Drilon reiterates ‘no actual rebellion’ in Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Franklin Drilon on Tuesday reiterated that rebellion in Mindanao “no longer persists” as he rejected the plans to extend martial law in the region.

“I may sound like a broken record but for the nth time, I would repeat: there is no actual rebellion. Rebellion no longer persists in Mindanao,” Drilon said in a statement.

Drilon was reacting to reports that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will recommend another martial law extension in Mindanao.

AFP chief of staff Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. previously revealed that other agencies such as Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC), local government units, and Commission on Elections have also recommended the extension in Mindanao.

He also cited terrorist incidents such as the Basilan blast, Sulu encounters, and bomb explosions in Central Mindanao as some of the basis for the recommendation.

READ: AFP to recommend extension of martial law in Mindanao

However, Drilon said there are threats of rebellion but there is no presence of actual rebellion.

“There may be threats of rebellion, but what the Constitution clearly requires as a ground for declaring and extending martial law is the presence of actual rebellion,” he said.

Drilon also cited that under the 1987 Constitution, martial law may only be extended “if the invasion or rebellion shall persist and public safety requires it.”

President Rodrigo Duterte placed Mindanao under martial law in May 2017 after a terrorist group clashed with government troops in Marawi City.

Martial law had been extended twice by Congress and will still be implemented until the end of this year. /je