YOUTH groups on Thursday, March 9, condemned President Rodrigo Duterte's statement on threatening yet again to declare martial law in Mindanao, saying this should not be used to challenge officials.
Duterte, during his speech last Thursday in Davao City, appealed to the people to aim at serving just and long-lasting peace in the region, or else, he might declare Martial law if hostile activities continue to flourish there.
"I will be compelled now [to have] extraordinary powers, not to perpetuate myself. Believe me, I am not happy continuing with this job. But since I have to – it’s not a question of emotions; it’s a question of duty," the President said.
Kabataan Partylist-Northern Mindanao coordinator Vennel Chenfoo said Duterte's repeated threats to declare martial law only shows "he is indeed a fascist, dictator, who idolizes dictator Ferdinand Marcos".
Also, Kristine Cabardo, League of Filipino Students (LFS)-Northern Mindanao (LFS) chairperson said the youth of Mindanao will stand up against this threat, pointing out that martial law would only violate civil liberties and human rights.
She said the youth will not let this administration implement orders risking people's lives, as what it did and what it is doing in the Philippine National Police's Oplan Tokhang.
"Gali, dapat makita sa administrasyon na bisan wala pa gipahamtang ang Martial Law daghan na ang mga kinabuhing nakalas pinaagi sa ilang Oplan Tokhang bisan pa man wala kini napamatud-an. Dugang pa niini, maski ang katawhang nakigbisog nga anaa sa mga legal nga organisasyon wala namahimong luwas sa mga pagpatay, pag harass, pag dakop, ug uban pang porma sa pagpanghulga sa ilang mga kinabuhi (The administration should see that even though martial law is not implemented, many have died because of the Oplan Tokhang. Even groups fighting legally are killed, harassed, and arrested)," she said.
The LFS said there are already 8,000 victims of the Oplan Tokhang, adding that this could double after the PNP renewed the anti-illegal drug campaign, dubbed "Oplan Tokhang 2: Project Double Barrel Reloaded".
Aside from the Tokhang program, Duterte's declaration of all-out war against the New People's Army (NPA) rebels has also took the lives of 18 civilians, most of them are reportedly lumad farmers, the LFS said, adding that since June 2016, about 14,600 cases of intimidation and harassment to activists, over 4,100 cases of indiscriminate firing in communities, and 397 illegal arrests have been so far recorded.
"Angay lamang na babagan sa katawhan, hilabin na sa mga batan-on ang pasista ug militarista nga panghuna-huna niining administrasyon. Usa ka kultura nga bayolente ug puno sa kahadlok ang ginapakaylap niini nga klase sa panghuna-huna IIt is only fitting that the people must stand against this fascist and military-alike administration, especially the youth),” Cabardo said.
“Ang mga kabatan-onan labaw na ang katawhan sa Mindanao gatuo nga ang mga pasistang lakang ni Duterte nagpamatuod lang nga kinahanglan na bungkagon ang kasamtangang sistema nga gatugot sa inhustisya ngadto sa katawhan. Ang kabatan-onan sa Mindanao ug sa tibuok nasud, isip mga paglaum sa nasud, gasaad nga mas pakusgon ang pakigbisog alang sa tinuod nga kabag-ohan ug pakigbisog para sa nasudnong demokrasya (The youth and the people of Mindanao believe that the fascist steps of Duterte only shows that the current system must be destroyed for real change to come),” she added.
