MARTIAL LAW TO TARGET NPA
Congress to hold joint session on Dec. 13 to tackle President Duterte’s request for 1-year extension.
President Rodrigo Duterte’s proposed one-year martial law extension in Mindanao is intended to give Philippine security forces a “final period” to suppress terror groups and the communist terrorists.
In his letter to Congress, Duterte said the extension aims to “ensure total eradication of Daesh-inspired Da’awatul Islamiyah Waliyatul Masriq ( DIWM), other like-minded local/foreign terrorist groups and armed lawless groups, and the communist terrorists and their coddlers, supporters, and financiers.”
The Senate and the House of Representatives will hold a joint session tomorrow to discuss the President’s request.
Speaking to Palace reporters, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said Duterte would be prompted to use the full force of martial law against the communists’ armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), if they continue to attack government forces.
Roque said the government was expecting that members of the NPA would carry out “inten- sified” attacks against the state troops, especially that they have been declared as “terrorists.”
“For as long as there are acts of rebellion being committed in the island province of Mindanao, yes, he (Duterte) will use a full force of martial law against the NPA as well,” Roque said.
“We expect an intensified fighting on the part of the NPA. As in fact, they have been exhibiting more intense targeting of ours soldiers and civilians after the President has already classified them as terrorist group,” he added.
In his letter, Duterte stressed that the NPA was a threat after it carried out at least 385 atrocities, which he described as “both terrorism and guerilla warfare,” in Mindanao this year.
He said the communists’ recent acts merely proved that Mindanao continues to be a “hotbed of rebellion.”
The President also said martial law is necessary as the remnants of the Maute group are trying to rebuild their organization by recruiting more people from Maguindanao, Sulu, Basilan and North Cotabato.
Mindanao has been under martial law since May 23, shortly after an armed conflict erupted between Maute terrorists in Marawi City and government forces.
When the 60-day martial law imposed by Duterte expired on July 22, Congress agreed to extend it until December 31 this year. The extension of martial rule helped the state forces liberate Marawi City.
Roque said that while Marawi City had already been liberated from the hands of the Maute group, extending martial law would be a vital tool to help the government troops avert acts that would imperil the public’s safety and security.
He also echoed Duterte’s concerns that the Maute extremists might retaliate, following their defeat in the five-month battle in the strife-torn city.
“Martial law was largely responsible for the fact that we liberated the city of Marawi,” the presidential spokesperson told Palace reporters.
“Having said that, the information on the ground is that at least five groups continue to operate and although there has been cessation of shootings in Marawi, the President has always said that the recruitment of Maute continues and that they expect fighting again in some other areas,” he added.
In a letter dated December 8, Duterte asked Congress to extend martial law in Mindanao for a period of one year, or until December 31 next year, citing the security officials’ assessment that they need more time for “total eradication” of lawless groups in the country.
Duterte also expressed apprehension that apart from the Maute group, the communists’ armed wing New People’s Army (NPA) might intensify “terrorist acts,” after they were classified as terrorists.
Roque said the request for a one-year extension of martial law in Mindanao region is necessary.
He said, however, that it might be cut short, if the security forces are able to completely quell insurgency.
“They ( government troops) want a final period to deal with these acts of rebellion,” Roque said.
“So let’s just give them the leeway. Because after all, as soon as it is extended, it can be cut short if there’s no need for it,” he told Palace reporters.