Mindanao bombings not a prelude to martial law extension —PNP

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday denied that the series of bombings in Basilan and Sultan Kudarat is a prelude to another extension of the martial law declaration in Mindanao.

"That is an irresponsible speculation," PNP spokesperson Senior Superintendent Benigno Durana Jr. said at a press conference in Camp Crame.

"These bombings harm innocent people, and that would be furthest from the minds of the Armed Forces and the police."

Durana made the statement a day after a bomb exploded in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat — the second in the area in a week — and killed two people. The first bombing in Isulan left three people dead.

Before that, a car bomb in Basilan province killed 11 people, including government militiamen.

"Wala sa isip namin 'yan. Hindi po totoo 'yan. PNP is here to serve and protect, prevent crime, ensure public safety of the Filipino people,” Durana said.

Durana, however, admitted that the police should do a better job.

"In any security system, there is no such thing as zero risk. We cannot totally eliminate risk. Any security professional would tell us na may makakalusot," he said.

"That is why we need to double, triple, if not quadruple our counter security measures, to lessen these risks and prevent these incidents from happening again," Durana added.

President Rodrigo Duterte first declared martial law in the entire Mindanao on May 23, 2017—a declaration initially extended by Congress to six months and eventually, until December this year to supposedly suppress the rebellion led by the ISIS-inspired Maute group terrorists in Marawi City.

Duterte still sought for a year-long martial law extension even if Maute leaders Omar Maute and Isnilon Hapilon were killed by government forces back in October 2017—an incident that prompted the President to declare Marawi liberated from terrorists.

The Maute group’s siege of Marawi City lasted for more than five months and left over a hundred soldiers, at least 47 civilians, around 800 terrorists dead and 500,000 people displaced. 

Based on the Post Conflict Needs Assessment conducted by the government, the Marawi rehabilitation would cost at least P49.81 billion.

Under the Constitution, the President can declare martial law and suspend the writ of habeas corpus — or allow warrantless arrest — in in cases of invasion or rebellion or when the public safety requires it. —KBK, GMA News