A second year-long extension approved by Congress will ensure Mindanao remains in the thraldom of martial law until the end of 2019.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1062275/congress-okays-3rd-martial-law-extension-in-mindanao |
A total of 12 senators voted to extend martial rule in Mindanao until Dec. 31, 2019. Five were against and one abstained.
On the part of the House, 223 voted to extend, 23 were against, with no abstentions.
With a final total vote of 235 for an extension, 28 against and one abstention, Congress voted to extend martial rule in the South.
Big surprise, right? Hardly but during the testimony given by the DND there was a shocking surprise.
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During his interpellation, Lagman, an opposition lawmaker, asked newly-appointed Armed Forces chief Lieutenant General Benjamin Madrigal about the growth rate in Mindanao, both in the first and fourth quarter of 2018.
Madrigal said they have no information on it, as the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) has yet to give them the data for 2018.
Lagman also asked Madrigal for the inflation rate and poverty incidence in Mindanao for the first and fourth quarter of 2018 during the implementation of martial law, to which the new military leader said they have no data.
"I am asking these questions because there has been a repeated claim that martial law contributed to the development and growth," Lagman said. "But how can these be validated when there is no empirical data on which this claim can be anchored?"
Lagman has consistently opposed the extension of martial law in Mindanao, pointing out that strong public clamor and the presence of terrorists — the other reasons cited by the military for its recommendation — are not basis for it.
See this is what a hearing will do. It will give lawmakers a chance to grill the AFP's top brass and find out just what is happening. That is why an inquiry into the Marawi siege is so imperative. Now the whole nation knows the AFP is talking out of their collective butts when they make economic claims for martial law. What else are they bluffing about? Here's another surprise from the brief hearing.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1062367/with-martial-law-lgus-in-mindanao-are-more-cooperative-ano |
“The implementation of martial law has really provided a good tool for both the military and Philippine National Police (PNP) to do its mandate with the support of the local government units particularly the local chief executives,” Año said during the joint session on martial law extension.
“With the implementation of martial, local government executives are more cooperative, more supportive in our campaign against rebel groups,” he added.
What a revelation. Without martial law local governments are uncooperative in fighting against rebels groups? Is that right? Are these local governments in cahoots with the rebel groups? Why would they not be cooperative unless martial law was in place? What was the response of the AFP and PNP to these LGUs before martial law? It is another topic for another hearing, the Marawi siege hearing if it ever happens. One more surprise to unwrap.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1062339/medialdea-terror-groups-still-eyeing-to-establish-caliphate-in-mindanao |
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said this on Wednesday during the joint session of the Senate and Congress on the possible extension of martial law in Mindanao.
“The remnants of the local terrorists groups composed of the Abu Sayyaf Group and Dawlah Islamiyah have continued with their political thrust in establishing a wilayat,” Medialdea said.
“The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, on the other hand, have remained adamant in their pursuit of establishing an independent Islamic state,” he added.
The Palace official noted that “these complications are further worsened by the presence of other foreign terrorist elements” who share the same purpose of overthrowing the government.
“We cannot turn a blind eye that Mindanao is still in the midst of rebellion,” Medialdea said.
Medialdea, as Executive Secretary, certainly has access to classified information and to men who are in the know. Here he is admitting there are foreign terrorists in the Philippines, a fact the AFP continues to say they are verifying. He also claims that Abu Sayyaf and the BIFF are seeking to establish an "independent Islamic State." How odd that is because establishing an independent Islamic State is the goal of the MILF and if the plebiscite passes the BOL, the BARMM will be a de facto Islamic State. The only problem is the MILF will be in control and not the BIFF so naturally BIFF wants nothing to do with it. They want their own Islamic State. This admission is definite proof that the BARMM will not bring peace to Mindanao and that, once again, the AFP is not telling the whole truth about the nature of the threat ISIS poses to the country. It's either that or Medialdea is lying about "the presence of foreign terrorist elements."
All those who voted against martial law gave their reasons which are basically the same (no actual rebellion, unconstitutional.) They will also be appealing to the Supreme Court once again.
