Lorenzana ‘not yet inclined’ to recommend martial law in Negros Oriental

MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he is not likely to recommend martial law in Negros Oriental at the moment.

“We will wait for the recommendation and justification of the military and local officials. Me? I am not inclined to recommend as of now,” he told INQUIRER.net on Friday.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Thursday said President Rodrigo Duterte would likely invoke emergency powers soon and possibly declare martial law in Negros Oriental.

This would be separate from the martial law currently in effect in Mindanao until the end of 2019 due to the threat from Islamic extremists since the Marawi siege.

Reports say at least 14 persons were killed in Negros Oriental since July 23. The spate of killings started after four policemen were ambushed by suspected New People’s Army in Ayungon town last July 18.

Armed Forces spokesperson Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said the military has not yet come up with nor have been asked of their recommendation.

“The AFP, of course, is just one of the CinC’s (commander in chief) sources of information and recommendation,” he said in a statement.

“On our part, we have to consult the commanders in the area, the local chief executives, and the residents of the place as regards the situation on the ground as bases of our assessment and recommendation,” he added.

He stressed that the President has the prerogative to declare martial law.

“The President’s expression of his thoughts about martial law could be brought about by his exasperation over the spate of violence that happened in Negros Oriental that started with the brutal, inhuman, ISIS-styled execution by the terrorist New People’s Army of the four policemen. A criminal act the latter boldly owned,” Arevalo said.

The Army infantry division in the Visayas headed by Maj. Gen. Dinoh Dolina had earlier expressed its support to a possible martial law in Negros Oriental./ac