MinDA exec, Iligan solon back ML extension in Mindanao

MARAWI CITY--The secretary of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and Iligan City's representative to the Lower House said they support the extension of martial law in Mindanao up to next year.

MinDA Secretary Abul Khayr Alonto said the extension of martial rule in the island can help in the rehabilitation of the areas most affected by the five-month siege of ISIS-inspired Maute militants last year.

"If it is properly used, Martial Law is a big help in the rehabilitation," Alonto, who hails from Marawi, said.

Alonto was referring to the government's rebuilding and rehabilitation program covering 250 hectares consisting of 24 barangays--including Marawi City's business center.

The MinDa official also noted that martial law has been effective in dismantling lawless armed groups.

"I am for the extension of Martial Law if only to dismantle private armies. This is election time, if you take out martial law, I'll tell you, politicians will be moving around with bodyguards heavily-armed than the Armed Forces," he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte declared Martial Law in Mindanao when the armed conflict erupted in Marawi City in May last year. It was extended in January 1 to December 31 this year following the recommendation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Another supporter of martial law extension, Iligan City lone district Rep. Frederick Siao, said President Duterte should extend military rule for another six months.

Siao filed a House Resolution extending martial rule from January to June 2019 "to maintain the peace and order in Mindanao and to protect the lives and property of its people."

"We also need to extend Martial Law due to the forthcoming national elections on May 2019 and several areas in Mindanao have been identified by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) as election hotspots," Siao said.

He added: "There are unconfirmed reports from the intelligence services of the Armed Forces of Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) of the presence of ISIS bomb experts positioned in some areas of Mindanao plotting to generate widespread panic and terror among the populace."

Siao noted that the Bangsamoro Organic Law will be ratified in a plebiscite next year, but the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has yet to "submit an updated transparent progress report on the decommissioning of firearms or weapons."

Allowing the extension of martial law, he said, will guarantee that the government maintains an upper-hand until the MILF has already disbanded and its forces integrated into the government security apparatus. (PNA)