Makabayan Bloc cites Castro, Ocampo arrest in opposing extension of Mindanao martial law

Members of the Makabayan Bloc on Monday expressed their opposition to another extension of martial law in Mindanao, citing the recent "illegal" arrest and detention and filing of "trumped-up" charges against ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro and former Bayan Muna party-list Representative Satur Ocampo.

In a press conference, Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate said that the declaration of martial law in Mindanao only emboldens the police and the military to take the law into their own hands.

Castro, Ocampo and 16 others were detained by the police in Talaingod, Davao Del Norte last week. They were stopped by the military on their way to a Lumad school in Talaingod, where they were supposed to distribute food and school supplies to the children in the school, which they claimed was under attack by the military.

Zarate recounted how the police tried to block the release of the detainees even after they posted bail by saying that it only covered one of the kidnapping and human trafficking charges they had been slapped with.

"Ang mukha ng martial law ay ang mga state forces—militar at pulis. Sila ang namamayani. Kahit na yung legitimate na order ng korte ay pwede nilang baluktutin at i-interpret according to their own twisted interpretation," Zarate said.

'Unlimited martial law'

Duterte imposed martial law in Mindanao on May 23, 2017, the same day the Maute group began its attack on Lanao del Sur's capital city Marawi. The state of martial law was then only supposed to last for 60 days.

On July 22, 2017, the day before it was supposed to be lifted, Congress instead voted to extend martial law in the region until the end of 2017.

On December 13, 2017, Congress approved the President's request to extend martial law in Mindanao a second time, this time until December 31, 2018.

Last month, military spokesperson Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo said that the military is likely to support a third extension of the imposition of martial law in the region.

Zarate said another extension of martial law in Mindanao would only lead to more cases of human rights violations.

"Sa katunayan, kung pababayaan natin ang militar at pulis, hindi na lang ang Mindanao ang gusto nilang ilagay sa batas militar kundi ang buong bansa na. At gusto nila, unlimited martial law," he added.

For her part, Gabriela Women's Party Representative Arlene Brosas said the charges filed against Castro and Ocampo were clearly meant to silence them.

"Kung ganito yung pinapakita ng pamahalaan ngayon, ano pa yung mga cases na hindi high-profile katulad ng wala si Satur Ocampo at wala si Representative France Castro? Paano na lang yung mga mamamayan natin na humihingi ng hustisya doon?" she said.

Brosas pointed out that the incident could scare away other groups who want to conduct humanitarian missions.

"Kaya kailangan talaga itigil na ang martial law, at huwag nang i-extend ito. In fact, hindi siya nakakatulong," she said.

"Ang panawagan namin, tigilan na ng administrasyon ni Duterte na ipilit sa mga tao ang magkaroon pa ng extension ng martial law. Dahil malinaw na malinaw itong kaso kung paano nilalabag ang karapatang pantao ng bawat isa sa atin," she added. — BM, GMA News