Ni: Argyll Cyrus B. Gecucos, Vanne Elaine P. Terrazola, at Charissa Luci-Atienza
Tinanggap ng Malacañang ang rekomendasyon ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) na palawigin ang batas militar na ipinaiiral sa Mindanao upang tuluyang masawata ang banta ng mga armadong grupo sa rehiyon.
Ito ay makaraang sabihin ng AFP nitong Biyernes na habang nagpapatuloy pa ang clearing operations nila sa Marawi City at hinaharap din nila ang banta ng Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) at ng Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).
“Sila (AFP) naman talaga ang may nakakaalam sa mga ganyang subject, pagdating sa pakay ng national security and they have all the reason to give their thoughts because ang pinakamahalaga talaga sa lahat eh ang seguridad ng bawat Pilipino,” sinabi ni Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar sa panayam ng Radyo Pilipinas.
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‘THE PRESIDENT WILL DECIDE’
“So, the decision of the Armed Forces or the recommendation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines is actually accepted, well, but then again, it will be the President who will decide,” aniya pa.
Matatandaang sinabi ni AFP spokesperson Gen. Restituto Padilla nitong Biyernes na hindi nila inaalis ang posibilidad na hilingin nila sa Pangulo ang pagpapalawig pa ng batas militar sa Mindanao—na itinakda hanggang sa Disyembre 31, 2017.
“We’re working towards that. We’re hoping to be able to address and normalize everything by the end of the year because that was the deadline given to us,” sabi ni Padilla. “But be that as it may, the network of the local terrorist groups still continue and this is the subject of our efforts. So, if we are able to address that by December, then we will report that to you and give justification for the lifting of martial law.
“If not, we will have to request an extension to be able to address the remaining threats in area,” sabi pa ni Padilla.
SUPORTADO
Suportado naman nina Senators Gregorio Honasan at JV Ejercito ang planong palawigin pa ang martial law sa Mindanao, lalo na dahil hindi pa tapos hanggang ngayon ang clearing operations sa Marawi.
“Marahil ay naniniguro lang ang liderato ng ating military at kapulisan, na walang magiging balakid o sagabal kapag nandun na tayo sa chapter na yun. Dahil mas madali yung clearing,” sinabi kahapon ni Honasan, chairman ng Senate committee on national defense and security, na namumuno rin sa ad hoc committee on Marawi rehabilitation.
“Base sa mga nakausap ko—hindi lang local officials, AFP o PNP—‘yung mga ordinaryong mamamayan sa Mindanao, eh halos lahat ng tao mas pabor sila sa martial law, kasi ayaw na nilang maulit yung Marawi (siege), ‘yung presence of firearms. Kumbaga traumatized na,” sabi naman ni Ejercito sa hiwalay na panayam.
‘PREMATURE’
Sa Kamara, bagamat suportado ng House leaders ang panukala ng AFP, sinabi naman ni Anak Mindanao Party-list Rep. Makmod Mending na “premature” pa na talakayin ang pagpapalawig sa batas militar sa ngayon.
“To my mind, it is premature to talk about it, the military should be focused on bringing normalcy back. A state of martial law is an indication of government’s failure to bring back normalcy,” ani Mending. “It would be better for the AFP to show to our people that they are up to the task, they are given up to the end of the year. I believe that is more than enough time given to them so we can return to normalcy.”
