Panelo: Third Mindanao martial law extension likely to be approved

FILE: Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo (Photo: Office of the Presidential Spokesperson/Facebook)

President Rodrigo Duterte might keep Mindanao under military rule as he will likely extend martial law in the area as recommended by his military and police forces, according to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo.

“Unang-una, kung ano ang rekomendasyon ng mga military at PNP (Philippine National Police), at sila naman ang nasa ground, sila ang nakakaalam kung kailangan o hindi [ng martial law] (First of all, whatever the recommendation of the military and PNP, since they are the ones on the ground, they know whether martial law is needed or not),” Panelo said in an interview with GMA’s Unang Balita on Tuesday, December 4.

“Kaya every time na nag-re-recommend sila, pinag-aaralan ng Pangulo and eventually siya ay sumasang-ayon (That is why every time they recommend, the President studies it and eventually, he agrees to it),” he added.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the PNP earlier said they will recommend to the President to extend martial law in Mindanao for another year as terrorism is still “lurking” in the area.

“There is really a need to constrict and limit the maneuver space of the terrorists to the maximum. We have a very weak terrorism law, so with that, martial law is needed to completely defeat terrorism,” Military chief, General Carlito Galvez earlier said.

But while both military and police forces are for another martial law extension, an opposition lawmaker has another take regarding the issue.

“Rebellion does not persist in Mindanao and [the] third extension is completely groundless,” Albay Representative Edcel Lagman told ANC on Tuesday.

“The entire duration of martial law in Mindanao totals to about 586 days. That’s too long. That’s a mockery of the constitutional injunction of a short duration for martial law and its extension,” he added.

Lagman said he will question any request for an extension of martial law before the Supreme Court (SC).

In May 2017, Duterte declared martial law in the entire Mindanao amid clashes between government forces and Maute group. The initial declaration was only valid for 60 days but Congress approved Duterte’s request to extend it until the end of 2017. In December 2017, the lawmakers once again voted to extend military rule in Mindanao until December 31 this year.

On Monday, Duterte told the media that he has not yet decided whether he will ask the Congress again for another martial law extension, but stressed that his decision will depend on the recommendation of military and police since they are the “guys on the ground.”