Lorenzana defends need for martial law in Mindanao

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has described President Duterte’s decision to declare martial law in Mindanao as a necessary move to put an end to all the security problems in the region.

While he did say during an executive session at the Senate that government security forces can contain the situation in Marawi City even without martial rule, he clarified that the statement was made along with another point.

Lorenzana yesterday said he emphasized before senators “that martial law is imperative to once and for all address security concerns in the entire Mindanao immediately and decisively.”

“The situation currently being dealt with by state security forces goes beyond Marawi City. President Duterte’s imposition of martial law aims to put an end to the long-running rebellion in various provinces in the south, as evidenced by the incidents that happened in Zamboanga, Davao, Bohol, Lanao, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Maguindanao,” he stressed.

“As the President has repeatedly said, ‘Kung magde-declare ako ng martial law, tatapusin ko nang lahat ito (If I’m going to declare martial law, I will have to end all these),’ referring to threats posed by ISIS-linked local and foreign terrorist groups whose network covers the entire Mindanao,” he said.

Divulging details hit

Meanwhile, senators yesterday hit their colleagues in the minority bloc for divulging sensitive details of the closeddoor briefing given to them by security officials on the situation in Marawi City.

On Tuesday, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, a member of the minority, disclosed that Lorenzana told them during the executive session that the Armed Forces can stabilize the situation in Marawi City without having martial law.

Trillanes also mentioned the same on the floor during the debates on the resolution of the minority bloc calling for a joint session of Congress.

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, however, cautioned Trillanes against divulging more details of the briefing.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the Senate committee on public order, said the opposition senators violated internal rules governing executive sessions.

“At worst, if not checked as the majority leader did during our debates yesterday, it could put in jeopardy the lives of our men and women in uniform,” Lacson said.

“For, on top of the information divulged in plenary, they could very well forge ahead to give more information taken up in the executive session bordering on the tactical movements of our soldiers and policemen in Marawi thereby telegraphing their movements,” he said.