By Priam Nepomuceno/PNA
MANILA — Defense and military officials on Tuesday lauded the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) which upheld the constitutionality of President Rodrigo Duterte’s extension of martial law in Mindanao until December 31 this year.
“The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as an institution constitutionally mandated to protect the people and secure the state is elated that the Supreme Court, with the Associate Justices voting 9-4, upheld the constitutionality of the President’s extension of Martial Law (ML) in Mindanao until 31 December 2019,” AFP spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, said in a message to reporters Tuesday.
He added that the military is also pleased to note that Congress, in a joint session in December 2018, voted 235-28-1 granting the extension of Martial Law in Mindanao.
“These are affirmations of two things: first, of the existence of serious threats that attempt to rise publicly and take arms against Government to remove from the allegiance of government and its laws territory of the Philippines or any part thereof and deprive the President any of his powers or prerogatives; and second, of the AFP’s unwavering commitment to suppress and defeat all such threats,” Arevalo said.
He added that the AFP leadership under Gen. Benjamin Madrigal, Jr. vows that every soldier, airman, sailor, and marine shall lawfully and conscientiously enforce martial law to crush all threats –especially local and international terrorists groups and their supporters —that are determined to dismember the country and undermine the integrity of its territory by establishing a “wilayat”or ISIS province in Mindanao.
“General Madrigal, Jr. thanks the Supreme Court, Congress, and the people for their trust and confidence on their AFP. He calls on fellow Filipinos to take security a personal commitment for the safety not only of each other but of their families as well,” Arevalo said.
Meanwhile, the Department of National Defense (DND) also lauded the SC’s decision upholding the constitutionality of the martial Law extension in Mindanao.
“The public can rest assured that our brave Defenders will remain steadfast in their duties to safeguard our communities from the threat of rebellion, terrorism, and violent extremism, and ensure that the implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) will remain unhampered and protected from possible peace spoilers,” DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said in a statement forwarded to reporters.
As this develops, DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana also expressed his gratitude to the SC for agreeing with their position and said that this will greatly help in ongoing anti-terror efforts.
“I thank the SC for agreeing with us. This has and will continue to greatly help our counter-terrorism and fight against rebellious forces in Mindanao,” he added.
Congress, in a joint session December 12, has 235 in favor, 28 against, and one abstention during its voting to approve the extension of martial law in Mindanao until Dec. 31, 2019.
The AFP recommended another year-long extension of martial law in the island in a bid to totally neutralize terror groups still operating in Mindanao.
Martial law in Mindanao was declared on May 23, 2017 following attacks launched by the Maute Group in Marawi City.
The House of Representatives, in a special joint session in July last year, granted the extension of martial law until December 31, 2017 at the President’s request.
The Senate and House of Representatives, convening in a joint session early December, granted the Chief Executive’s request for the extension of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus for a period of one year from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2018.
