Lacson: Gov’t won’t have easy time asking for ML extension

Should the government ask Congress for another extension of martial law in Mindanao, senators may not be so open to the idea, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said.

The executive branch will have to present strong reasons why an extension is needed, Lacson said at a forum on Thursday.

“It’s been so long. [Martial law] should have done a lot to address [the concerns in Mindanao],” the senator said.

“They will have to convince us more than they did it during the first and second extensions,” he added.

President Duterte first declared martial law in Mindanao in May 2017 after militants allied with the Islamic State group seized Marawi City.

The fighting ended five months later, but Mr. Duterte succeeded in getting Congress’ nod to extend martial law until the end of 2018 to prevent the militants from regrouping.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines plans to recommend the extension of martial rule in Mindanao, but rights groups have raised concerns that extending it law could lead to more abuses.