Civilians Support Martial Law in Mindanao: AFP Official

Civilians whom soldiers in Mindanao are in close contact with have repeatedly expressed their support for Martial Law in Mindanao, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief Col. Noel Detoyato said Thursday.

“We have four Army infantry divisions in Mindanao, distributed all over Mindanao. Under two Unified Commands, (Eastern and Western Mindanao) and one Air Force division, naval stations all over and Marine brigades. All of them are giving us (positive) feedback from the populace they are serving and in contact with,” he added.

Aside from these civilians, Detoyato said that relatives of troops who are residing in Mindanao also expressed their support for the implementation of Martial Law in the area.

“They are the sources of our information. I am also from Mindanao and all of my relatives are happy with the implementation of Martial law. There are no rallies in Mindanao against Martial Law. Kung meron man (if there are any) they don’t represent the majority of the Mindanaons,” he added.

The AFP said Martial law make their missions of neutralizing terror and lawless group easier.

Martial law in Mindanao was declared on May 23, 2017 following heavy attacks of Maute Group terrorists in Marawi City. Congress, in a special joint session in July, granted the extension of martial law until Dec. 31, 2017 at the President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s request.

The Senate and House of Representatives, convening in a joint session early December, granted Duterte’s request for the extension of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of writ of habeas corpus for a period of one year from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2018.

A total of 240 members of Congress voted to approve the resolution of both houses calling for martial law extension in Mindanao, while only 27 voted against it. There was no abstention.

Fourteen senators voted in favor of the motion and four were against it, while 226 House members approved the motion and 23 rejected it. (PNA)