The threat in the South

On May 23, a clash between the Philippine military and the Maute Group broke out in Barangay Basak Malulut in Marawi City. Gunshots were heard, causing panic and fear among the residents. The Maute Group was spreading terror and violence while branding itself part of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist network. The fighting between the government and the armed group also caused people to evacuate the city.

In November 2016 the Maute Group made news headlines both in the Philippines and elsewhere in the world when it raised the IS flag in some areas of Mindanao. There were reports that its public appearance at that time was part of its plans to stir terror in the country. According to an article published by the Security Reform Initiative, the campaign was led by the alleged Saudi-educated brothers Omar and Abdullah Maute. But their background is not clear on whether it contributed to their launch of public terror in Southern Philippines. Other reports indicate they were contract workers in the United Arab Emirates and had Islamic theology lessons in Jordan.

As the situation in Marawi escalated, President Duterte declared martial law in the whole of Mindanao during a joint press conference in Moscow with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano. Lorenzana said Mr. Duterte’s proclamation would help solve security issues in the entire island.

Though the President’s declaration is allowed under the Philippine Constitution, it is important that authorities set parameters on how to operationalize it in order to prevent abuses by government authorities and forces as the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus is upheld. Mr. Duterte said martial law in Mindanao would be good for 60 days. But two days after the declaration, he announced that he may expand martial law nationwide, on grounds that the terror threat may persist.

The possible imposition of martial law on the entire country should be viewed in two ways. First, it is important that the Philippine government uniformly classify Maute as an armed group different from IS. The group’s latching on to the IS brand helps magnify the threat, further making nationwide martial law possible.

In an October 2016 report, a Jakarta-based think tank warned of “cross-border extremist operations” after tracing links between four Philippine terror groups—including the Maute Group—and pro-IS fighters in neighboring Indonesia and Malaysia. But the Philippine military and the President have diverging characterizations of the Maute Group: The former says the group has not established direct links with IS, but the latter believes otherwise.

Secondly, the declaration of martial law and the announced possibility of expanding it have raised concern and distress among the public, which fears a repeat of the Marcos regime’s atrocities during martial rule, including violations of human rights and arbitrary arrests and detentions.

It was early in October 2016, during his speech before the Jewish Association of the Philippines, that Mr. Duterte admitted there were instances when he was tempted to impose martial law due to the supposedly worsening drug trafficking in the Philippines. In the following month, he said the escalating rebellion in the South may also call for martial law.

The crisis in Marawi requires security and humanitarian framing. That the government would resolve the issue without integrating any political interests and expansion of power is still in question. And the government undoubtedly needs support from the Filipino people to facilitate the necessary measures to assist the victims of the internal conflict.

Reuben James T. Barrete, a development worker, is working on a master’s degree in international studies at the University of the Philippines Diliman.