■ OSMEñA, LABELLA BACK MARTIAL LAW EXTENSION

Cebu City’s top officials support the extension of martial law. Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella agreed with putting Mindanao under martial law for the rest of the year. Although with reservations, Osmeña said, “I simply hate martial law, but with the attack of IS (Islamic State) terrorists in Bohol, a limited extension is okay with me.” Labella, on the other hand, said there is a need to prevent terror attacks from expanding to other areas in the country.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella have both expressed their support for the extension of martial law in Mindanao for another five months.

Although he has personal reservations with the declaration, Osmeña said he is giving President Rodrigo Duterte the benefit of the doubt.

Labella, for his part, has no qualms with the extension, saying there is a need to prevent terror attacks from expanding in other areas of the country.

“By all means, they (terrorists and rebels) should be eliminated right then and there,” he said.

Four other Cebu mayors, namely, Teresa Alegado of Consolacion, Glenn Baricuatro of Pinamungajan, Nenette Reluya of San Fernando, and Inocentes Cabaron of Moalboal also support the extension of martial law.

Should a similar situation happen in the Visayas, Baricuatro said he will also support it.

Alegado doesn’t believe, though, that martial law will be declared in the Visayas.

“There are no big elements in our area with insurgents. I think they are not that many to defeat our forces,” she said.

For her part, Reluya, whose husband is from Mindanao, believes that martial law will help end terrorism. /