Martial law now: Philippine president's communication office takes down propaganda video

A view of a street seen through a damaged window glass from a sniper bullet during fighting between government soldiers and rebels in Marawi City. PHOTO: EPA

MANILA (The Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network) - The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) has taken down a propaganda video aimed at shoring up support for martial law as a means to combat "extremism".

The video, which is 36 seconds in length, shows a distressed boy who fends off black silhouettes labelled as "extremists" using a shield with the words "martial law" emblazoned on its surface.

Ominous background music plays while a voice narrates: "In the free society, there are groups who don't want to give independence. They are adamant on detaining peaceful spirits. They are distressing feelings with fears. Let us not allow them to terrify us. We will all fight in unity. Martial law should be the rule of the land. Martial law. Now."

The video was deleted on the PCOO's various social media accounts on Wednesday (May 31) night.

Social media users derided the poor quality of animation used in the video.

Some Twitter users felt that their taxes were being squandered by the PCOO production of the video.

Others expressed concern at the contents of the video.

Netizens also pointed out that the "adversaries" in the video resembled government troops instead of terrorists.

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