Lifting of martial law in Davao City under study

MANILA, Philippines — The proposal of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to lift martial law in the city will be assessed, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said yesterday.

“We’ll see,” Lorenzana said when asked to comment on Carpio’s call.

Lt. Gen. Felimon Santos, Eastern Mindanao Command chief, said the peace and order situation in Davao City is “very good” after government security forces cleared Paquibato district of communist insurgents.

Paguibato was a former enclave of New People’s Army rebels and its Pulang Bagani Command.

Santos said he has no problem if martial law is lifted in Davao City, but the proposal should be further studied.

“We are continuously assessing. At the right time, we... including local government executives will have our recommendations. As of now, we have a very good (security) development in Davao City, including the districts,” he said.

In her speech before the 5th Davao Investment Conference last week, Carpio said she would ask President Duterte to lift martial law in the city, noting that it should be imposed only in areas where peace and order is unstable.

Carpio said she would ask the Sangguniang Panglungsod to pass a resolution to this effect.