President Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Bong Go meet with military officials in Misamis Oriental.

President Rodrigo Duterte has full trust in the military and will likely not extend martial law in Mindanao upon its expiry on 31 December 2019.

Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana also agreed with the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ recommendation that ML is no longer necessary—two years and seven months since it was declared and extended twice.

“Sa ngayon, as a Senator, (tingin ko) hindi na po mae-extend ‘yung Martial Law. Sumulat naman po si National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (kay President Rodrigo Duterte). Hindi na po yata kailangan ng Martial Law,” Go said in an interview Friday in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao.

Go was in Shariff Aguak to witness the opening of the country’s 53rd Malasakit Center located at the Maguindanao Provincial Hospital.

The Malasakit Center, initiated by the President and Go who was still the Special Assistant to the President at that time, is a one-stop shop for medical and financial assistance from the government.

“Ako naman, kung ano pong para sa kabutihan ng karamihan. Wala naman pong abuses ang ating militar dito sa Mindanao. In fact, nakakatulong sila sa peace and order dito sa kalye. Suportado ko po ito. Kapag sinabi naman po ng military na hindi na po kailangan ng Martial Law ay suportado ko po ito,” Go said.

ML in Mindanao was declared in response to the five-month Marawi siege that started on 23 May 2017.

The proposed amendment to the Human Security Act of 2007, once enacted, is another reason to junk ML. The bill aims to strengthen the anti-terrorism law.

“Baka pumasa naman po ito sa Senado. I am a member of the Committee on National Defense. Pinag-uusapan namin ito,” he said.

Lorenzana earlier recommended to the President the non-extension of ML in Mindanao, citing the findings of the military.

The strength and capability of threat groups, including the Maute Group, have been substantially reduced and hundreds of loose firearms have been surrendered. Security authorities also noted a significant drop in crime rates in strategic areas while the Abu Sayaff Groups in Basilan and Sulu are being defeated.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año likewise backed Lorenzana’s recommendation, saying in a statement last December 5 that the “purpose of Martial Law has been attained based on the assessment of military and police forces as normalcy has returned to the entire region and the peace and order situation in the area has remarkably improved since the Marawi Siege of 2017.”

Nevertheless, Go believes that should there be intermittent armed clashes between rebel groups and state troops, the government must ensure the safety of civilians.

“Sana po ay magkaroon na tayo ng permanent evacuation centers hindi lang po sa panahon ng disaster kundi sa panahon ng digmaan. ’Yan po ang planong gawin ni Pangulong Duterte sa buong bansa, magkaroon ng maaayos na evacuation center,” he said.

The President prioritizes peace-related initiatives and is focused on instilling long lasting peace and development especially in Mindanao, Go stressed.

“Si Pangulong Duterte ginagawa po ang lahat para ma-attain natin ang long-lasting peace dito sa Mindanao. May schedule nga po siya makipag-usap kay Chairman Nur Misuari sa December 13 sa Davao. Nag-create po siya ng Peace Coordinating Committee para po pag-usapan. Lahat po ng grupo ay gusto niyang kausapin,” Go said.

He also emphasized his trust in the military in ensuring the security in Mindanao saying, “alam na po ng militar ang kanilang ginagawa.”

Go, a Davao native, thanked his fellow Mindanaoans for the continued support and trust given to the Duterte administration and encouraged them to participate in nation building in order to bring long lasting peace and development in Mindanao.

“Salamat po sa inyong suporta at tiwala sa amin ni Pangulong Duterte. Patuloy po akong magiging tulay ninyo para marinig at mabigyan ng pansin ang inyong mga hinaing. Magtulungan tayo para maabot ang tunay na pagbabago sa ating bansa,” he said.