Dela Rosa supports Duterte decision not to extend martial law in Mindanao

Senator Ronald Dela Rosa on Tuesday expressed support for President Rodrigo Duterte's decision to no longer extend martial law in Mindanao when it expires on December 31.

“Pwede na para sa akin; I am from Mindanao,” Dela Rosa told reporters.

“I think mahaba-haba na, matagal na ang martial law na ‘yan, wala nang relevance pag matagal na,” he said.

He said that martial law in the region has already served its purpose.

“Marami na [ang nagawa]. Hindi lang ang mga nahuli, maraming supposed-to-be terror activities pati drug activities ang naagapan dahil sa martial law na ‘yan,” he said.

He claimed that it was only the criminals who felt the effect of martial law.

“Sa amin sa Mindanao, hindi di naman gaanong ramdam ang martial law sa aming peace-loving, pero sa mga kriminal ramdam nila dahil restricted ang kanilang movement, ang mga plano nila medyo nape-prevent,” he said.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that President Rodrigo Duterte made the decision not to extend martial law following the assessment of his security and defense advisers, with the “weakening of the terrorist and extremist rebellion, a result of the capture or neutralization of their leaders, as well as the decrease in the crime index,” being among the factors considered.

Martial law was declared in Mindanao in May 2017 after the ISIS-inspired Maute group attacked Marawi City. Dela Rosa was the Philippine National Police chief when the incident happened.

Initially valid for only 60 days, martial law in the region was extended three times by Congress upon Duterte's request. 

Senate President Vicente Sotto III also said that the Senate will  pass the Anti-Terrorism Act to give the government more teeth "so that martial law will no longer be necessary." — BM, GMA News