This, even as Casilao scored massive bombing in Marawi City despite reports that thousands of civilians remain trapped in Marawi.
In a statement, Casilao said “martial law fueled more intensified military operations in Moro and farmer communities in Mindanao.” He cited instances of such alleged military abuses.
“At dawn on May 25, or about 32 hours after the martial law declaration, more than 200 soldiers of the 39th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (IBPA) fired arms indiscriminately in several barangays of President Roxas town of North Cotabato and Damulog town Bukidnon, which was followed by aerial bombardments by MG520 attack helicopters and whole-day shelling with 105mm howitzer canons. Near 1,600 Moros and farmers were affected by the military assault,” he reported.
Casilao also cited reports that last May 27, two farmers were illegally arrested and another was reported missing after soldiers under the 66th IBPA conducted military operations in Maragusan town, Compostela Valley. The arrested farmers are Nestor Quintaro and Gilbert Rodella, both members of Umana farmers group, while another farmer Eranio Lapus is still missing.
He said that two days later on May 29, soldiers under the 60th IBPA, also “illegally arrested a farmer couple Kidjol Marcelo Antay, Sr. and Noeme Antay in Laak town, Compostela Valley. The farmers are members of Namulak farmers group and have remained detained at the military camp in Doña Andrea Asuncion town, Davao Del Norte.”
“While the martial declaration was basically due to the Maute group terrorist actions in Marawi City, the government response is gradually depicting itself as being heavy-handed,” Casilao said.
Casilao is among the proponents of the House Joint Resolution No. 13, fi led by Makabayan coalition representatives pushing for a joint session of both Houses and revocation of Proclamation No. 216 which declared martial law in Mindanao.
“We urge the President to lift martial law, before it is too late. The people’s trust in the President is being diluted by the militaristic approach to the crisis, as advanced by his rightist cabinet members,” Casilao also said.
