Tausug solon Shernee Abubakar Tan reiterates call to expand martial law to Luzon, Visayas

A party-list lawmaker on Wednesday reiterated her call to Congress to extend martial law in Mindanao to Luzon and the Visayas.

During the joint Congress session, KUSUG-TAUSUG party-list Representative Shernee Abubakar Tan noted that one of the grounds that President Rodrigo Duterte cited in requesting for the further extension of martial law in Mindanao is the existence of the New People's Army (NPA) and the threats they pose.

She pointed out that there are also members of NPA roaming around Luzon and Visayas.

"Therefore, if martial law good for Mindanao, is martial law also good for Luzon and Visayas?" Tan said.

In response, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that while most members of the NPA are in Mindanao, they have not established a stronghold in Luzon and the Visayas.

"In Visayas and Luzon, manageable yung activities ng CPP-NPA diyan. Kaya I don't think it can be used to spread or include Visayas and Luzon in martial law," he said.

Tan, however, said that there are still members of the NPA in Luzon and the Visayas nevertheless, which could make offensive attacks anytime.

"Therefore, as the representative of Kusug-Tausug party-list, I reiterate my stand that martial law should be extended not just in Mindanao, but also in Luzon and in Visayas if it serves the best interest of our nation," she said.

"Also, I would like to extend my support to our government with regard to the extension of martial law, kung ito ay ikakabuti ng ating bansa at sana ay hindi mauulit yung nangyari sa Marawi," she added.

Tan caught nationwide attention on July 22 when she suggested to Congress to expand martial law to Luzon and Visayas during the Congress' special session to consider Duterte's first request to extend military rule in Mindanao.

"KUSUG-TAUSUG party-list votes yes, and KUSUG-TAUSUG party-list suggests that this body extends martial law not just in Mindanao but also throughout the entire country," she said then. — RSJ, GMA News