“None serves as basis for the extension of martial law, its previous declaration a tragedy, its perpetuation a farce,” the petition read. Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the Duterte administration was confident that it could defend the constitutionality of martial law. The President placed the entire Mindanao under martial law on May 23, 2017, after Islamic State-inspired Maute and Abu Sayyaf terrorists overran Marawi City. They said Mr. Duterte’s real targets were dissenters, noting that the martial law extension added the New People’s Army (NPA) and their “supporters, financiers and coddlers” as broad targets of martial law. “I think the branding of [the] NPA as terrorist is separate and distinct from martial law.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer January 08, 2018 23:26 UTC