 |
| President Duterte wants martial law in Mindanao extended until December 31, 2017. |
President Rodrigo Duterte has formally submitted his letter of proposal
to Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez
asking Congress to extend martial law over Mindanao until the end of the year.
Included in the seven-page proposal of the president is the detailed
summary report as to why the Chief Executive wants the military rule be
sustained in Mindanao for another five months.
The 60 day period of martial law in Mindanao will lapse on July 22.
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said based on the assessment of
President Duterte in Marawi City and other parts of Mindanao, and based on the
recommendations forwarded to him by the military and police, the rebellion in
Mindanao will not be quelled completely by July 22.
“For this reason and because public safety requires it, I call upon the
Congress to extend until 31st of December, 2017 or of such a period of time as
the Congress may determine the proclamation of martial law and the suspension of
the privilege of writ of habeas corpus in the whole of Mindanao,” said Duterte
in a letter read aloud by Secretary Abella during a press briefing in
Malacañang.
This is also the reason why a special joint session of Congress has been
called for at Batasang Pambansa on July 22 to deliberate on the possible
extension of martial law.
However, Malacañang has no sure information yet if the president will
attend the special session.
Malacañang also clarified that it is the president’s own proposal to
extend the martial law for another five months with consideration of the
government security forces’ assessment
“The president has his own sources of information, that prompted him to
come into this conclusion, and I’m sure all of these things whatever
information he has are all related towards ensuring public safety due to
certain forces that may be at play within the region,” said Abella.
Comments
Post a Comment