Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
The martial law in Mindanao was “much milder” and “tamer” compared to the martial rule in the 70s, Senator Sonny Angara said on Tuesday.
“It’s not the martial law of the 70s where you know, you’re scared to go out of your house. It’s a much milder and tamer martial law,” Angara said in an interview over CNN Philippines.
Asked if the threat and the trauma of the martial law in the past were similar to what is being implemented now in Mindanao, the senator answered no, saying martial law was a “misnomer.”
“No. Not all. Because number one, there are a lot of safeguards in the Constitution, so I think, in fact, martial law is a misnomer. Because when you say martial law, people conjure up images from the 70s and it may not be helping our image abroad,” he said.
Angara maintained his support for President Rodrigo Duterte’s martial law just as the Supreme Court upheld its legality.
The senator noted that the threat in the region was already “dissipating,” citing his recent visits in various parts of Mindanao.
“I was in Cagayan de Oro, I was in Iligan, I was in Davao City, and you know, things are really proceeding as normal…” he said.
Asked again when martial law should be lifted, Angara said the decision would be up to authorities.
Asked on the issue whether or not to extend the martial law declaration, he said this should be debated jointly by Congress. Rogelio Nato, Jr., INQUIRER.net trainee / JPV
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