MILITARY FINALIZING MARTIAL LAW REPORT
House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez says he will push for extension until 2022 Palace spokesman: Decision to extend martial law rests with President Duterte
While the military is finalizing its report and recommendations on martial law, Palace Spokesman Ernesto Abella stressed that the decision to extend or lift Procla- mation 216 rests with President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Extending martial law is the decision of the President which PRRD said would rest on the as- sessment and the recommendation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other stakeholders of the Marawi situ- ation,” Abella said in a statement.
Proclamation 216, issued on May 23, placed Mindanao under martial law for 60 days. The 60day period will end on July 22.
Abella issued the statement after House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said he would push for a five-year extension of martial law.
“If I can convince my colleagues, I will push for an extension until 2022, because two months is too short. Five months or one year or two years is too short,” Alvarez said Saturday.
Abella pointed out that the Speaker has already clarified that “his remarks to extend martial law until 2022 is his personal opinion.”
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it was finalizing its recommendations on martial law.
“It’s already being done and in a few days it will be submitted to the (Executive) Secretary for his consideration because he is the administrator of martial law. And that recommendation will make its way up to the Commander-in-Chief who will be provided an advance copy,” AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr. said during the Mindanao Hour press briefing in Malacañang.
He said the final assessment would be based on whether the rule of law as well as peace and security in most parts of Mindanao have been reestablished.
He stressed, however, that the final decision is up to the President.
“The Department of National Defense or the AFP could only recommend, pero ang eventual decision ay kinakailangang manggaling sa political leadership na merong mas malawak na pinag-iisipang o pinagbabatayan ng kanilang desisyon,” Padilla said.
On Friday, Duterte said he will likely extend martial law.
Duterte said he would only lift martial rule if the military and police tell him the danger posed by the militants has abated.
The Supreme Court upheld his martial law declaration on Tuesday in a legal boost to the military offensive he ordered in Marawi City.
Duterte has said the offensive is winding down and could end soon in Marawi. But scores of gunmen are still holding hostages and continuing to fight in four areas of the lakeside city.
Asked if he plans to lift martial law this month, Duterte said he consulted the military and police and was told the situation remains critical. He said he would rely on their advice because “they are the ones keeping this republic healthy and alive.”
“If they say there is no more danger and everything is OK, then that is the time that we will lift martial law,” Duterte said.