MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang believes that without martial law in Mindanao, there would be more bombings and terrorist attacks in the region.
“If there was no martial law there (in Mindanao), then there would have been chaos and anarchy there. You see how they were able to take Marawi? There was no martial law then,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing on Monday..
Panelo claimed that despite the recent bombing in a Catholic cathedral in Jolo, Sulu that left at least 25 people dead and some 111 others wounded, the declaration of martial law in Mindanao is still effective.
READ: Jolo twin blasts death toll reaches 25, with 111 others injured
President Duterte declared martial in Mindanao when local terrorists laid siege on Marawi City in May 2017.
It has been extended twice and the government now is eyeing to extend it anew until the end of the year.
“It’s effective but this incident is isolated, by the way. We’ll have to investigate how it happened,” he said.
The Palace official, however, conceded that there were some lapses in securing the area.
“There may be some lapses in security, how they were able to put there, is that a motorcycle with a bomb despite the fact that there were soldiers securing the place,” Panelo said.
“If you have security there and there is one or two bombs being placed inside, then there must be a lapse in security,” he added.
But when asked if security forces will be held liable, Panelo said: “We’ll have to investigate. Mine is just a reasonable conclusion derived from the circumstances surrounding the bombing.”
Panelo also claimed that despite the heightened security measures in Mindanao due to the declaration of martial law, the government “cannot certainly stop everything that the enemy will give.”
“We can only learn from lessons and introduce more stringent steps to prevent the occurrence of another bombing,” he added. / gsg