Soldiers assist their comrade wounded during the ground and air assault Wednesday against members of ISIS-inspired militant group in the southern Philippine city of Marawi. PHOTO BY JEOFFREY MAITEM / INQUIRER MINDANAO
President Rodrigo Duterte鈥檚 declaration of martial law in Mindanao to deal with聽 a terrorist threat has given the military a massive responsibility to preserve democracy in the country and ensure that people鈥檚 rights are upheld.
鈥淭he Armed Forces of the Philippines has been the only guarantee of the country and the people against an unjustified declaration of martial law, or worse a revolutionary government,鈥� said security analyst Ashley Acedillo, a former Air Force pilot who took part in the Oakwood mutiny in 2003.
鈥淚n fact, the AFP enjoys broad trust and support from the people. How they will proceed from hereon will be crucial to our democracy,鈥� Acedillo said.
The administration-allied militant Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives opposes Mr. Duterte鈥檚 declaration primarily because it believes this will pave the way for military abuse.
Martial law implementer
The bloc alleges that Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Eduardo A帽o, Mr. Duterte鈥檚 appointed martial law implementer, has a tainted human rights record, especially with his supposed involvement in the abduction of activist Jonas Burgos, son of democracy icon Jose Burgos Jr.
A帽o has denied any involvement in the Burgos case and has built a reputation in the military as a respected commander.
A帽o has played crucial intelligence and operational roles in military operations against the communist insurgency.
Bound by accountability
Security analyst Chester Cabalza said the necessity to declare martial law should not be abused.
Cabalza said the intent of Mr. Duterte was to 鈥渟tabilize a high-risk security threat to defeat militant or terrorist groups, [but] the declaration of martial law should still be bounded by legal instruments and the President鈥檚 accountability.鈥�
Acedillo, a former Magdalo representative, urged the people not to allow their 鈥渇ear to take over and surrender vigilance to the false sense of security that a martial law declaration brings.鈥�
鈥淥nce we do so, we may soon realize that the cure is worse than the disease. By the time we found out that something is amiss, it is already too late. We cannot afford to be wrong again,鈥� he said.
Acedillo described the martial law declaration as 鈥渧ery controversial鈥� because Mr. Duterte 鈥渋s not particularly known for his democratic tendencies, but rather for his populist, quick-fix, strongman approaches.鈥