Pimentel backs extension of martial law in Mindanao

MANILA — Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III on Monday said Congress is planning to hold a joint session on Wednesday (December 13) to discuss the proposed one-year extension of martial law in Mindanao.

Pimentel told reporters in an interview that the Senate will be meeting martial law administrators on Tuesday, 10 a.m. Afterwards, the joint session would proceed on Wednesday.

He said that he expects that the joint session would take more or less half a day.

The senator, meanwhile, said that he is supportive of the proposal to extend martial law in Mindanao.

”There’s no effect except that military is out of the camps. That is the only effect. That is why tomorrow we need a briefing. What is the factual basis? What does the military know? How come they recommended the extension? We’ll have to listen first,” he added.

Aside from Pimentel, Senator Manny Pacquiao said that he is also in favor of martial law extension in Mindanao.

Pimentel is President of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), which is also the party of President Rodrigo Duterte. Meanwhile, Pacquiao is a member.

Duterte, in a letter to the Congress dated December 8, asked for an extension of martial law in Mindanao for a whole year in order to totally eradicate terror threats posed by remnants of Islamic State (IS)-linked terrorists and by communist rebels in the region.

“A further extension of the implementation of Martial Law and suspension of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao will help the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and all other law enforcement agencies to quell completely and put an end to the ongoing rebellion in Mindanao and prevent the same from escalating to other parts of the country,” Duterte said in his letter.

Duterte. In his letter, highlighted the different terror threats facing Mindanao, which were part of the security assessment submitted to Malacañang by the AFP and the PNP. (PNA)

Popular

LTO integrates online driver’s license renewal system in eGovPH app

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has integrated the online driver’s license renewal in the eGovPH app, which ensures a fast and...

5 of 21 Filipinos in Houthi-hit ship in Red Sea rescued — DFA

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora and Marita Moaje | Philippine News Agency Five of the 21 Filipino seafarers manning the cargo vessel Eternity C, which...

PBBM directs gov’t officials: Focus on work, avoid politicking

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet At the Malacañang press briefing this Wednesday, July 9, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press officer Claire Castro reiterated...

Nearly 12K cops to secure SONA — PNP

By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan | Philippine News Agency The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday said almost 12,000 police officers will be deployed to provide...