Drilon: No justification to extend martial law in Mindanao

Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said Wednesday there is no reason now to justify another extension of martial law in Mindanao as there is no actual rebellion, uprising, or taking of arms that is happening.

“There was never a citation there that there was an actual uprising. There is no factual basis for martial law as defined by the Supreme Court,” Drilon said in his interpellation during the joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives to deliberate on the request of President Rodrigo Duterte to extend anew the implementation of martial law in Mindanao.

“There is no ground, no actual armed uprising that is taking place in Mindanao to extend the implementation of martial law. Proclamation 216 is premised on the siege in Marawi,” he added.

Drilon said that even during the briefing given by security officials, the Armed Forces of the Philippines classified the local terrorist group mentioned in the letter of Duterte to Congress as a mere peace and order problem.

He also scored the government argument that martial law makes governance effective.

“Martial law is the highest form of self preservation. It cannot be the normal norm. Saying that martial law makes governance effective, these are disturbing thoughts, conclusion. We should not make martial law make governance more effective,” he said.

Duterte has requested Congress to extend martial rule in the southern Philippine region for one more year, or until December 31, 2019, as its second extension will lapse by the end of this year. —KG, GMA News