Robredo trusts military; asks Congress to scrutinize martial law extension

While the Vice President has expressed her support to the President and trust on the military when it comes to the martial law extension in Mindanao, she also asked the Congress to ‘ask questions that are needed to be asked.’ (Photo: VP Leni Robredo/Facebook)

While the Vice President has expressed her support to the President and trust on the military when it comes to the martial law extension in Mindanao, she also asked the Congress to ‘ask questions that are needed to be asked.’

Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday said that the people have the right to know what to expect in the year-long extension of martial law.

“Tiwala tayo sa AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), tiwala po tayo sa DND (Department of National Defense) – kay Secretary [Delfin] Lorenzana – sa kanilang assessment kung ano ang kailangan para ma-secure iyong Marawi, ma-secure iyong Mindanao (We have trust in AFP, we have trust in DND – in Secretary Delfin Lorenzana – in their assessment on what is needed to secure Marawi, to secure Mindanao,” the Vice President started telling the reporters.

“Gusto po nating bigyan ng suporta. Pero iyong sa akin lang po, sana sa hearing, mapag-usapan iyong mga tanong na nasa isip nating lahat (We really want to give them our support. But for me, I hope in the hearing, the questions that are all in our minds would be tackled),” she added.

Robredo had three questions: why the duration is a year; why the scope of area is in the whole land of Mindanao; and what specific aid martial law can give to the government in terms of fast-tracking the rehabilitation of Marawi and ensuring its security.

“Iyon ay kailangang itanong natin. Parang sa atin lang po, inaasahan natin iyong ating mga senador at mga kongresista, itatanong iyong mga nasa likod ng isip natin para klaro kung bakit kailangan, gaano katagal talaga, at ano iyong puwedeng asahan habang na-e-extend iyong martial law (All of these should be asked. For us, we expect the senators and congressmen to ask these questions that are in our minds to clarify the reason, the period, and what are to be expected during the extension of martial law),” Robredo said.

Earlier, Robredo has given her support to the military rule extension saying, “Gusto nating maging supportive sa administrasyon kasi sa tindi ng problema natin sa terorismo, hindi ito iyong panahon na nag-aaway-away tayo (We want to be supportive to the administration given the gravity of terrorism, this is not the time for us to clash).”

President Rodrigo Duterte has formally asked the Congress to extend the martial law declaration in Mindanao, after requests from Philippine National Police (PNP) and AFP.

(Read: Duterte formally asks Congress for one-year martial law extension and AFP backs PNP on Mindanao martial law extension)