FOR MARTIAL LAW EXTENSION. Members of the Cotabato City Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) made public in a session on Tuesday, (Oct. 15, 2019), their support to the extension of martial law in Mindanao, including this city, citing it has brought positive results to the island-region. The Army’s 6th Infantry Division based in Maguindanao backs the Cotabato City Council stand for another extension, citing continuing threats of Islamic State-inspired groups in Central Mindanao. (Photo courtesy of Cotabato SP)
COTABATO CITY – Unless terrorist threats are contained, the city government here said it will continue to support the imposition of martial law in Mindanao, the city legislative body said in a resolution Tuesday.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) here passed a resolution on Oct. 1, 2019, expressing full support to calls for the extension of the imposition of martial law in Mindanao.
The resolution was only made public on Tuesday.
“It cannot be denied that terrorist elements are still lurking around and, if they can gain a chance, would continue with their wicked agenda of sowing terror and causing widespread fear and panic thereby derailing our economic and social development,” the SP Resolution 6579 said.
“Rebellion persists in Mindanao and that public safety entails the extension of martial law in the island,” it added.
The city lawmakers see the need “to extend the imposition of Martial Law in Mindanao beyond its set deadline of December 31, 2019, for the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to effectively and, once and for all, quell the terrorists’ threats.”
The majority of the members of the legislative body are convinced that “the imposition of martial law has brought more positive results, foremost of which are on the economy and peace and order, particularly in Cotabato City.”
In a recent interview, Maj. Gen. Diosdado Carreon, commander of the Army's 6th Infantry Division, said the military is also recommending the extension of martial law in the provinces under the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), including Cotabato City.
Carreon said the continuing threats by the Islamic State-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Central Mindanao as the reason behind their support to the martial law extension.
President Rodrigo Duterte issued Proclamation No. 216 on May 23, 2017, placing the entire island of Mindanao under martial law shortly after the escalation of conflicts between government forces and the Maute-led terror group that laid siege in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur.
Though the Marawi siege ended five months after the successful retaking of the city from the hands of terrorists, Congress favored the request of the President for the extension of martial law on the island up to Dec. 2017 because of the continuing threats from remnants of the terror group.
On December 13, 2017, a special joint session of the House of Representatives and the Senate approved the President’s request to extend the declaration of martial law in Mindanao until December 31, 2018, the second of such extension for the measure.
A request for a one-year extension was again granted the following year. (PNA)
