Palace: Lifting martial law only in Davao City may cause problem in Mindanao

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines — Lifting martial law in some areas in Mindanao may cause problems security-wise to other provinces in the region, Malacañang said Thursday.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo issued the statement after the Davao City Council approved Tuesday a resolution asking President Rodrigo Duterte to lift martial law in the city.

READ: Davao City wants out of martial law coverage

Davao City Mayor and presidential daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio earlier said that martial rule had negatively affected the city’s business and trade. Davao City is the hometown of the President.

Sought for Malacañang’s comment, Panelo said, “I will ask him his position on the matter,” referring to the Chief Executive.

Panelo, nevertheless, pointed out that lifting martial law only in certain areas of the region might have an unfavorable implication on the security of entire Mindanao, which has been placed under martial rule since two years ago.

“Pero ang problema doon sa ganoon kasi when you declare martial law, kailangan ‘yong buong lugar. Dahil kung you’re trying to suppress violence or rebellion eh, baka lilipat lang ‘yon doon sa kabila. Eh, ‘di ganoon pa rin ‘yun. Baka may problema ka rin doon,” said Panelo, who also serves as chief presidential legal counsel, during a Palace briefing.

Duterte declared martial law over Mindanao on May 23, 2017, after homegrown Maute terrorists attacked the Islamic City of Marawi.

On July 18, 2017, just before Duterte’s executive order declaring martial law in Mindanao expires, the President requested an extension, which Congress approved until December 31, 2017.

The President again requested a one-year extension until December 31, 2018, which was also granted by Congress.

He again asked for another extension of martial law in Mindanao until December 31, 2019, claiming that “rebellion still persists in strife-torn Mindanao.” /kga