Army chief drops martial law tack

MANILA, Philippines — Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, the Army chief, dropped on Sunday his proposal to declare martial law in Sulu in favor of “better options.”

“I drop my recommendation for martial law declaration over Sulu despite the turmoil as there might be other better options,” Sobejana said in a message to journalists.

He did not specify the “better options” but Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay, the military chief of staff, said last week that martial law was unnecessary because Mindanao was still in the “state of national emergency” that President Duterte declared in September 2016.

The state of national emergency was embodied in the President’s Proclamation No. 55 issued on Sept. 4, 2016, two days after the bombing of a night market in Davao City, which killed 14 people.

The President then declared martial law in Mindanao on May 23, 2017, when the Islamic State-affiliated Maute group besieged Marawi City. Martial law was extended three times until the end of 2019.

Sobejana reminded the public that the military displayed “utmost professionalism and maturity” during the 33 months that Mindanao was under martial law, but stressed that he respects and bows to the wisdom of the national leadership and public sentiment.

The Sulu-based 11th infantry division maintained on Sunday they never relaxed security measures in Sulu, particularly Jolo, where twin bombings were perpetrated by the Abu Sayyaf, said its spokesperson, Lt. Col. Rolando Mateo.