Maranao official: ML extension approval lacks civilian voices

FILE: Samira Gutoc (Photo: Samira Gutoc/Facebook)

Ranao Rescue Team Head Samira Gutoc said that they were not informed of the schedule of the joint hearing on the extension of the martial law extension in Mindanao, on Wednesday.

“So, we actually would protest the martial law hearing yesterday on the technicality, the absence of civilian voices,” Gutoc said in an interview with ANC.

She revealed in the same interview that they were taken aback with the scheduled joint hearing since they were not informed. They were, however, invited last July 22 during the hearing for the first extension.

“It hurt so much yesterday. There was no calling of any evacuee affected by martial law. That’s a technicality that we should question,” she added.

According to Gutoc, none of the ten resource persons was a civilian and that “they did not even give value to a so-called martial law beneficiary or martial law victim.”

“Why wasn’t there 30 seconds given in the floor, and you’re talking of an extraordinary legislation of extraordinary powers to arrest certain people, detain certain people?” she questioned.

The Maranao official also opened the topic of lootings, questioning why the discussion did not have investigations on such a “thematic concern” when a video circulated on Facebook of supposed government forces trespassing properties then depositing laptops and jewelry through courier company LBC Express.

“There was a big vacancy in the discussions yesterday. I think technicality should be looked by the Secretary-General of Congress,” she said adding that there were no position papers from their legislators, in Marawi and Lanao Del Sur who oppose martial law.

On her Facebook account, Gutoc also wrote: “How can you decide to extend martial law with only defenders of martial law and not hearing its victims?”

President Rodrigo Duterte requested the Congress for an extension of the military rule after hearing the sides of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on “increasing” terrorist activities in the southern region.

The Maute fighters’ attack in battle-torn Marawi City in May prompted the President to declare martial law in Mindanao.