Palace rebuffs Lagman, says rebellion in Mindanao continues

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang yesterday described as “intellectually challenged” Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman’s claim that there is no more rebellion in Mindanao because nobody has been indicted for the crime.

Lagman, a member of the opposition, has claimed that there is no need to extend martial law in Mindanao, disputing President Duterte’s claim that rebellion persists in the south.  

According to Lagman, a military report submitted to Duterte stated that not a single person had been captured, arrested or charged with rebellion during the second extension of martial law.

He also claimed that no one was apprehended or indicted for rebellion because rebellion, or an armed uprising that seeks to remove the country or a portion of it from allegiance to the Republic, does not exist. 

Lagman also argued that martial law is not needed because the combined forces of the military and police are enough to defeat terrorists and lawless elements. 

But presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo disagreed, saying Mindanao should remain under martial law even if no rebel is arrested. 

“If no arrest has been made on the rebels then with more reason martial law in Mindanao should continue because the rebellion continues, that should be common sense,” Panelo said in a statement.

“If substantial or all of the rebels have been arrested then the rebellion has been crushed. That’s another common sense. The argument of Lagman not only is faulty but intellectually challenged,” Panelo added. 

Panelo expressed confidence that the legal challenges against the extension of martial law in Mindanao would not succeed. 

“The grounds cited by the opposition in opposing the third extension of martial law are more or less similar with the grounds cited in the previous petition in opposing the second extension of martial law,” the presidential spokesman said.  

“We are confident that the continuing rebellion in Mindanao as well as the demands of public safety requires the continued existence of martial law in that area and the Supreme Court will uphold its continued imposition,” he added.