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By APD writer Melo M. Acuna
**MANILA, Dec.13(APD) ** – Lawmakers from both the Philippine Senate and the House of Representatives in joint session approved President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s request for a full-year of martial rule in the southern island of Mindanao.
The vote was 240 in favor and 27 opposed to the request for extension.
The 1987 Philippine Constitution prohibits the enforcement of Martial Law beyond 60 days.
It will be recalled President Duterte declared Martial Law in Mindanao after the ISIS-inspired Maute Group seized control of Marawi City last May 23,2017.
Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez presided over the joint session which began Wendesday morning.
Both Houses approved President Duterte’s request last July 22,2017 for an extension until December 31, 2017.
With barely three weeks before the expiration of the first extension, the lawmakers granted President Duterte’s request for a full-year of martial rule in Mindanao to ensure the peace and guarantee of unhampered rehabilitation and rebuilding efforts of the war-torn Marawi City.
The sporadic fighting which saw aerial bombings lasted for five months and killed over 140 soldiers and nearly a thousand armed terrorists along with 47 civilians.
It was also reported some 1,400 soldiers and policemen were wounded during the skirmishes.
Martial Law administrator Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, PNP Director General Ronaldo dela Rosa, AFP Chief of Staff General Rey Guerrero, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and his deputy Menardo Guevarra and other cabinet officials attended the deliberations which took several hours.
Secretary Lorenzana said the rebellion has not yet been completely quashed despite President Duterte’s declaration that the war-torn city has been “liberated” or freed from armed terrorists.
He was quoted saying while the fighting has ceased in Marawi City, the rebellion simply moved to some other places.
President Duterte in his letter to both Houses said there are threats from the ISIS-inspired groups and “communist terrorists.”
There were exchanges of opinion at the floor where lawmakers interpellated executive officials on the grounds for the extension of Martial Law in Mindanao.
A lawmaker from Lanao del Norte, Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo said unlike in other places where Martial Law is associated with human rights violations, his constituents view martial rule differently.
He said people feel safe and secure because the elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines are trustworthy.
In a separate event, former Bayan Muna Party List Lawmaker Atty. Neri Colmenares, former Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales and former lawmaker Homobono Adaza were in united in saying President Duterte simply wants to consilidate power and keep control of the government because he cannot tolerate dissenting opinions and beliefs.
Kaparatan Secretary General Jigs Clamar said he foresees more human rights violations with the one-year Martial Law extension.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
