AFP vows quick end to Marawi crisis, DND eyes normalcy by Friday

Security officials on Monday assured senators that the government was in control of the situation in Marawi City, but maintained the need for the continued implementation of martial law in the whole of Mindanao.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, Jr. told reporters after the four-hour closed-door executive session that the military committed to accomplish the mission in Marawi City in the “fastest” way possible.

“We appreciate the concern of our senators and the full support that the Armed Forces is getting... In return, the Armed Forces has given the guarantee that we will implement this in the best way possible and in the fastest means,” Padilla said.

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said they were told by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana that the situation would normal by the end of the week.

“Sinasabi ng secretary of National Defense na they are looking at being able to normalize the situation by Friday, by this week,” Pangilinan said.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said security forces were “making a lot of progress” in Marawi City.

Asked whether senators were told that the situation was under control, Gatchalian said: “Yes.”

Despite this, Gatchalian said martial law in Mindanao was still needed to be implemented for now to contain the chaos in Marawi City.

“I think [kailangan] to contain violence, and to contain the spread of chaos kasi very porous ang Mindanao so dapat ma-contain for now,” Gatchalian said.

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. said it was up to President Rodrigo Duterte who will assess when martial law in Mindano can be lifted.

“We will leave that to the decision of the President because it will be the president in the end who will assess kung may report na nanggagaling sa military, which is the administrator [of martial law]," Esperon said.

"Let’s leave the president to make a judgment on that,” he told reporters.

He said the problem in Mindanao not only involved the Maute group but also threats from the Abu Sayyaf Group, New People’s Army, other armed groups, and drug syndicates.

“So kung papatungan pa ng isang klaseng threat na hindi natin kagustuhan and what is that? To be come a province of ISIS. Gusto ba ninyo magkaron ng ISIS dito, na firm foothold on the part of the republic? Mukhang iba yun," Esperon said.

"That is it in so far as threats are concerned,” Esperon said.

Esperon urged the public to give martial law in Mindanao a chance, saying its goal was not only to end conflict in the area but more so, to fulfill the potential of the region.

“The Duterte administration has programs [for] roads, railways, bridges, ports; kailangna protektahan yun. Hindi pwedeng magulo dito, magulo doon, kasi kung magkaka-ganun, hindi matutupad yung mga pangarap,” Esperson said.

Senator Manny Pacquiao, a close ally of Duterte, said he fully understands the need to implement martial law in the whole of Mindanao.

“Kasi may invasion tsaka rebellion kasi kung makikita mo, hindi lang mga Pilipino,” Pacquiao said.

“As a Mindanaoan, gusto ko i-explain kasi baka di niyo maintidihan dahil nandito tayo sa Manila. Ako tumira ako sa bundok, yung bundok na di makapasok ang sasakyan," he added.

"Suportado ko ang Pangulo dahil alam mo, sa Mindanao, magkakamag-anak lahat yan. Kung baga dito ka mag-delcare, sa ibang lugar susulpot na yung problema,” Pacquiao said. —NB, GMA News