President Duterte may place Negros Oriental under martial law to quell lawless violence on the island and put an end to the killings allegedly carried out by communist rebels, a Palace official said. He can declare martial law,” said presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Thursday. The President was of the view that the police could not handle the spate of killings in the island, Panelo added. But rights groups on Thursday condemned Mr. Duterte’s pronouncement about declaring martial law in Negros, saying it would significantly impact the already dismal human rights situation in the island. “As what we have seen in the course of martial law implementation in Mindanao, we foresee extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, torture and other rights violations by State forces once martial law is declared in Negros,” Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer August 01, 2019 20:37 UTC