Duterte touts effectiveness of martial law in Mindanao despite recent bombings

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday touted the effectiveness of martial law in Mindanao despite the recent bombings that rocked the region.

Duterte said that martial rule, which has been in place since May last year, has been a deterrent against crime.

“It has lessened criminality by a large and the only way to do that is to conduct a survey amongst the people of Mindanao. The political leaders, they can call them,” Duterte said in his nationally televised exchange with Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo in Malacañang.

“May mga number man ‘yang mga istasyon [media]. Maybe they can conduct an interview. Or they can always ask their network there to do the survey. Tingnan natin.”

Three people were killed and more than 30 others sustained injuries after a bomb exploded in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat during a town celebration on August 28.

A few days later, on September 2, another blast hit the town, killing two and wounding several people. 

Duterte spoke about the incidents during his visit on September 4 to Magen David Adom—Israel’s national organization responsible for emergency, disaster response, pre-hospital care and blood services—as he underscored the importance of improving the Philippines’ response to disasters.

“We just had about two explosions in one of the provinces in Mindanao. One day and the day after there was also these two explosions, and we expect more. And I'm sure that your government, Israel government, would only be willing to help us,” he said.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) cannot pinpoint with certainty the perpetrators of the Isulan bombings, but said these may be the handiwork of local threat groups and a breakaway group of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

PNP spokesperson Senior Superintendent Benigno Durana Jr. has conceded that there were lapses on the part of the police, considering that the bombings occurred in a region that was under martial law.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said after the first bombing that extending martial law may be an option to address the security situation in the region, but presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said it was too early to discuss the matter.

Duterte imposed martial law in Mindanao in order to quell a rebellion by Maute group-led terror organizations that aim to establish an Islamic State province in the region.

Backed by Congress and affirmed by the Supreme Court, the proclamation has been extended twice since.

The martial law remains in effect until the end of this year. — BM, GMA News