Not yet time to lift Mindanao martial law —AFP's Galvez

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff  General Carlito Galvez Jr. believes that martial law in Mindanao should continue until all the loose firearms are accounted for and suspected extremist elements are arrested.

Quoting Galvez, Super Radyo dzBB's Benjie Liwanag reported on "Dobol B sa News TV" that lawless elements and a significant number of loose firearms still threaten the peace and development of Mindanao. 

So far, only 6,000 (20 percent) of the estimated 30,000 illegally-owned guns have been surrendered, several months into the campaign against loose firearms.

Some 24,000 loose firearms are still unaccounted for, Galvez was quoted as saying. 

Likewise Galvez claimed that the implementation of martial law in Mindanao has been effective and accepted well by the people.

He belied claims that cases of human rights violations have escalated since martial law was imposed.

Indigenous  groups and tribal leaders have come out to condemn alleged political killings and atrocities in Mindanao under martial law.

At a forum marking a year since the declaration of martial law, Katawhang Lumad sa Mindanao (Kalumaran) spokesperson Kerlan Fanagel last Wednesday said 130 political killings have been recorded since President Duterte assumed office in 2016.

Also, he said that 37 of the 130 people killed were lumads. 

But Galvez challenged accusers to show evidence for human rights violations to support their claim.

Last Wednesday, Malacañang rejected calls for the lifting of martial law in Mindanao a year after pro-Islamic State militants laid siege to Marawi City.

"Certainly one year after the siege, the time to lift martial law is not yet here. It will be lifted as long as there is no need for martial law," Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said. —LBG, GMA News