MANILA -- With martial law in Mindanao set to expire by yearend, majority of Filipinos agree that there should no longer be any extension of military rule in Southern Philippines, according to a Social Weather Station (SWS) survey.
The SWS survey, fielded from Dec. 13 to 16, showed that 65 percent of Filipinos wanted martial law in Mindanao to expire by yearend while 34 percent wanted it extended for a longer period.
Of the 34 percent who wanted extension, 22 percent wanted it in the entire Mindanao, 7 percent said it should only be extended in Marawi City and the province of Lanao del Sur, and 5 percent said it should be extended in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, and nearby provinces.
The proportion of those who wanted martial law terminated by yearend is high in all areas-- 67 percent in Metro Manila, 67 percent in the Visayas, 66 percent in Balance Luzon, and 61 percent in Mindanao.
The survey also found that 49 percent agree that “there is no more threat that another Marawi-like terrorist attack can happen anywhere in Mindanao”.
It showed that 16 percent disagree while 35 percent are undecided about the matter.
This figure gives a net agreement score of +33, classified by SWS as very strong.
Meanwhile, 55 percent agree that there were “very few, if any, abuses of human rights in Mindanao” by military from the time martial law was declared in Mindanao.
Fourteen percent disagree while 32 percent are undecided.
This gives a very strong net agreement score of +41.
In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the survey showed Filipinos agree with the decision made by the Chief Executive.
“There can be no clearer message than that,” Panelo said.
“His decision is always based on the constitutional mandate directing him to serve and protect the Filipino people. He couldn’t care less whether anyone agrees or disagrees with him,” he added.
On Dec. 10, Panelo bared that President Rodrigo Duterte heeded the military ground commanders and Philippine security officials' recommendation not to extend martial law, following the drop in crime incidence in the southern Philippines.
Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao after the Islamic State-inspired Maute group laid siege in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur on May 23, 2017.
Congress extended the initial 60-day martial rule thrice upon the President’s recommendation to help state forces quell the insurgency in Mindanao.
Security officials are counting on proposed amendments to the Human Security Act of 2007 to give them more teeth to fight terrorism.
Among the proposed amendments to this law include increasing the number of days a suspected terrorist can be detained from the current three days and to allow regional trial courts to issue authorizations and to wiretap suspects from 30 days to 60 days or longer. (PNA)
