Central Command deputy chief visits troops, talks about martial law concerns

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — While President Rodrigo Duterte has declared martial law only in Mindanao, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), particularly the Central Command, in the Visayas is ready in the event it will be expanded to other areas in the country.

Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado, deputy commander of the Central Command Friday made the announcement as he called on Governor Roel Degamo at the Capitol and told him he was in Negros Oriental to visit the troops in the province, specifically the 79th Infantry Battalion and the 2nd Negros Island Geographical Battalion.

There is a possibility that martial law will be extended in the Visayas based on the pronouncements made by President Duterte following his arrival from Russia, he said.

But, the Army deputy commander stressed that there was still no Implementing Rules and Regulations of the martial law declared by the President, but nevertheless, he has started talking to troops here on “what to expect”.

Brig. Gen. Arrojado said terrorists of the Maute Group, who engaged government security forces in Marawi might seek shelter in the Visayas or bring their wounded here for treatment.

The possibility is remote but the threat remains, that is why Arrojado said he was meeting with the governor and the troops here to sustain efforts to ensure that Negros Oriental would not be the next target of Muslim extremists.

“So far, they are on the run and negotiating to have a ceasefire because some of their members have been held captive. But, I don’t think the government would give in”, he further said.

On apprehensions raised by many regarding possible abuses in relation to the martial law declaration, the Army general assured that the troops were constantly being reminded to observe human rights at the highest level.

“We know for a fact that the intent of the Commander-in-Chief, the President, is to defeat the terrorists and contain or stop the drug abuse and criminality, so that is why the (declaration of) the martial law”, Brig. Gen. Arrojado stressed.

As deputy commander, it is part of his job to visit the units, give lectures on human rights, about gender sensitivity, violence against women and the like so troops would adhere to existing laws, he added.

Arrojado stressed unlike the Martial law days of the former strongman Ferdinand Marcos, there were a lot of safeguards in the present dispensation.The Ombudsman and Commission on Human Rights are there as well as active social media to monitor the implementation of today’s martial rule, he said.

Soldiers now are well-trained and a lot different from back then, plus there are internal controls to ensure that no human rights violations are committed,he added.