Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Monday disclosed that he is not leaning towards recommending another extension of martial law in Mindanao.
The declaration is set to lapse on 31 December.
“It’s already been too long and we can do our job anyway, especially if the Senate or Congress can pass the Human Security Act,” Lorenzana said in a statement, referring to the proposed amendment to the Human Security Act of 2007 which he said would “give teeth” to law enforcement agencies and make for a “better arrangement” than the prevailing military rule in Mindanao that has been extended thrice as an offshoot of the 2017 Marawi siege.
Among the suggested tweaks to the said law are provisions which would broaden the definition of terrorism, ease restrictions on surveillance and prolong the lawful detention of terror suspects from the current 3 days to up to 60 days.
If approved, the amended law would provide the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces more avenues to identify suspected terrorists and other enemies of the state and build strengthen the case build up against them.
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Lorenzana said he would wait for the police and military’s final recommendations before he gives his input regarding the issue and then await President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision.
