Pangilinan questions Mindanao martial law after series of blasts
MANILA, Philippines — Consecutive bombings in Mindanao raise questions on the effectiveness of the imposition of martial law there, Sen. Francis Pangilinan said Monday.
Pangilinan’s statement comes on the heels of separate explosions in General Santos City and in Midsayap, North Cotabato Sunday.
Seven people, including a three-year-old child, were hurt when a bag containing improvised explosive device went off in Barangay Apopong, General Santos City, which is geographically but not administratively in South Cotabato province.
Only about eight hours after the blast in General Santos City, another improvised explosive device was set off inside a videoke in Barangay Poblacion 4, Midsayap, North Cotabato.
The bombings in General Santo City and Midsayap was preceded by the August 28 and September 2 deadly IED attacks in Isulan, capital town of Sultan Kudarat.
“This places under question the effectiveness of the martial law declaration in the entire Mindanao. What’s the point of such a declaration by government if it is incapable of preventing such bombings?” Pangilinan said.
The Liberal Party president then urged the public to be vigilant and alert at all times.
Drilon: Check how intelligence funds are used
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, also of the Liberal Party, told reporters there is a need to revisit the utilization of the intelligence budget.
"The first corner is to see where the intelligence fund is being utilized and that is why I think it is about time that we activate the committee on intelligence fund,” Drilon said.
Drilon was referring to the Select Oversight Committee on Intelligence and Confidential Funds, Programs and Activities, which he said would allow lawmakers "to find out behind closed doors how the budget is being utilized."
Asked whether martial law is necessary in Mindanao, Drilon responded: "The implementation is what is important. This is basically intelligence work."
In a controlled briefing led by Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo last week, President Rodrigo Duterte claimed that martial law in Mindanao had reduced crimes in the region.
“It has lessened criminality by and large. And the only way to do that is to conduct a survey among the people of Mindanao," Duterte said when Panelo asked whether he believed martial law had addressed security issues in Mindanao.
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