PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde backs extension of martial law in Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde is in favor of extending martial law in Mindanao until next year to secure the plebiscite for the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

He said the current peace and order situation in Mindanao will be the same if martial law is maintained.

“We still have the BOL. There will be a plebiscite,” Albayalde told reporters yesterday at a press conference in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

President Duterte in May 2017 declared martial law in the entire Mindanao island in response to clashes between state security forces and the Maute group, a Islamic State-inspired rebel unit, in Marawi City.

Martial law in Mindanao is set to expire on Dec. 31, 2018 while the plebiscite on the BOL is set in January 2019.

Albayalde allayed fears about the placing of Mindanao under martial law, stressing that it is different to when the entire country was placed under martial law during the time of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

“There is no curtailment of freedom. What we only see there are massive checkpoints and surrender of firearms,” he said.

Albayalde added that a majority of residents in the southern part of the country prefer that Mindanao remains under martial law.