DAVAO CITY – The City Council of Davao has requested President Duterte to exempt the city from martial law less than five months before its implementation will expire on Dec. 31, noting that it had “several effects on the city’s engagements in businesses, trade and investments.”
The local legislators had formalized this request through a resolution passed on Tuesday, almost two months after Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio told the European ambassadors at the sideline of the 2019 Davao Investment Conference last June 20 that she would convince her father to exempt the city from his declaration of martial law.
Task Force Davao Commander Col. Consolito Yecla told AFP-PNP press conference yesterday that the Eastern Mindanao Command would support the request for exemption, provided that all available security forces will remain and the security measures and initiatives will continue to take effect to prevent terrorist attacks against the city.
He added the military is also supporting the advocacy of the local chief executive to develop the “culture of security” among the locals and visitors, which gives a more long-term solution to terrorism than martial law.
“On our part at TF Davao, the culture of security is better because it is long-term than the martial law because it will be lifted eventually. It’s not forever,” Yecla said.
He said no terroristic activities had occurred in the city since the Sept. 2, 2016 Roxas Night Market Bombing that killed 15 people and injured 69 others. (Antonio Colina IV)
