MANILA, Philippines – National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. on Tuesday said he will recommend the extension of martial law in Mindanao for another year due to the sustained rebellion in the region.
National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr.
“I will. I’ll go for one year,” Esperon told reporters on Tuesday after the post-Sona press briefing of the Duterte Cabinet.
Mindanao has been under martial law since the Marawi City siege in 2017.
On July 18, 2017, just before President Duterte’s executive order declaring martial law in Mindanao expired, he requested an extension, which Congress approved until December 31, 2017.
He again requested for a one-year extension until December 31, 2018, even as he had declared Marawi “liberated from terrorist influence” in October 2017.
Congress granted the request again.
For the third time, Duterte asked for another extension of martial law in Mindanao until December 31, 2019, claiming that “rebellion still persists in Mindanao and that the public safety requires the continuation of martial law in the whole of Mindanao.”
Esperon noted that terrorism in Mindanao continues to thrive, as shown by recent bombing attacks in the area.
“Wala tayong problema sa mga law abiding eh, pero may mga terorista. So we also must improve our deployment technical equipment,” he said,
The former Armed Forces of the Philippines chief-of-staff, however, said he is open to lifting martial law in some areas, such as Davao City.
“Why not (lift martial law) kung kaya na? You know why? Davao City is already a hardened area,” Esperon said.
Presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio earlier called for the exemption of the city from martial law, stressing that the security situation in the city and other areas in Mindanao have already improved. /gsg
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