Only 3 Mindanao solons voted ‘no’ to martial law extension

DAVAO City — By a vote of 261-18, with only three Mindanawon representatives voting “No,” the joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives approved over the weekend the request of President Rodrigo Duterte to extend martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus all over Mindanao’s 27 provinces and 33 cities until Dec. 31.

All Moro representatives present voted for the extension. Anak Mindanao party-list representatives were absent while Kusug Tausug party-list Rep. Shernee Abubakar Tan did not only vote yes, she also proposed that martial law be declared all over the country.

Tan is the youngest daughter of former Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan and incumbent Sulu Vice Governor Nurunisah Abubakar. The incumbent Governor, Abdusakur Tan II, is her brother.

Mindanao has 59 district representatives and seven party-list members. Two district representatives passed away last year.

Only three Mindanawon representatives — all party-list members — voted against the extension: Bayan Muna’s Carlos Isagani Zarate, Anakpawis’ Ariel Casilao and Anakbayan’s Tom Villarin, all of them from Davao City, where the President served as mayor for 22 years.

Senator Grace Poe called on a representative from civil society in Marawi, Samira Gutoc of the Ranao Rescue Team. Gutoc is among thousands of Marawi’s internally displaced persons.

Gutoc cited three cases of human rights violations. The first case is a 20-year old mentally challenged male whom the mother brought to the hospital after hot water was poured on his hand after he was found in Saduc, Marawi and interrogated if he was a member of the Maute Group.

The second case involved 26 men who were rescued by men in uniform. One of the rescued narrated how they were asked to remove their tee-shirts, blindfold themselves and walk. “Walk blindfolded. And may narinig sila na baril Ma’am, Sir Senator, Sir President, may isang, sinabi ng boses ng isang authority, ‘maghukay na kayo ng inyong libingan.’”

The third case involved a pregnant woman who was held for questioning for a day by the police in Pagadian City for carrying dextrose (IV fluid) in her baggage.

Her voice quivering, Gutoc asked legislators to ask Marawi residents how they feel. “I am from Marawi City, Your Honors. Please ask us, what do we feel? Please ask us, how do we, how do we stand up and arise? Twenty bodies are in Capin Funeral (Homes in Iligan City). One hundred days, or almost 60 days, not buried. What if it was your grandfather na hindi po nilibing?” (mindanews)