MANILA, Philippines — Claims that the declaration of martial law in Mindanao has contributed to its economic growth rate have no empirical basis, Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman said Wednesday.
At the joint session of Congress at the Batasang Pambansa on the extension of martial law, Lagman asked newly-appointed Armed Forces chief Lieutenant General Benjamin Madrigal about the growth rate in Mindanao in 2018.
But the latter said the National Economic and Development Authority has yet to provide them with such data.
“We have not yet been given the data as of 2018,” Madrigal said.
Lagman explained that there had been repeated claims that martial rule contributed to the development in growth in Mindanao.
“There has been this repeated claim that martial law contributed to the development in growth in Mindanao but how can this be validated when there’s no empirical claim on which this claim can be anchored?” the opposition lawmaker said.
In May, former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque claimed there was significant progress in the economy of Mindanao which, he said, was an indication that the military rule has no negative effects on the region’s economy.
In the President’s request letter for extension, he cited “substantial economic gains in Mindanao” as among the “significant progress” in the region during the martial law period. /muf