‘Premature to talk about martial law extension’

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has ceased talking about the possibility of extending martial law in parts of Mindanao after the deadly attacks in Sultan Kudarat that left three people dead and several others wounded last Tuesday.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. yesterday said it is still too early to talk of any extension since the previous martial law proclamation granted by Congress runs until yearend.

While he goes by the statement of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on the principle of primus inter pares or first among equals, Roque said the President has not yet considered seeking an extension.

Any extension of martial law in the region will need consultations between the executive branch and the security cluster of the Cabinet.

Roque pointed out that December is still a long way off, when the President will need to ask Congress for an extension of martial law, is at all.

He said Duterte as commander-in-chief will be seeking the recommendation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines regarding the matter.

The other day, Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said she supports the third extension of martial law in Mindanao. She was seconded by Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr., who has stated that Congress would extend martial law if the President asks for it.

“We thank Congress for their cooperation but as I said, the decision whether or not to extend will be pursuant to a recommendation to be made by our security forces and they have not given us any recommendation,” Roque said.

CHR probes bombing

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is conducting its own investigation on the Sultan Kudarat bombing that claimed the lives of three people and injured more than 30 others.

In a statement, the CHR regional office in Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City) condemned the incident and expressed solidarity with families of the victims of the Aug. 28 bomb blast in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.

“The CHR Region XII is currently conducting an investigation of the incident,” it added in Filipino.

The commission has yet to comment on proposals to extend the declaration of martial law in Mindanao following the bombing.

But in an earlier statement, CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said the government should already lift martial law as the military could ensure peace and order without it.

“With the liberation of Marawi, there is no reason to extend martial law and (the CHR) instead urges the government to lift it,” she said at the end of Marawi crisis last November.

“The commission has consistently maintained that it has full trust and confidence in the capability of the Armed Forces to maintain peace and order in Mindanao,” De Guia added.

Sultan Kudarat officials have said they are not against the martial law extension.

Bomb experts

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has deployed bomb experts to help in the investigation of the explosion during a festival in Isulan.

PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde sent personnel from the Explosives Ordnance Disposal and Canine Group (EOD/K9) and Bomb Data Center under the Directorate for Operations (DO) to support their investigators in Isulan. – With Janvic Mateo, Emmanuel Tupas