Davao Oriental officials back martial law extension

The Davao Oriental Provincial Peace and Order Executive Committee headed by Governor Nelson Dayanghirang approved a resolution supporting the extension of martial law. (Photo courtesy of Davao Oriental PIO via PNA)

DAVAO CITY — Local officials in Davao Oriental province expressed their support for the extension of martial law in Mindanao.

Provincial Information Officer Karen Lou Deloso on Saturday said the Provincial Peace and Order Council (POCC) and the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) in the province passed a resolution backing an extension of the martial law.

Deloso said all the local chief executives in the province composing the POCC arrived at the decision “in their pursuit for a lasting peace in Mindanao.”

Deloso said the province’s support is anchored on the national government’s “objective to put Mindanao under martial law in addressing security threats and problems in Southern Philippines.”

Governor Nelson Dayanghirang said local officials did not see any problem with the implementation of martial law, as he noted that Davao Oriental is the first in the Davao Region to be declared “conflict-manageable area.”

Dayanghirang credited the achievement to the province’s support for peace and development measures, describing its community outreach program for the communist rebels as “an investment for peace.”

The program, dubbed “Nagkakaisang Lingkod Bayan ng Davao Oriental-Barangay Outreach Caravan”, has enticed many rebels to surrender, the governor said.

Tarragona Mayor Nestor Uy, the provincial LMP chapter president, said local officials are supportive of the martial law extension because “it’s for our own good. In the first place, martial law should not have been implemented if this will do us harm.

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In an earlier interview, Armed Forces chief of staff General Carlito Galvez expressed confidence on the positive impact of the martial law on Mindanao’s economy and the peace and order situation on the island.

Galvez said there was a need to extend the martial law to sustain the gains and to completely defeat terrorism, including the New People’s Army (NPA).

The AFP and the Philippine National Police are set to come up with a “joint assessment” for a “more validated conclusive reports” on martial law.

President Rodrigo Duterte has earlier said the extension of martial would depend on the recommendation of the AFP. Martial law in Mindanao was declared on May 23, 2017, following the government’s campaign against the ISIS-inspired Maute militants’ siege on Marawi City.