Congress approves 1-year martial law extension in Mindanao

With a vote of 240-27, Congress in a joint session approved on Wednesday President Rodrigo Duterte’s request to extend martial law in Mindanao until December 31, 2018.

Duterte’s request was approved less than three weeks before the first extension granted by Congress expires.

Last July 22, the Senate and the House of Representatives, in special session, granted the extension of martial law until December 31 of this year. A 60-day martial law was initially declared by Duterte in Mindanao on May 23 following the attack of the Maute group in Marawi City.

On the part of the Senate, the vote was 14 in favor and four against. The vote in the House of Representatives was 226-23.

Martial law administrator Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, AFP chief Rey Guerrero, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra, as well as other Cabinet officials attended the joint session held at the Batasan Pambansa complex in Quezon City.

Lorenzana defended the one-year extension, saying rebellion has not yet been completely quelled despite Duterte’s declaration that Marawi City has been “liberated.”

“We are seeing that the rebellion has not stopped, it just moved to another place,” he told Congress.

In his letter requesting for another extension, Duterte cited threats from ISIS-inspired groups and “communist terrorists.”

Opposition

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan questioned the length of the extension, pointing out that it is longer than the 60-day declaration when the fighting was still ongoing.

Pangilinan said the President’s extraordinary powers to declare martial law “must not be exercised whimsically or abitrarily.”

“Is the martial law extension consistent with the Constitution? Our acts must always be consistent with the law and Constitution. This is what distinguishes us from terrorists, criminals or rebels who we seek to defeat,” Pangilinan said.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said Duterte was not asking for unlimited martial law, only lasting peace in the region.

While some lawmakers expressed their support for continued martial law in Mindanao, several opposition solons questioned the extension.

Lanao Del Norte Rep. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo said that unlike in Metro Manila, Luzon or other parts of the country where martial law is being compared to "dark times," the case is actually different in his home province.

"Sa lalawagin namin, when we hear martial law, nalipay kami, we feel safe, we feel secure because we trust our armed forces of the Philippines wholeheartedly," he said.

ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, meanwhile, doubted that the government can quell rebellion completely before martial law expires.

"Sabi niya 'tatapusin ko ang problema ng droga.' Eventually sabi niya di natin ‘to matatapos. Ngayon po yan din ang naririnig natin: 'Bigyan nyo ko ng isang taon, tatapusin ko ang rebelyon sa Mindanao… Sino pa ba rito ang maniniwala?” Tinio said. — MDM, GMA News