Martial law led to increased surrender of loose firearms in Mindanao — PNP

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday said there has been a significant increase in the number of loose firearms surrendered to the government and attributed this to the implementation of martial law in Mindanao.

"I think it's really very effective dahil unang una sila na rin ang nagsabi na medyo tumahimik ang Mindanao... As a result also napakarami na ang nag-surrender ng mga loose firearms, both mga civilians at saka mga elected officials doon," PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said at a press conference.

Albayalde said that in his previous visits to Mindanao, he witnessed the turnover of around 8,000 loose firearms—a figure that does not include the firearms which were directly surrendered to the PNP, he said.

The PNP chief earlier claimed that the state of martial law in the region reduced the average monthly crime rate in Mindanao from 8.79 incidents in 2017 to 5.92 in 2018.

He said that the PNP will fully support the extension of martial law beyond December 31, 2018 if ever President Rodrigo Duterte decides to do so.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines, for its part, also said on Wednesday that it is "more likely" to urge extending martial law in Mindanao.

Duterte imposed martial law in Mindanao on May 23, 2017, the same day the Maute group began its attack on Lanao del Sur's capital city Marawi. The state of martial law in the region was then only supposed to last for 60 days.

On July 22, 2017, the day before martial law in the region was supposed to be lifted, Congress voted to extend it instead until the end of 2017.

On December 13, 2017, Congress approved the President's request to extend martial law in Mindanao a second time, this time until December 31, 2018. — Dona Magsino/BM, GMA News