LUCENA CITY – The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) said Tuesday that the Supreme Court decision to uphold the legality of the third extension of martial law in Mindanao would lead to more abuses by government forces.

“By upholding the third extension of martial law, the Supreme Court has further emboldened the military and police personnel who are daily committing abuses of power,” the CPP said in a statement.

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The CPP claimed that there had been instances of warrantless arrests in Northern Mindanao against civilians, including young children, in recent days.

“With this decision, the Supreme Court has once again demonstrated its servility to the tyrannical Duterte regime,” it said.

The CPP issued the statement after the High Tribunal on Tuesday affirmed the legality of the third martial law extension in Mindanao.

READ: Supreme Court OKs 3rd martial law extension in Mindanao

In December, Congress approved a third extension of martial law for the whole of 2019 after security officials cited persistent and continuing terror threats in the region.

The government declared martial law in Mindanao in 2017 after the ISIS-Maute terrorist group attacked Marawi City causing massive destruction and unrest in the region.

The CPP countered that in upholding the so-called constitutionality of the one-year extension of martial law in Mindanao, “the Supreme Court is again legitimizing and providing legal cover for the Duterte regime’s fascist and lawless reign in Mindanao and elsewhere in the country.”

The CPP assailed the Supreme Court for refusing to acknowledge the alleged widespread violation of human rights in Mindanao allegedly committed by government forces.

It said the government “failed to heed the people’s widespread clamor for justice.”

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“By rubberstamping Duterte’s fascist policies, the Supreme Court is actually proving that there indeed exists de facto martial law and authoritarian rule in the Philippines,” the CPP said.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the extension of martial law in Mindanao helped security forces neutralize 1,403 enemies of the state and persons affiliated with local terrorist and communist groups. /ee

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