Lt Gen Rey Leonardo Guerrero. NOY MORCOSO/INQUIRER.net file photo
Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero said on Friday that the possibility of martial law nationwide will depend on the “political situation” and “reaction of adversaries.”
In a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Guerrero tried to evade questions on the prospect of expanding martial law outside Mindanao, saying these are “speculative.”
“It’s too early. It’s too early, too far in the future for me to project. Ang tingnan lang natin kasi yung actions namin will also depend on the political situation and the reaction of adversaries. Kung maging violent sila, the answer is obvious,” he said.
Guerrero said their basis of recommendation would depend on their information at hand.
“We can never tell for now…I-focus muna natin yung sa Mindanao. So, for other parts of the country, nobody can tell. It will depend on new developments and of course it will depend sa future actions ng ating adversaries,” he said.
President Rodrigo Duterte said early this week that he is not ruling out the possibility of a nationwide martial law, saying it would depend on the actions of the “enemies of the state,” such as the New People’s Army (NPA).
He said the decision depends on the recommendation of the military, which he said is more informed of the situation on the ground.
On Wednesday, Congress approved Duterte’s request to extend martial law in the whole of Mindanao from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018. He cited the terror threat posed by communist rebels and the regrouping of ISIS-inspired local groups. /kga