Following the recommendations of his men, DND Secretary Lorenzana and DILG Secretary Año, Duterte has decided to not extend martial law through 2020.
Duterte’s decision came after Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana earlier recommended lifting martial law in Mindanao due to police and military assessment of the security situation in the region.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año likewised said the situation in the southern Philippines has improved.
Last Friday, Duterte already hinted that he is inclined to end martial law in Mindanao.
“Yang martial law, martial law, wala yan. Kalokohan yan. Bugok lang na presidente gagamit niyan. It’s an overused, abused word, martial law and... its practice,” he was quoted in a briefing in Legazpi City last Friday.
(That martial law, that’s nothing. It's baloney. Only a stupid president will use that. It’s an overused, abused word, martial law and... its practice)
“We will not allow it. I am sure. My military will not allow it. My police will not allow it,” he added.
My military? My police? As will be shown below Duterte is right but only because to go against his wishes is to end your career. Ostensibly the reason martial law has been recommended to end is because the security situation has improved.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said the “improvement in the security climate” in Mindanao was the primary reason why the military had recommended to President Duterte the lifting of martial law in the island.
AFP Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, in an interview with CNN, said the decline in number of local terrorist groups also contributed to the non extension of the martial rule in Mindanao.
“There’s a decline in the local terrorist group, particularly the Communist terrorist group, and the terrorist Abu Sayyaf group, the Daesh-inspired group by the Maute brothers,” Arevalo said.
Arevalo said that terrorist groups in Mindanao have “significantly weakened.”
“The Maute brothers as you know have been defeated in Marawi. After which, all their activities now that we have monitor so far are their attempts to regroup, to resurge and to recruit which we are able to control,” the AFP spokesperson said.
Arevalo said they were also making sure that movements of the Abu Turaife group in Central Mindanao and other local terrorist groups in Sulu are confined.
“We have already controlled them in the sense that we have neutralized their key leaders and so far…during the last quarter they were not able to pull out any reports, or attempts to kidnap and of course we have rescued British couple Hyron,” he said.
The Philippine National Police (PNP), for its part, said the police leadership supports the decision of the President not to extend the martial law.
“The steady decline in crime victimization in Mindanao over the past two years validates our data and general observations of lesser crime and lesser fear of crime in Mindanao,” Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac, PNP spokesperson noted.
The police official further said that the security measures and the campaign against crime and terrorism “are achieving positive results and success.”
Maybe PNP leadership in Manila supports an end to martial law but last month PNP leadership in central Mindanao recommend another extension. Why? Because of the same decline in crime which PNP Brig. Gen. Banac sites as a reason for ending martial law!
Top police officials of Central Mindanao are in favor of extension of Martial Law in the region, citing continuous security threat as a reason.
Brig. Gen. Alfred Corpus, director of the Central Mindanao regional police, said that the significant reduction of crime rate in the region is also a reason why they are in favor of Martial Law extension.
“The consensus of all local commanders is for the extension. This was based on our discussion during our command conference,” said Corpus.
Central Mindanao covers Cotabato provinces, Sarangani, Koronadal City, Cotabato City and General Santos City.
Some of the areas in the region is home to various threat groups that include communist and Moro rebels.
“With the presence of various armed groups here in Mindanao, the implementation of Martial Law offers a great advantage to the PNP and its counterpart law enforcement agencies, as such that it poses positive effects on the peace and order relatively,” said Corpus.
“I asked our officers on the ground on their stand on Martial Law and majority of them are in favor for the extension of Martial Law in the Region,” he added.
Corpus also noted a continuous decline and the peace and order situation in the region since the declaration of Martial Law in 2017.
Citing crime data, Corpus said that the region registered an eight percent reduction for 2017, 30.06 percent reduction in 2018 and 27.04 percent from January to October this year.
The decrease covers the Eight Focus Crimes such as Murder, Homicide, Rape, Physical Injury, Robbery, Theft, carnapping and stealing of motorcycles and also on crimes covered by special laws and ordinances.
But Corpus said they leave to proper authorities the decision on whether or not Martial Law would be extended in Central Mindanao.
Unsurprisingly
Gen. Corpus has done a quick 180 from his recommendation
to extend martial
law because
of the improved
security
situation to backing Duterte's decision
to end martial law which decision
was based on the improved
security
situation!
