President Duterte said that the lifting or extension of martial law being implemented in Mindanao which is now in its last two months still depends on the recommendation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Duterte said he would listen to the recommendation of the AFP and the Philippine National Police on martial law as they know the situation on the ground.
“The declaration of martial law is always dependent on what the Armed Forces and the police recommend,” Duterte told reporters in Davao City Saturday.
“They are the two entities that would be relied upon heavily by a President or head of state when he entertains something like extreme measures – martial law, state of emergency,” he added.
Duterte believes that the AFP and the PNP will not create stories just to extend martial law.
“They are the ones also who would be totally engaged in war, if there’s an offing of trouble there, we should give credence to it actually,” he said.
“I do not think that they’d fabricate events. It’s all for us to say it’s an involving every day, especially in that corridor of Maguindanao and Marawi,” he added.
The Chief Executive said the AFP is incapable of looting and abuses during the war in Marawi City as reported by Amnesty International.
“I do not believe that the soldiers were there to steal. Paano nila manakaw ‘yan?” Duterte said. “I was there. And they were billeted in houses. And they were using the amenities of that house,” he added. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)
