Liberal Party Vice President Leni Robredo expressed her support to President Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte’s declaration on putting the entire regions of Mindanao under martial law, MSN.com said.

According to her, declaring martial law is one of the actions to ensure peace and order against Maute groups who are putting Marawi City under siege for several days from writing.

“Gusto natin maging supportive sa administrasyon kasi sa tindi ng problema natin sa terorismo, hindi ito ang yung panahon na nag-aaway-away tayo,” Robredo said.

In spite of the doubt of putting the entire country into martial law, Robredo so far, does not see any reasons to extend martial law to Luzon and Visayas regions. This is in consideration that people are afraid from possible human right violation as experienced like before during the time of Marcos regime.

“Maraming nangangamba dahil sa karanasan natin sa pang-aabuso na nangyari sa ating bansa,” Robredo said.

“Dahil dito kaya sa pagsuporta natin gusto din nating humingi ng assurance galing sa administrasyon at sa ating hukbong sandatahan na siguraduhin na hindi na ulit mangyayari iyong nangyari  noong panahon ng diktadurya,” she added. 

Filipino has traumatic experienced in the past under the late dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos who declared martial law in 1972. Marcos declaration of martial law was supposed to be to curb communist rebellion. Marcos’ martial rule was marred by human rights abuses, torture and state-sponsored killings.

Robredo, as human rights advocate and known as one among the critics of Marcoses, she condemned the plunder, crimes and abuses attributed to the late strongman during his decades-long regime. 

With regards to the martial law declared of today under the Duterte’s administration, Robredo believed that the military will be doing best to protect innocent civilians and able to resolve the crisis in Mindanao. She also advises all Filipinos to remain vigilant against revival of dictatorship.

“Hindi natin papayagan na maging instrument ulit ito ng karahasan. Hindi natin papayagan na ito ang maging daan para magkaroon ulit ng nilabanan natin dati ng uri ng pamamahala,” Robredo said.

“Sana hindi na ito bumalik,” she added.