Brig. Gen. Alfred Corpus, director of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-12, said they are ready to implement any directive on possible adjustments related to the termination of the martial law on Dec. 31.
Corpus assured that they are always on top of the area’s security situation and all their units are always on alert for any eventuality.
“We follow orders but we will not let our guards down. The same intensity of service will be felt in PRO-12 and we will even add more to it,” he said a text message sent to reporters.
Even before the President declared martial law in the entire Mindanao in May 2017, he said they have elevated their security operations in the region, in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other law enforcement units.
He cited their standing partnership with the Army’s 6th and 10th Infantry Divisions, especially on counter-terrorism efforts.
“We will sustain the same intensity with our campaigns against criminality and illegal drugs,” Corpus said.
The PRO-12 reported last month that the recorded crime incidents in the region have declined under the prevailing martial law.
It said the total crime volume in the region’s four provinces and five cities dropped by 32.64 percent in 2017, 30.06 percent in 2018 and 27.04 percent from January to November this year.
"We follow orders." What
else can he and the other PNP commanders
in Central Mindanao do but follow orders even if they are fundamentally opposed to them? If the crime rate has dropped during martial law it only stands to reason that it will increase once martial law is lifted. The psychological barrier will be gone and crime will be back on the menu. PNP commanders in Central Mindanao recognise this law of cause and effect, why doesn't the leadership in Manila?
LGUs in Mindanao also expressed a desire to extend martial law once more.
Mindanao leaders expressed qualified support for the extension of martial law once the declaration expires at the end of the year.
But the peace and order council of Lanao del Norte province passed a resolution on Friday favoring the extension of martial law.
Lanao del Norte Gov. Imelda Quibranza-Dimaporo said the move was meant to prevent the inroads of lawless groups into the province and disturb its security situation.
This view was shared by Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr.
Adiong told the Inquire that keeping martial law would help ensure the smooth implementation of rehabilitation work in Marawi City because increased military and police presence reduces the threat from violent extremists.
Marawi Mayor Majul Gandamra also favored martial law extension for its security benefits because many residents are still struggling to normalize their disrupted lives after the Marawi siege.
But Iligan City Mayor Celso Regencia, a former police official, said there must be increased security presence in areas threatened by extremists before martial law is lifted.
Lanao del Norte Rep. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo said a well-coordinated security mechanism would ensure peace and order in Mindanao since remnants of the Maute group that laid siege on Marawi still evoke worries among the people.
Various reasons are given by these officials to extend martial law again but they boil down to one thing: the security situation. Cotabato City passed a resolution favouring a marital law extension as well.
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 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.
The commanding General of the 6thID even recommend
extending martial law in the BARMM which
includes Cotabato City. Even now the mayor has not changed
her mind about extending martial law.
Amid calls to lift Martial law in Mindanao before the year ends basing from security assessment that terror group threats have weakened, the Cotabato City Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi wanted martial law to be retained.
“Retention of martial law we want, because of the atrocities in the nearby municipalities,” the mayor said.
Sayadi recalled that on the first week of November, the city was alarmed over reported sightings of suspected ISIS armed men roaming in the nearby town that have stepped inside the city perimeter.
Cotabato City was also a victim of mall bombing during on New Year’s eve last year blamed by authorities on the ISIS-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters that killed two persons and maimed dozen other shoppers.
Cotabato City has been strictly implementing curfew starting 10:30 p.m. until 4 a.m., locking down the entry and exit of the city.
Several people were punished for violating the said ordinance.
The curfew, said the mayor, will continue even without martial law.
“The curfew is a local ordinance, it will continue,” Sayadi said.
Were the voices of these LGUs taken into account? What about the people? Remember when AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Galvez told us people of Mindanao said they wanted martial law forever?
It was announced yesterday by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Carlito Galvez united cry and desire of the majority of residents in the Mindanao peace-loving.
"What we are seeing in Mindanao, martial law is being appreciated, the rest they say we want martial law forever here in Mindanao, it says that because they because they see that martial law is being implemented against lawless elements" Galvez explained that currently in Marawi City.
