Senator Dick Gordon supported President Rodrigo Duterte’s call for a third extension of martial law in Mindanao following the military’s briefing, in executive session, on the updates on the situation in the South.
Gordon said that aside from wanting to ensure the complete rehabilitation of Marawi City which was torn apart by the armed conflict, he has received reports that Mindanaoans feel safer with martial law imposed.
The seasoned legislator added there are also no reports of abuses since martial law was imposed in Marawi City after the siege.
“There are no reports of abuses since martial law was imposed in Marawi City after the siege.”
“I don’t hear an outcry in Mindanao na nahihirapan kami diyan. In fact, sabi nga ng mga kaibigan ko doon, ‘ok sa ‘min yan. Mas safe kami diyan. May checkpoint, may nakikita kaming nagbabantay,'” the veteran lawmaker said.
“While it may not be perfect, yung martial law, wala naman akong naririnig na abuso sa Mindanao. So ako, ang position ko dyan eh ang President ang nakakaalam sapagkat sya ang may intelligence. Sya lahat ang nakakakuha. Is he using it badly? I don’t think so. Umaandar naman yun martial law ng maayos,” the senator added.
However, he said that while it is good that the military’s presence has deterred sudden outbursts of violence in Mindanao, the Armed Forces of the Philippines should have a grand plan to obliterate all rebellious groups in the region.
“The Armed Forces of the Philippines should have a grand plan to obliterate all rebellious groups in the region.”
“I’m not happy with it…situation right now the way it is, like I said, hindi nyo ginagamit talaga in full yung martial law kung nandyan pa ang mga kalaban ng estado. Dapat masawata na yung mga dapat labanan. Ang disappointment ko lang sa martial law eh bakit nakakapangulimbat pa yang Abu Sayyaf at meron pang naiipit sa crossfire yun mga Lumads? Yun ang disappointment ko. Dapat talaga may grand plan ang military na matapos ang problemang yan,” Gordon said.
Congress held a joint session on the call for extension.
Voting 235-28-1, the joint session of Congress approved the request of the President to extend the declaration of martial law in Mindanao for another year.
The President placed Mindanao under martial law in May 2017 after Islamic State-inspired terrorists laid siege on Marawi City for five months.
