Minority senators: Defense chief said martial law not needed to contain Maute

(Updated, 3:22 p.m.) No less than Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has admitted that even without martial law, the government can contain the Maute terrorist group in Marawi City, opposition senators disclosed on Tuesday.

Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said Lorenzana made this admission during the briefing of security officials to senators on Monday.

READ: 15 senators: ‘No compelling reason’ to revoke martial law declaration in Mindanao

Drilon said it was Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, a former navy officer, who asked the Defense Secretary if the government troops could contain the terrorist group without martial law.

“The answer of Secretary Lorenzana was: Yes we can,” he said at a press conference in the Senate attended by fellow opposition senators —Trillanes, Francis Pangilinan, Bam Aquino, and Risa Hontiveros.

Trillanes, in an interview after the press conference, said Lorenzana’s answers were categorical when asked about the necessity of the martial law declaration.

“Maliwanag ‘yung tanong sa kanila. ‘Kaya nyo bang i-contain itong Maute without martial law?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Was there ever a time or a point during the crisis that they lost control of the situation?’ ‘Wala.’ And finally, isang tanong: ‘Was there ever a threat that Marawi would be dismembered from the Republic?’ ‘Wala,’” he said.

(The question to them was clear: “Can you contain Maute without martial law?” He said, “yes.” “Was there ever a time or a point during the crisis that they lost control of the situation?” “None.” And finally, one question, “Was there ever a threat that Marawi would be dismembered from the Republic?” He said none.)

But because President Rodrigo Duterte had already declared martial law, Trillanes said the military had no other choice but to follow the order.

He said the Defense Secretary also told the senators during the briefing that they were not the ones who recommended to President to declare martial law.

“Wala silang ni-recommend. Dumating lang ‘yung information na nag declare na ng martial law kaya ini-implement na nila,” said the senator.

(They did not make recommendations. They just received information that the President already declared martial law, that’s why they implemented it.)

Trillanes believes the martial law declaration was Duterte’s own decision, noting how the latter had repeatedly threatened to impose it if needed.

“Kasi gusto n’ya, kasi nga kating- kati s’ya na mag declare ng martial law (Just because he wants to do it, he has long been itching to declare martial law). Trigger happy s’ya. He has been waiting for that opportunity to declare it. He found that opening so in just a matter of hours — from the eruption of the firefighting (in Marawi City) to the declaration and despite the advice of the defense officials that everything was under control…”

READ: Aguirre says Duterte’s declaration of martial law ‘necessary’

Asked if the security officials were able to justify the imposition of martial law over the whole Mindanao, Trillanes said: “Actually, maliwanag ‘yung statement ni Secretary Lorenzana: Si President nag-declare, they are just implementing it (Actually, the statement of Sec. Lorenzana is clear: It was the president who declared it and they are just implementing it).” IDL/rga