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| https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/678083/opposition-solons-to-challenge-mindanao-martial-law-extension-before-sc-anew/story/ |
Lagman, however, said that the current state of affairs in Mindanao is already very different from when martial law was originally declared in the region on May 23 last year, when the ISIS-inspired Maute group began its attack on Marawi City.
"We feel very strongly that there is no constitutional and factual basis for that extension," he said.
Lagman admitted that while it may be branded as an "exercise in futility," seeking court relief would enable them to formally register their opposition to Congress's decision.
"What we are doing right now is when we file the petition, we can materialize our opposition to martial law and also to record in history what is the reaction and decision of the Supreme Court," he said.
As he goes on to say, the appeal would not be ultimately futile because any ruling would once again set precedent. Like earlier this year the Supreme Court ruled that Congress could indefinitely extend martial law. Maybe this year they will rule on what constitutes rebellion? Proponents of martital law think an appeal is stupid and the ruling is a foregone conclusion.
Such short sightedness becomes them.
Those who favour the extension have very little arguments to back them up. Listen to what Senator Sotto has to say to critics of martial law.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1063929/guevarra-petition-to-question-martial-law-extension-bound-to-fail |
Those who favour the extension have very little arguments to back them up. Listen to what Senator Sotto has to say to critics of martial law.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1062746/sotto-to-martial-law-critics-go-to-mindanao-and-oppose-it-there |
“I wish those against ML in Mindanao to go there and say there what they are saying here,” Sotto said in a text message after Congress overwhelmingly voted Wednesday to approve the martial law extension until December 31, 2019.
“Kahit hindi tumira. Pumunta lang at duon magsalita ng contra nila,” (They don’t need t live there. Just go there and say that they are against it) he added.
That is not an argument based on facts or the law. It's a fallacy. It's an appeal to emotion. It's also a sad admission that Mindanao cannot be governed and controlled without martial law. It's an admission that Mindanao is a failed province and the Philippines is a failed state.
One of the reasons given to keep martial law is that it will help facilitate the rebuilding of Marawi. How? Specifics are never given. But how will martial law correct such blatant incompetence from the companies tasked to rebuild the city?
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1061572/debris-clearing-in-marawi-stopped-due-to-firms-lack-of-permits |
The contractor clearing debris from a portion of a 250-hectare area in Marawi City destroyed by the war on terror last year was ordered to stop its work in the absence of two key permits—environmental and demolition.
The National Housing Authority (NHA) gave the order on Friday to Finmat International Resources Inc. (Firi), which won the contract to clear Sector 1 of what had become the main battleground between Islamic State and government forces in Marawi.
Firi is a member of PowerChina Consortium, which had been awarded the contract to clear debris in Sector 1 that included the villages of Tolali and Daguduban.
Only eight structures had been demolished as of now because of paper work, Tejares said.
Castro said contracts for clearing the other portions of the 250-ha main battleground were still being negotiated.
Demolishing structures, which had already been covered by waivers from owners had to be suspended in cases where these structures were surrounded by other buildings whose owners didn’t want their property to be destroyed, Castro said.
“It makes our work slow,” he said.
In another case, Castro said some sites had not been cleared yet of unexploded ordnance.
Paperwork is holding back the demolishing of structures in Marawi!? Areas have not been cleared of unexploded ordnance!? If the area is not 100% clear and if ALL the paperwork is not in place then why did the groundbreaking ceremony happen? You'd think they would get all their ducks in a row before they shoot but after so many delays they are too eager to jump right in and get started.
So there's martial law until the end of next year (and probably beyond) and how have the rebels responded? The Muslims haven't issued an official statement but the commies have.
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| https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/677978/cpp-orders-npa-to-mount-offensives-across-phl-in-response-to-martial-law-extension/story/ |
What kind of response is this? It puts the following in perspective.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1061433/arrest-of-peace-worker-dooms-talks-with-reds |
I may not be a smart man but I would imagine that ramping up attacks because martial law has been extended is a good way to doom peace talks and to ensure further extensions.
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