Duterte seeks to extend martial law in southern island

By Hader Glang

ZAMBOANGA CITY (AA) - Citing the continuing rebellion in the southern Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte has asked Congress to extend martial law until the end of the year.

In a news conference on Tuesday at Malacanang Palace, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella read out Duterte's letter to lawmakers asking for martial law to be extended by five more months.

"I have come to the conclusion that the existing rebellion in Mindanao, which has prompted me to issue Proclamation No. 216 on 23rd May 2017, will not be quelled completely by 22nd July 2017," Duterte's message read.

"For this reason, because public safety requires it, I call upon the Congress to extend until 31st of December 2017 or for such a period of time as the Congress may determine the proclamation of martial law and the suspension of privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the whole of Mindanao," it added.

According to Abella, the extension is necessary since the Marawi crisis is unlikely to end by July 22 and will still cover the entire island of Mindanao.

On Monday night, Duterte was reported to have verbally requested a 60-day extension but apparently changed his mind before drafting the letter.

Abella also said the five-month extension is not necessarily the recommendation of the military, the police, or Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

Abella said Duterte asked for the extension until year’s-end to allow government troops to deal with the crisis “unhampered by deadlines”.

- Mixed reactions

Duterte placed the island under martial law in May after extremists led by the Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups laid siege to Marawi in a bid to establish a Daesh province in the Philippines.

Duterte's call for an extension drew mixed reactions from pro-administration and opposition lawmakers.

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, leading administration allies of the House of Representatives in supporting the extension, said the public favored the measure.

"In all surveys, the people expressed their support for the declaration of martial law in Mindanao, they have an appreciation of how big the problem is,” Inquirer Online quoted Alvarez as saying.

GMA News reported that Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said in a text message that extending martial law in Mindanao beyond 60 days will be difficult to justify.

"The president said 60 days. It's easy to extend but it is harder for us to explain if it's longer," Sotto was quoted as saying.

Sotto said he will decide based on a presentation by security officials set for Wednesday.

Sotto, along with Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and House leaders, sat with Duterte on Monday night for dinner at Malacanang. Other majority bloc senators and congressmen were also present.

Meanwhile, Senator Grace Poe said she will also wait for the security briefing.

“Aside from their inputs, we also have constituents on the ground who will send their feedback. Only then will I be able to determine my position on the martial law extension,” Poe said.

Ifugao Representative Teddy Baguilat Jr. said lawmakers should be given time “to be apprised by the Armed Forces of the Philippines or Malacanang” of the situation in Marawi and the entire island of Mindanao before they consider an extension.

"We hope to be favored by substantive discussion and not to have the matter rammed through on that day,” TV5's Interaksyon Online quoted Baguilat as saying.

Anakpawis party-list Rep. Ariel Casilao said, “Anakpawis will consistently register its opposition if ever the President requests Congress for the extension of martial law.”

Congress is set to hold a special session on Saturday to debate the extension.

Human rights groups and peace advocates from Mindanao reiterated their call for the lifting of martial law in the region, citing massive rights violations that have only remained unreported due to victims’ fear of retaliation.

Duterte placed the entire island under martial law following violent clashes between government troops and members of Daesh-linked Maute and Abu Sayyaf terrorists in Marawi.