The military will also take into consideration the decision to be made by local government units/executives.

Esperon: Amending the Human Security Act may do away with martial law in Mindanao.

National Security Adviser (NSA) Hermogenes Esperon on Friday said the possible extension or none extension of martial law in Mindanao will depend on some developments that can provide guidance to them.

In a press briefing in Malacañang, Esperon said one development they are looking at is the possible amendment of the Human Security Act.

“If the Human Security Act as amended will be passed, then we may not need to ask for any extension of martial law. We may not need any martial law of – this kind of martial law,” Esperson told reporters.

Esperon said there is a need to amend the current Human Security Act as some of its provisions are actually not user-friendly.

“For one, if you commit a mistake in arresting somebody, detaining somebody with all the files that you have and later you are not able to prove it in court, you will be fined P500,000 a day, which is about $10,000 dollars a day, which is approximately my salary a year. So, it’s so unfriendly, so it is a disincentive to law enforcement,” Esperon said.

“So, we could ask for that extension or if we have the amended Human Security Act, then that is a better tool for us,” he said.

He added that aside from amending some of the provisions of HSA, they will also take into consideration the decision to be made by local government units/executives.

“It’s not the only consideration, but if local government units/executives would say we don’t need it anymore, then we’ll take that into consideration,” according to Esperon.

Esperon said since the implementation of martial law in Mindanao started more than two years ago, there had been no cases against troops.

When asked for a timeline on when martial law could be extended as there is more than two months left before its expiration, Esperon said they don’t want to dictate on Congress.