Listen to info on the ground before extending martial law, Leni urged

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday emphasized the need to listen to authorities who hold vital information in assessing the need to extend martial rule currently in effect in Mindanao as the debate on its extension continues to rage.

In an interview in her hometown of Naga City, the vice president said that before talks on a possible extension could begin an assessment of the situation on the ground should be done first.

She also emphasized the need to listen to authorities who had the information about the real situation in Marawi City as she noted that several government officials had proposed for the lengthening of army rule in Mindanao, which is set to expire on July 23.

“Bago kasi pag-usapan iyong martial law, pag-usapan muna kung ano na talaga iyong nangyayari. Kahapon may nag-propose ng extension. Iyong military nagsabi na masyadong mahaba iyon. Siguro pakinggan natin iyong mga opisyal na may hawak ng impormasyon ng anong tunay na kalagayan bago pag-usapan ang anuman na extension,” she said.

Robredo’s comments came days after House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez broached his idea to push for a five-year extension of military rule in Mindanao until 2022, the year President Rodrigo Duterte will step down from office.

Alvarez, a member of the president’s PDP-Laban party, said that if it were up to him he would push for five more years of army rule on his home island of Mindanao.

In pitching for his proposal, Alvarez, who is not involved in the military operations in Marawi City, cited his roots on the island where 22 million are living.

He said that martial law would end rebellion and lawlessness wracking the region for years.

The military, however, was cold on the idea, saying that the five-year extension was too long considering the situation on the island.

“Actually, five years may be too long for the moment,” Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, the spokesman of the military, said in a media conference in Malacañang.

Rep. Edcel Lagman of Albay said any army rule extension in Mindanao should not last more than 60 days as stated in the Constitution.

Lagman is a member of the House's “Magnificent Seven” group, which has been vigorous in its opposition and criticisms of Duterte’s policies.

The group's stance stands in stark contrast to the House minority bloc, which has been generally supportive of Duterte.

Several senators have also expressed openness to proposals to extend martial law.

Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III (Nationalist People’s Coalition) and Sen. Francis Escudero (Independent) both said that the Congress would grant martial law’s extension if they see a need for it.

“If they show that the problem is still subsisting, and martial law is still needed to address it,” Escudero said.