The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) may recommend to Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana the extension of the martial law in some places in Mindanao, where terrorists abound. It, however, noted that the ground forces’ recommendation will, at the end of the day, determines the prolongation of the military rule in Southern Philippines. OPAPP Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. explained, “We will still abide kung ano ‘yong recommendation sa’min. Sinasabi nga namin na ‘yong recommendation pa rin ng mga LGUs at saka mga peace and order councils ‘yong ano namin . . . and then kung ano yung recommendation ng Armed Forces. But in our view, we believe na talagang do’n lang sa mga selected areas . . . .” (We will still abide by the recommendations to us. As we say, the recommendations of the local government units [LGUs], and peace and order councils are . . . and also the recommendation of the Armed Forces. But in our view, we believe that it should be only in selected areas . . . .).
The OPAPP informed that there is a possibility of revoking the martial law in Mindanao in the event of amendment of the anti-terrorism law and Human Security Act.
The Congress of the Philippines is expected to release decision on the matter before the military rule’s expiration on December 31, 2019.
