiling, military harassment, enforced disappearance, torture, and extrajudicial killings,” the CHR said as it called on government “to hold to account both state and non-state actors responsible for the atrocities committed against the local residents.”
WATCH | Congress approves 1 more year of martial law in Mindanao
On Wednesday, December 13, Congress, meeting in joint session, voted overwhelmingly to grant President Rodrigo Duterte’s request for a yearlong extension of the martial law he originally declared for 60 days on May 23 after fighting broke out in Marawi between government forces and extremist gunmen and, when that period lapsed with hostilities still raging, convinced the legislature to extend to the end of this year.
With Marawi declared liberated in late October, after five months of fighting that reduced most of Marawi to rubble, Duterte, on the recommendation of the military and police, requested another extension of martial law citing, aside from extremists who survived Marawi, threats from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, the Abu Sayyaf, and communist rebels.
The CHR pledged “all the possible assistance” it could extend to rebuilding affected communities and “ensure that IDPs’ rights to access to education, shelter, food, water, and proper sanitation among others are fulfilled by the government,” as well as to “provide recommendations on how to ensure fast and responsive delivery of services to affected communities aligned with human rights treaties and standards.”
While standing by its belief that “the police and military can address threats of terrorism and lawless violence without martial law,” the CHR said that, “in respect of legislative concurrence, we are hopeful that the intent of the extension will not be tarnished by human rights violations.”
“It is now incumbent upon the government to observe and ensure the safeguards of the Constitution and our laws to prevent abuses,” it said as it vowed to “will closely monitor (martial law’s) implementation and denounce any form of abuses, consistent with our mandate and oath of service to the Filipino people.”
