AFP should ask Congress on proposed Mindanao martial law extension beyond 2017 —Drilon

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) should formally ask Congress on its proposal to further extend martial law in Mindanao, Senate minority leader Franklin Drilon said Sunday.

"Ipresenta nila ang kanilang hinihingi. Sa Saligang Batas ay dapat hilingin nilang formally sa Kongreso. Ang Kongreso ang may kapangyarihan para i-extend," Drilon said in an interview on radio dzBB.

"Pangalawa, let us decide on the evidence presented, dahil lang sa sabi nila, tapos na ang problema doon eh ngayon ie-extend na naman, so hingin natin kung ano ang kanilang basehan kung bakit natin pahabain na naman itong martial law," he added.

Drilon was reacting to AFP spokesman Major General Restituto Padilla's statement that the military might have to request another extension of the Mindanao martial law to address remaining threats in southern Philippines from the Abu Sayyaf, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and other armed extremists allied with the Islamic State.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on Saturday said the AFP's proposal to go beyond the December 31 effectivity of the martial law in Mindanao is already deemed "accepted," and will only have to be formalized by President Rodrigo Duterte.

"The decision of the Armed Forces or the recommendation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines is actually accepted, well, but then again, it will be the President who will decide," Andanar said.

Andanar said he respects Padilla's wisdom on the situation and how best to bring peace back to the strife-torn city.

"Sila naman talaga ang may nakakaalam sa mga ganyang subject, pagdating sa pakay ng national security. And they have all the reason to give their thoughts because ang pinakamahalaga talaga sa lahat eh ang seguridad ng bawat Pilipino," he said.

In a press conference in Davao City on Saturday night, Duterte said he would also rely on the recommendation of the military and the police regarding his decision on whether to lift the declaration of martial law in Mindanao.

"Declaration of martial law is always dependent on what the AFP and the police recommend. They are the two entities that would be relied upon heavily by a president or head of state when he entertains something like extreme measures-- martial law, state of emergency," Duterte said.

Drilon, for his part, said that Duterte himself could not extend martial law in Mindanao "on his own account."

"Palagay ko naman deemed accepted by the President, hindi naman siguro gagawin ng Pangulo na iextend niya ng sarili niya on his own account dahilan lang alam niya ang Saligang Batas na ang extension ay ang magbibigay at mag-au-authorize ay ang Kongreso," he said.

"We could not come to any conclusion hanggang makita natin yung report," he added.

Duterte placed Mindanao under martial law in May after the ISIS-inspired Maute group attacked Marawi City.

The declaration was initially effective for only 60 days. Congress approved Duterte's request to extend the declaration until the end of the year as the military had failed to end the Marawi crisis in just two months.

Duterte declared Marawi City free from terrorists last month, but he has yet to lift the martial law declaration. —Marlly Rome Bondoc/ALG, GMA News