By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros command of the New People’s Army (NPA) slammed President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of Martial Law in southern Philippines which they claim will result in “further isolating his regime from the people.”
In a Facebook post by the Apolinario Gatmaitan command, the rebels claimed the president’s ultimate plan is to “impose [Martial Law] on the entire country.”
They also accused the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) of military abuses and, with Martial Law in effect, members of the military are “bound to carry out greater abuses with even greater impunity,” claiming, they are no longer restricted by legality.
“Duterte has made a bogeyman of the so-called Maute Group,” the group said, calling the display of the ISIS flag being considered as a threat an “overstretch of his imagination.”
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has since called on the NPA to mount more offensives against government forces in the name of resistance. The group, likewise, urged Filipinos to voice their opposition to Martial Law.
The CPP added, if Duterte succeeds in securing congressional support for Martial Law in Mindanao, he will be emboldened to impose the same on the entire country./WDJ