Lorenzana: Nationwide martial law not needed
MANILA— Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana yesterday assured the public that the
government will not declare martial law in the Visayas
and Luzon.
Lorenzana made the statement during the interpellation on the martial law extension at a joint session of the 17th Congress.
The Defense chief was asked by opposition Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan on whether the inclusion of dismantling the private armed groups and the New People's Army in its operational directive for the implementation of martial law would call for the declaration of martial law in Visayas and nationwide.
Pangilinan cited recent NPA attacks nationwide and a past standoff between the government forces and the Abu Sayyaf in Bohol.
"Hindi po mangyayari 'yan siguro, kaya lang po nasasali iyan dahil sa Mindanao naman yung martial law, kaakibat na yan sa trabaho namin na security operations," Lorenzana said of whether martial law could cover the entire Philippines.
Lorenzana said even if operations against the NPA are not included in the martial law implementation, there is a need to handle them.
He also said the Duterte administration has no plans of declaring martial law in Visayas. Only the president can declare martial law.—