Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said yesterday he is no longer inclined to recommend another extension of martial law in Mindanao, saying it has been going on for “too long.”
However, Lorenzana said he will still wait for the recommendation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police on whether or not to extend martial law for the fourth time, which is being implemented for over two years now in the entire southern part of the Philippines. It is set to expire on Dec. 31, 2019.
“We are waiting for the recommendation of the Armed Forces at PNP. Depende sa kanilang recommendation but if I were to ask, I will not recommend anymore the extension,” Lorenzana said. “Masyado nang matagal eh,” he added.
Lorenzana was hoping that Congress would instead pass the amended Human Security Act, which he said would give more teeth to law enforcement.
The Department of National Defense and AFP earlier proposed amendments to the Human Security Act of 2007, including the increase in the authorized period of detention of a suspected terrorist from three days to 30 days.
They also want to remove the P500,000 fine per day for members of security forces who may have wrongfully detained a suspected terrorist.
“That’s a better arrangement than the martial law,” Lorenzana said.
The AFP earlier said that they have to assess the security situation in Mindanao before giving a recommendation.
President Duterte placed Mindanao under the martial law on May 23, 2017 when the war between government troops and Islamic State-inspired terrorists broke out in Marawi City. (Martin A. Sadongdong)