Pimentel sees approval of martial law extension
SENATE President Aquilino Pimentel 3rd is certain that majority of senators will approve the proposal of security experts to extend martial law in Mindanao for one year.
The Senate and the House of Representatives will hold a joint session Wednesday to discuss President Rodrigo Duterte’s letter seeking the extension of martial law.
National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. on Tuesday cited five pressing issues that necessitate the extension of martial law -- to fully defeat terrorist groups, to pursue the war on drugs, implement reforms in the local government units (LGUs), to “shepherd” the peace process with Muslim separatist groups, and pursue economic development in Mindanao.
Esperon, together with Defense Armed Forces chief Rey Leonardo Guerrero, briefed the senators on the need to extend martial law in Southern Philippines.
Pimentel believes that the proposal to extend martial rule will get the support of the Senate. Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez had earlier declared that the lower chamber will back the initiative.
“Even if you deduct or subtract the senators ( opposed to the extension), majority would still agree to the proposal. That is my prediction,” Pimentel said in an interview.
The Senate chief is convinced on the need to extend martial rule.
“There is rebellion on the ground and the public safety requires it. In their assessment, they need a year to address the root cause of rebellion,” Pimentel said.
“The rebels are still there. The Daiwa Islamia or the Daesh af There’s still the ASG (Abu Sayyaf Group). These are the rebel forces still operating in Mindanao. The Revised Penal Code does not require that the rebellion is only through siege of a city,” he said.
“The Revised Penal Code, which public uprising. It did not say that it must be the same rebels. For as long as there is actual rebellion in Mindanao, then martial law is not require that the rebellion must be maintained by the same rebels,” Pimentel added.
inclined to support the extension of martial law “if only to give the military that added boost in their campaign against terrorism or against rebellion in Mindanao.”
Sen. Gregorio Honasan 2nd said, “I could sense that we were generating bipartisan support. That’s my personal take which is supposed to be the case. This is not an issue.”
Esperon said martial law is needed to spur growth in Mindanao.
“We want to do it within the framework of one year because these are all long term (efforts). Fighting terrorism is long term, - peron said in a chance interview.
that Congress will support President Rodrigo Duterte’s request to extend martial law.
Palace spokesman Harry Roque said there is no reason for Congress not to support martial law extension.
“We have factual basis for the declaration of martial law and we see no reason why Congress will not give its usual support to this initiative of the Chief Executive,” Roque said in a news conference on Tuesday.
Overwhelming
said the general sentiment in the House of Representatives “was overwhelmingly in favor of extension” of martial law in Mindanao.
Salvador Medialdea, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon also briefed members of the House on the need to extend martial law.
- bers about the security condition and why the President is asking or requesting for an extension of another one year for martial law. And most of the members naman, naliwanagan sila (they were enlightened). The general sentiment was overwhelmingly in favor of extension, especially from the members in Mindanao,” he added.
Earlier on Tuesday, the speaker said he does not see any reason why Congress will not grant Duterte’s request for a one-year extension of martial law in Mindanao.
The President declared martial law in May after the Maute Group seized some areas in Marawi City. It was extended by Congress in July until December 31 this year.
On Monday, Duterte asked Congress to extend martial law in Mindanao by one year to “totally eradicate” Islamic State-inspired terror groups.
In his letter to Congress, the President requested that martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus be extended from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018.
“A further extension of Martial Law and suspension of writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao will help the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), the Philippine National Police, and all other law enforcement agencies to quell completely and put an end to the ongoing rebellion in Mindanao and prevent the same from escalating to other parts of the country,” Duterte said.
“Public safety indubitably requires such further extension, not only for the sake of security and public order, but more importantly to enable the government and the people of Mindanao to pursue the bigger task of rehabilitation and the promotion of a stable socio-economic growth and development,” he added.