(Updated, 2:24 p.m., July 22, 2017) A peace advocate from Marawi City turned emotional as she cited instances of human-rights abuses against the residents of the strife-torn city during a joint session on martial law extension on Saturday. Asked by Senator Grace Poe to speak, Samira Gutoc-Tomawis, who lives in Bangon, Marawi City, said many evacuees in the city have experienced abuses by the government forces amid the martial law in Mindanao. Fighting back tears, Gutoc urged the lawmakers to consult Marawi residents and evacuees how they feel about the effects of war and martial law. I have to speak for 250,000 people in Marawi City and 400,000 Maranaos scattered all over the country,” she said. Of course, we don’t want war to continue but we need to contain the immediate threat that we face with,” Poe said.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer July 22, 2017 05:38 UTC