By Perla Lena/Philippine News Agency
ILOILO CITY — Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Friday that while there is no need to declare martial law in Negros Oriental for now, he would wait for the recommendation of the military, the police, and the local government on the matter.
“Pag sinabi nila na (If they say), ‘Please, please declare Martial Law,’ we might recommend (it). Pero (But) until such time they can show us there is (a) need for that, then hindi pa siguro (it isn’t the right time yet),” Lorenzana said in an interview on the sidelines of the turnover of the regional evacuation center in Zarraga, Iloilo.
He said that among the grounds for the declaration of martial law would be chaos and uncontrollable killing but for now, it looks like this has stopped.
Lorenzana said the killings are “more of politically motivated than anything else” because of the recent election.
“Let us see in the coming weeks, if ano pa ang mangyayari dyan (what will happen),” he said.
The Philippine National Police earlier sent 300 members of its Special Action Force to Negros.
Police recorded a series of shooting incidents in the province from July 23 to 29 with 16 reported deaths.
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