Medialdea: Martial law extension in Mindanao an ‘option’

“It’s an option,” Medialdea told reporters in an ambush interview after the budget hearing of the Office of the President at the House of Representatives. (PNA file photo by Avito C. Dalan)

MANILA — Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Wednesday said the extension of martial law in Mindanao is an option in the wake of a deadly explosion in Sultan Kudarat.

“It’s an option,” Medialdea told reporters in an ambush interview after the budget hearing of the Office of the President at the House of Representatives.

“We’re trying to make it as easy as possible na walang ano. But kung ganito pa rin ang nangyari, anong gagawin natin? Upo lang tayo diyan? (But if such a thing happened, what will we do? Will we just sit around?),” he added.

Medialdea said the Sultan Kudarat blast is an ominous development.

“Yung mga signs na ganito, hindi maganda yan eh. Lives in danger na lang. Piyesta, pasasabugan lang. How would you feel? (These signs are not good. Lives are in danger. There’s an explosion during a festival? How would you feel?),” he said.

Martial law in Mindanao was declared on May 23, 2017 following attacks launched by the Maute Group in Marawi City. Congress, in a special joint session in July last year, granted the extension of martial law until Dec. 31, 2017 at the President’s request.

The Senate and House of Representatives, convening in a joint session early December, granted President Rodrigo Duterte’s request for the extension of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus for a period of one year from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2018.

Two people were killed while over more than 30 others were injured when an improvised explosive device went off in front of J and H Marketing along the national highway in Barangay Kalawag 3, Isulan, Sultan Kudarat at around 8:34 p.

m. on Tuesday.

The blast site was brimming with shoppers amid the celebration for the town’s foundation day and its Hamungaya Festival, which began Monday and is set to conclude on Thursday.

The fatalities were identified as seven-year-old Davy Shane Alayon of Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat town, and Lenie Ombrog, 52, of Barangay Kalawag.

On Wednesday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) placed police units in Mindanao on full alert status following the attack.

PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said a group has already claimed responsibility for the attack but said the police are still conducting post-blast investigation.

“Unang-una, mayroong group na nag-claim. We believe that it is a terror attack,” he added.

Military and police sources said they are initially looking at the possibility that the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) was responsible for the attack.