MANILA – House Speaker Gloria Arroyo supports the martial law in Mindanao and is open to its extension in light of the bombing in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.
But Vice President Leni Robredo and Senate President Vicente Sotto III thumbed down the idea.
Robredo stressed that the extension will not solve violence in the region while Sotto stressed that the passage of laws seen to combat terrorist violence must be given more attention.
“I support martial law in Mindanao,” Arroyo said. “I support what the President does because I’ve been President and I believe that he (Rodrigo Duterte) doesn’t need a peanut gallery to tell him what to do.”
In 2009 then President Arroyo placed Maguindanao under martial law after the killing of 58 people by men linked to the powerful Ampatuan family.
The martial law has so far been “ineffective” in reducing violence in Mindanao, Robredo said. “Nakita natin over the past months, hindi nagiging hadlang (ang martial law) para iyong karahasan ma-prevent. Nagkaroon tayo ng bombing sa Lamitan, ito na namang sa Sultan Kudarat.”
“Patuloy pa rin iyong mga terrorist activities na nangyayari,” she added. “So ano iyong assurance natin na kapag in-extend … talagang mape-prevent ito kasi ito naman iyong sadya ng martial law?”
For his part Sotto said talks about extending the martial law is still too early, and Congress should instead the pass the Human Security Act and the National Identification System.
“Wala pa naman, maaga pang maisip iyan. Baka within a month or two resolved na ang nangyari doon so hindi pa panahon para pag-isipan o pag-usapan iyan,” he said on Thursday.
“Kailangang apurahin natin ang Human Security Act para lumakas ang pakikipaglaban sa terrorism at magandang kasama nito ang National ID System,” he added.
Duterte placed Mindanao under martial law starting May 23 last year after the Islamic State-inspired Maute group laid siege to Marawi City.
The martial law was extended twice. It will last until Dec. 31 this year.
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea floated the “option” of extending the martial law in Mindanao after the Sultan Kudarat bombing that killed three people and wounded 36 others on Tuesday.
Medialdea said he would “not necessarily” recommend another martial law extension but it is an option being considered since the recent bombing is a worrisome development./PN
