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Koko Pimentel: One-year martial law extension a ‘reasonable’ period


A martial law extension in Mindanao by another year seems to be a “reasonable” period, Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said Tuesday.

“Reasonable naman siguro na kahit ako ang humingi, I can’t be sure na eksakto na ang one year but that is a reasonable period of time for us to believe that we can already quell the rebellion,” Pimentel, a close ally of President Rodrigo Duterte, said in an interview.

Pimentel said majority of the senators seem supportive of Duterte’s request to extend martial law until December 2018. Congress is scheduled to hold a joint session to decide on the martial law extension on Wednesday.

“Some are questioning the wisdom. Ang nakikita ko lang, if they were President, they will not declare martial law, eh judgment call yung eh. Itong Presidente na ito, gusto niya mag-declare ng martial law. Ang tanong dito, is it proper or legal,” Pimentel said.

Several minority bloc senators opposed the request of Duterte, saying an extension has no constitutional nor legal basis.

Under the 1987 Constitution, a martial law proclamation may be extended “for a period to be determined by the Congress, if the invasion or rebellion shall persist and public safety requires it.”

Pimentel, a lawyer, argued that the request is justified, saying “there is rebellion on the ground.”

“There is rebellion in Mindanao. Ang manifestation niyan is the siege in Marawi but the rebels are still there,” he said.

Duterte first declared martial law in Marawi after the Maute group attacked the city.

“The Revised Penal Code does not require that the rebellion is through the siege of a city,” Pimentel said.

In his letter to Congress on the martial law extension, Duterte cited threats from ISIS-inspired groups and “communist terrorists.”

Senator Panfilo Lacson, a former national police chief, said he is inclined to support Duterte’s request.

“I’m inclined to support if only to give the military that added boost sa campaign nila against terrorism or against rebellion sa Mindanao,” Lacson said.

Senator JV Ejercito, for his part, said that he would support even a two-year extension.

“Martial law will be well-suited for Mindanao kasi nga yun nga -- yung mga warlords hindi na makakilos ngayon so malaking bagay. One year yung request nila. Sa tingin ko kahit na two years,” Ejercito said.

Senator Leila de Lima, meanwhile, slammed Duterte’s request, specifically the chief executive’s argument that martial law will aid the military in fighting the New People’s Army (NPA).

Duterte recently declared the NPA as a terrorist group, following the cancellation of the peace talks with communist rebels.

“Now he wants a martial law extension to defeat the armed movement he himself nurtured, aided, and comforted in the hills of Davao for decades. No one in government coddled the newly-declared ‘terrorists’ more than Duterte did. No one in government can be faulted more for the growth of the NPA in Mindanao than Duterte himself,” De Lima argued.

“I oppose any further extension of martial law in Mindanao. Martial law powers cannot be given to the major enabler of the communist rebellion in Mindanao,” she added. — RSJ, GMA News

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