DAVAO CITY—A lawmaker from Mindanao called on fellow legislators from the island to support President Duterte’s declaration of martial law to combat terrorists trying to set up what defense officials said was a caliphate of the international terror network Islamic State (IS) in Mindanao.
In a statement, Rep. Antonio Floirendo asked other members of Congress to “throw their support” behind Mr. Duterte’s martial law declaration.
Floirendo said he stood firmly behind the President’s decision to impose martial law in Mindanao to stop terrorists belonging to Abu Sayyaf and Maute Group from establishing an IS base there.
“As a Mindanaoan, I believe that President’s Duterte’s leadership is what is needed to bring peace and security in the region,” he said.
“Let us also rally behind our troops as they fight terrorists whose only aim is to advance their twisted ideology that aims to destroy the very fabric of our way of life as a nation and as a people,” he added.
Floirendo, tagged as the largest campaign contributor to Mr. Duterte, said the President’s declaration was “compliant with the requirements of the Constitution.”
“His adoption of such constitutional remedy is the appropriate and effective response,” Floirendo said.
Malacañang has submitted a written report about the martial law declaration to Congress, which has yet to meet in joint session to either sustain or revoke the President’s declaration.
Members of the opposition had expressed opposition to the declaration, saying it was unnecessary. —NICO ALCONABA
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