Congress nod seen for 1-year martial law

MANILA, Philippines — An overwhelming majority of senators and congressmen are expected to approve in a joint session today the one-year extension that President Duterte has requested for martial law in Mindanao. 

“No one seems to be opposing the President’s request. As it is, we are expecting that such will be approved by the joint session,” a senior administration lawmaker who was present during the all-party caucus yesterday afternoon revealed. 

“For me who hails from Mindanao, I don’t see any reason why the request won’t be granted. We feel safer if that happens,” Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez told reporters.  

He said he even preferred to have martial law in Mindanao “until 2022.” 

“Let’s not be complacent that the armed conflict that happened in Marawi has finally ended. It’s not yet over; there are still movements within and the terrorists have remaining comrades there,” the Davao del Norte congressman said.  

Alvarez reiterated the need for military rule in Mindanao, “because… in Davao, extortion in the plantations, in the mines, among bus operators and others continues.”

In July this year, Congress, which is dominated by Duterte’s allies, voted 261-18 in a joint session at the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City to extend until Dec. 31 the original 60-day martial law that Duterte declared in Marawi on May 23, when the siege of the city started. 

Of the 293 members of the House of Representatives, 245 voted favorably on Duterte’s request while 16 of the 20 senators who attended the joint session went along with the super majority coalition in the House.  

Only four senators and 14 congressmen expressed their vehement objections.

Optimistic

Malacañang is also optimistic that Congress would grant Duterte’s request. 

“We have factual basis for the declaration of martial law and we see no reason why Congress will not give its usual support to this initiative of the Chief Executive,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a press briefing yesterday.

“We look forward to the support which has been given in the past by Congress,” he added.

Duterte justified the martial law extension granted in July by citing the “rebellion” waged by terrorists who were funded by politicians and syndicates involved in the illicit drug trade. 

The President declared Marawi liberated from the jihadists last October but continued to impose military rule, supposedly to address the threats in other parts of Mindanao.  

Last week, the military and the police recommended a one-year extension of martial law in Mindanao, citing the need to flush out the surviving terrorists and their supporters.   

Activists and the opposition are against the extension, saying it could result in human rights violations and the suppression of civil liberties.   

Duterte adopted the proposal of security forces and formally asked Congress for an extension last Friday. 

In a letter explaining his reasons for seeking the extension, Duterte cited the recruitment efforts of terrorists and the threat posed by the Islamic State-inspired Da’awatul Islamiyah Waliyatul Masriq, the Turaife group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and the Abu Sayyaf group. 

He also claimed that the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of communist rebels, has intensified its rebellion and attacks against civilians.

Duterte terminated the peace talks with the communists, accusing them of pushing for a coalition government that is not allowed by the Constitution. He has also classified the NPA and the Communist Party of the Philippines, the political arm of the rebels, as terrorist groups.

‘Proper’ scrutiny

As this developed, Vice President Leni Robredo yesterday called on Congress to conduct a “proper” scrutiny on Duterte’s request. 

Robredo said it is important to discuss the details of the President’s request in order to address any apprehensions from the public.

“We only expect our senators and congressmen to ask those who are behind this to clarify why there is a need to extend, how long it will really last and what the people can expect with the extension,” the Vice President said in an interview in Marikina City.

She also appealed to the administration to present concrete plans to Congress on what it intends to do during the proposed extension, stressing that safeguards against abuse must be put in place. 

Robredo also continued to express trust in the assessment of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Department of National Defense (DND), led by Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, on the security situation in Mindanao. 

“We trust the AFP’s, we trust the DND’s and Sec. Lorenzana’s assessment on what we need to do to secure Marawi, to secure Mindanao,” she said.

SolGen: Martial law extension legal

Meanwhile, Solicitor General Jose Calida yesterday defended the legality of Duterte’s decision.

In a statement, Calida said the martial law extension has legal basis, contrary to the claim of his predecessor Florin Hilbay, that such extension would violate the Constitution as there is no more existing rebellion in the region after Duterte’s announcement that the Maute terrorist group has already been neutralized by government troops.

Calida stressed that while Marawi was already liberated, rebellion is still ongoing in several parts of Mindanao.

“The President cited compelling reasons in his request to extend the proclamation of martial law, as well as the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, in the whole of Mindanao,” Calida said, referring to the letter request dated Dec. 8 transmitted to Congress.

According to Calida, extending martial law is necessary to completely quell and put an end to the ongoing rebellion in Mindanao.

“This request…is amply supported by facts available to the President as commander-in-chief. The remnants of these rebel groups are currently regrouping and recruiting new members to sustain the ongoing rebellion,” he pointed out.

NPA rebel killed in Sorsogon

In related developments, an NPA rebel was killed during an encounter with government troops in Magallanes, Sorsogon yesterday morning, according to the police.

An Army platoon from the 31st Infantry Batallion encountered about 30 NPA rebels at 11:30 a.m. in Brgy. Salvacion that resulted in the killing of a local communist terrorist, according to Philippine National Police (PNP) Bicol spokesperson Senior Insp. Malou Calubaquib.

The firefight lasted about 30 minutes between Army troops led by 1Lt. Eddie Badol and NPA rebels led by Edwin Dematera alias Ka Dupax, head of Kilusan sa Platon 3 of the Bicol Regional Party Committee.

Nobody was reported hurt or wounded on the government side. 

Two high-powered firearms left by the rebels, who withdrew toward Brgy. Biton, were recovered from the encounter site.

Two more communist rebels from a group extorting money from peasants have surrendered to the military, the Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said yesterday.

Cabunoc said Ruben Balagay, 19, and his NPA comrade Marlon Dayao, 20, also turned over rifles when they pledged allegiance to the Philippine flag last Sunday.

The duo belonged to the NPA’s Guerilla Front 73 that operates in the towns of Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat and Lake Sebu, South Cotabato.

They agreed to turn themselves in voluntarily through the intercession of Cabunoc and local officials.

Meanwhile, a PNP mobile patrol vehicle was ambushed by suspected NPA rebels at Kilometer 13 in Claver, Surigao del Norte while the barangay captain of Rizal, Surigao City was shot dead by motorcycle-riding assailants in Kinabutan 2 in the barangay last Sunday, the Surigao del Norte Police Provincial Office (PPO) reported.

PPO Director Senior Supt. Anthony Maghari identified the victim as Severo del Rosario, 45 and married.

Initial investigation showed Del Rosario was  going home from the Surigao City proper when the suspects fired at him, hitting his left chest that caused his death.

An empty shell fired from a .45 caliber pistol was found at the crime scene as the suspects fled.

In the Claver ambush, six policemen were aboard the patrol car. Maghari claimed they managed to outmaneuver the rebels and engage them in a 10-minute gunfight, forcing the latter to withdraw. 

One-strike policy??PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa has imposed a one-strike policy on police officers whose police stations will be overrun by members of the NPA.

Dela Rosa ordered regional directors to conduct internal security preparations, especially in areas with limited members of the military like Iloilo, Negros and the Cagayan Valley region.

“If the police station is overrun by NPA rebels, then the officers will be relieved. If two police stations, then the provincial director will have to go, too,” Dela Rosa told reporters. – Alexis Romero, Helen Flores, Edu Punay, Celso Amo, John Unson, Ben Serrano, Cecille Suerte Felipe