Military says martial law spurred dev't in Mindanao but can't provide data

Even with their claim that martial law has spurred development in Mindanao, the military could not provide data on the growth rate and other indicators of economic growth in the region during its more than a year of implementation.

This surfaced during the interpellation of Albay Representative Edcel Lagman on Wednesday's joint session of Congress to consider President Rodrigo Duterte's request to extend the martial law in Mindanao for another year.

During his interpellation, Lagman, an opposition lawmaker, asked newly-appointed Armed Forces chief Lieutenant General Benjamin Madrigal about the growth rate in Mindanao, both in the first and fourth quarter of 2018.

Madrigal said they have no information on it, as the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) has yet to give them the data for 2018.

Lagman also asked Madrigal for the inflation rate and poverty incidence in Mindanao for the first and fourth quarter of 2018 during the implementation of martial law, to which the new military leader said they have no data.

"I am asking these questions because there has been a repeated claim that martial law contributed to the development and growth," Lagman said. "But how can these be validated when there is no empirical data on which this claim can be anchored?"

Lagman has consistently opposed the extension of martial law in Mindanao, pointing out that strong public clamor and the presence of terrorists — the other reasons cited by the military for its recommendation — are not basis for it.

President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire island of Mindanao under martial law on May 23 last year after the ISIS-inspired Maute group attacked and occupied Marawi City, resulting in an armed conflict that lasted for five months.

Initially valid for only 60 days, Congress, upon request of Duterte, has earlier approved the extension of martial law in the region twice, and is expected on December 31. — KBK / AT, GMA News