Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea (File photo by LYN RILLON / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Wednesday said extending further the implementation of martial law in Mindanao is an option in light of the recent blast in Sultan Kudarat.
“Yung mga signs na ganito hindi maganda yan e [These kinds of signs are not good]. Lives in danger na lang na lang. Piyesta, pasasabugan lang. How would you feel?” he said in a chance interview with reporters after the budget briefing of the Office of the President at the House of Representatives.
Pressed if there’s a need to extend martial rule in the southern region, he said: “It’s an option, but nandiyan ‘yun [it’s there].”
“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 this will happen, what shall we do? Are we just going to sit around]?” he added.
Earlier, authorities said two were killed and 36 others were injured after an improvised bomb went off at 8:30 p.m. in front of J and H Marketing in Barangay Kalawag 3 in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.
READ: LOOK: Improvised bomb kills 2, hurts 36 in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat /
2 killed, 36 hurt in Sultan Kudarat bombing
President Rodrigo Duterte first imposed martial law in Mindanao On May 23, 2017 after the Islamic State-inspired Maute terrorist group attacked the Islamic City of Marawi, and attempted to establish a caliphate there.
Even as the government declared an end to fierce urban fighting in Marawi, Duterte later asked Congress to extend martial rule in the southern region until the end of 2018.
Congress overwhelmingly granted the President’s request for the second time on Dec. 13, 2017. /jpv