What are they saying now? What is the real security status in Mindanao? Why are there LGUs and AFP and PNP officials offering different recommendations about martial law for the same reason, that the security situation has improved and crime has dropped? What is the real motive for not extending martial law? Could it be purely economic?
Remember earlier in the year Sara Duterte floated the idea of a limited martial law to the most affected areas so that more investors would come to Davao? She is still singing that song.
Mayor Sara Z. Duterte has welcomed the non-extension of martial law after it expires on December 31 this year.
In a statement on Wednesday, Duterte said the lifting of martial law would entice more foreign tourists and investors to the city.
Sara said the declaration of martial law had negatively affected the city when several foreign governments issued travel bans, which she attributed to tourists’ and investors’ apprehension about coming to the city.
“There is a negative connotation in the international community when it comes to martial law. Through the lifting, by the end of the month, our standing in the international community will improve,” she said.
The effect of the declaration of martial law was more on the influx of foreign investments to Mindanao, she added.
“When it comes to local investment, there is no problem. But in the international community, the declaration of martial law and travel ban coming from their governments really affected us,” Sara said.
There were travel warnings for Mindanao long before the Marawi siege. It is doubtful the lifting of martial law will cause any country to rescind their warnings for travel to Mindanao.
Duterte is not the only person saying that the lifting of martial law will attract more tourists and investments. But hold the phone! The AFP in 2018 told us that martial law did exactly that!
“Martial law has led to increased tourist and economic activity in Mindanao, especially in areas previously thought of as inaccessible to visitors from Luzon and Visayas,” he told reporters in his prepared speech ahead of a press conference.
Because of the improved security, the AFP Chie of Staff said it was “no longer unusual” to find tourists in conflict areas like Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.
“The development created more jobs and empowered residents to become active players in the peace and security of their communities,” he said.
Not
just
the AFP said martial law was good for the economy but so did LGUs in Mindanao!
All local government units (LGUs) in Mindanao as well as the national league of local governments support the extension of martial law in Mindanao, an official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Tuesday.
DILG Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said all LGUs in Mindanao, including the umbrella organization of all LGUs, the Union of Local Authorities in the Philippines (ULAP), have all expressed their support for the extension of martial law.
“In fact, we have not heard of any local chief executive in Mindanao who opposes the extension of martial law,” he said in a news release.
“According to our elected local government officials, martial law in Mindanao has led to improved peace and order in their areas. Who are we to argue against that?” Malaya said.
Dayanghirang said Mindanao has been experiencing growth in its economy and continuous decline of its crime rate.
"Practically, the economy is up, and criminality is down. Infrastructures and investments are growing due to an improved peace and order situation in Mindanao. Politically, we are very stable as well," he said.
"Mindanao is booming. There are more flights going to its various provinces plus inter-province flights. The gross domestic product of Mindanao is higher than the national government," he added.
He said the support for the extension resonates from a great number of councilors, specially, the ones in Mindanao who have articulated their resounding satisfaction over the affirmative results martial law have afforded the region.
"When we went around, we found out during our formal and informal discussions that the consensus of the general majority of councilors in Mindanao is that the people are safer because of the prevailing martial law in the region," Dayanghirang said.
Mindanao is safer and more prosperous under martial law. That was the
reason last year to extend martial
law through 2019. Now
the reason to not extend is that Mindanao is safer and martial law discourages economic activity
.
There
are simply
too many contradictions here. Martial law should
never be a permanent state. It is
a tool to be used in the most drastic times such as during the Marawi siege. The lifting
of martial law at some point was inevitable but the reasons given by various officials to lift or extend it
contradict each other. What will happen now? Will crime climb back to pre-martial law levels? Will economic activity decrease? In May 2018 I asked the same questions and I will end this article with them.
“People we have spoken to, they love martial law. Peace-loving people have seen the remarkable improvement in peace and order,” Gen. Carlito Galvez, chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, told reporters on Thursday.
“They no longer see guns in the streets. These [firearms] are now concealed,” Galvez said, adding that 6,000 firearms had been seized by security forces in Mindanao since January.
Do these people not realise that saying martial law has contributed to a remarkable improvement in peace and order only confirms the fact that Mindanao is a land of lawless violence despite every attempt to paint it as a place that is not so bad? When martial law is inevitably lifted will these concealed guns appear once more in plain sight?
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