By Lilian Mellejor (PNA)
DAVAO CITY — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will recommend the extension of martial law following the positive response from local government officials and the ground forces in Mindanao during a series of consultations.
This was according to AFP chief of staff General Carlito Galvez, who expressed confidence on the positive impact of martial law on Mindanao’s economy and the peace and order situation in the island.
Galvez, who was here Tuesday to visit with ground commanders under the AFP’s Eastern Mindanao Command, said there was a need to extend the martial law to sustain its gains and to completely defeat terrorism, including the New People’s Army (NPA).
He said the extension is also being sought by the local government officials who have recommended that martial law continues beyond this year.
Asked on how long the extension would be, Galvez responded: “We will talk it out later. We will recommend once we will finish assessment. We will recommend, we will go with the pulse of the people.”
The AFP chief cited the positive impact of the martial law on Mindanao’s economy. In the Davao region alone, he said, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 10.9 percent in last year, making the region the second fastest growth among 17 regions in the country.
According to the figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Davao Region’s growth was higher than the 9.5 percent recorded in 2016.
He also cited tourist arrivals in Davao region that went up to more than 50 percent before the implementation of martial law. He said there was also a big improvement in the peace and order, particularly for crime volume, in Mindanao.
“I am also very happy with the people’s confidence in the military. The Comelec (Commission on Elections) and the BOC (Bureau of Customs) have requested our services which signify their confidence on the military,” he added.
President Rodrigo Duterte had earlier said the extension of martial would depend on the recommendation of the AFP. Martial law in Mindanao was declared on May 23, 2017, following the government’s campaign against the ISIS-inspired Maute militants’ siege on Marawi City.
The extension of martial law after the first expiration in June 2017 was granted by Congress in a special joint session in July last year.
In another joint session in December last year, the Senate and House of Representatives granted the Chief Executive’s request for the extension of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus until Dec. 31, 2018.
