Martial law depends on actions of terrorists
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Ray Leonardo Guerrero said yesterday that any chance of martial law also being declared in Visayas and Mindanao will depend on the actions of the enemy.
Guerrero made the remark following his first ever press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City since assuming the post last October.
“We can never tell for now. Our projections can only extend up to what the information we have at hand (because) based on the information we have at hand there is a need for us to focus first Mindanao,” Guerrero said.
“So as for the other parts of the country nobody can tell. It will depend on new developments and, of course, it will also depend on the actions, future actions of our adversary,” he added.
Guerrero, however, said that the present focus of the AFP is the implementation of martial law in Mindanao for next year and to neutralize the terror groups operating there, and not its nationwide implementation.
“Let us not talk about martial law for the whole country because our present concern is the implementation of martial law in Mindanao, and even the recommendation for the extension of martial law, although it was already passed by Congresss. We still have to work on its implementation in the coming, come next year,” Guerrero said.
The AFP Chief admitted that his remaining term as the highest military official of the land is not enough to finish off terrorism in Mindanao.
Guerrero made the remark following his first ever press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City since assuming the post last October.
Oversight function Ranking legislators at the House of Representatives have ensured not to abandon their oversight duties, following the extension of military rule in Mindanao.
AKO-Bicol Party-List Rep. Alfredo Garbin, who is a deputy minority leader, said they will make sure that the Constitution continues to function and that Congress and civil courts remain in operation, “with the further qualification that no jurisdiction shall be conferred on military tribunals when such courts are open and functioning.”
Another AKO-Bicol Party-List nominee, Rep. Rodel Batocabe, reckoned that the House can exercise its oversight function on an “as need arises” basis.
“It must be emphasized that martial law under the new Constitution has plenty of safeguards so much so that it is not really what martial law per se is. The civilian courts are functioning, local government units are emplaced. We have a free press, a Commission on Human Rights and institutions like the church and NGOs both local and international which are already serving as watchdogs and even the AFP has its internal affairs and JAGO.”
“These institutions and mechanisms are all strong and functioning. They will ensure that any abuse will be curtailed,” said Batocabe, president of the 46-strong Party-List Coalition (PLC). Priest hits ML But a Catholic priest believes the extension of martial law in Mindanao is part of President Duterte’s agenda of expanding his authoritarian and dictatorial rule.
“It is part of Duterte’s agenda of expanding his authoritarian and dictatorial rule,” Father Amado Picardal said in an interview.
And the Redemptorist priest said this could lead to further resistance and spiral of violence and economic crisis.