Martial law can go

If it is no longer needed now as the PNP stated, the Armed Forces of the Philippines will also recommend.

Soldiers inspect a vehicle at a checkpoint in Jolo as security officials see the situation normalizing. AFP

As the law extending the implementation of military rule in Mindanao nears its expiration, the sentiment may have shifted as Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said he is open to its lifting.

Nonetheless, the senator said he will defer to the recommendation of government security forces.

In a statement, Go said, while the Philippine National Police (PNP) has publicly stated that there is no more need for the extension of martial law in the entire Mindanao, he would rather await official recommendation regarding the matter.

His view will carry much weight when President Rodrigo Duterte decides on the fate of the more than two-year imposition before the year ends.

“If it is no longer needed now as the PNP stated, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will also recommend or should have recommended already,” Go said.

“But if extending martial law is not necessary, I will support it,” he added.

Last week, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he is not inclined to recommend the extension of martial law in Mindanao after his personal assessment of the situation there.

The Defense chief, however, said Congress should enact amendments to the Human Security Act to strengthen laws against terrorism.

The PNP high command seconded Lorenzana, stressing that the situation in Mindanao is under control, citing the prevailing stability in the region.

This was also the sentiment of AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Noel Clement, saying he only backs the extension of military rule in certain areas in Mindanao.

During his confirmation, Clement noted that the security situation in Mindanao “has improved a lot.”

Currently, some local governments in Mindanao, particularly in the Lanao area, are clamoring for the extension of martial law beyond 31 December when the third extension expires.

Mr. Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao on 23 May 2017 — hours after the Daesh-inspired Maute-IS terrorist group laid siege on Marawi City.

The siege ended five months later, resulting in the killing of more than 1,000 terrorists, government troops and civilians.

Among those killed were Abu Sayyaf commander Isnilon Hapilon, the recognized emir or leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in Southeast Asia, and the dreaded Maute brothers.

Congress has approved an extension twice to allow government security forces deal with the remnants of Maute-IS and give way to the massive rehabilitation efforts in Marawi City, which was left in ruins by the conflict.

Sharing the view of Lorenzana, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. cited the need for additional measures against terrorism.

“We have the same position. I know the security arrangement in Davao City and other urban centers there, so we are capable of doing it,” he said.

The 60-day martial rule in the country’s largest island group was extended thrice in line with the government’s bid to neutralize terror groups operating in the south.

Esperon said the decision for the eventual lifting of martial law depends on the President, but stressed that a joint command conference will have to be conducted by the AFP and the PNP.

“If we lift it, then we should be more diligent and we must have more deployment,” he said.

Esperon said the additional deployment means “more deployment in terms of checkpointing, hardening of targets and talking to possible targets — precautionary measures.”

He, however, said measures against terrorism will get a further boost if the proposed amendments to the Human Security Act will be approved, “so that we have something to bank on.”

“Because if it will be amended, it will give us more tools to fight terrorism. Then it will be good for us,” Esperon said.

“So, for now, our position is we are not inclined to recommend the extension of martial law in Mindanao,” he added.

The Human Security Act of 2007, otherwise known as Republic Act 9372, is the country’s anti-terrorism law, which is being targeted for amendment to give it more teeth.

Among the proposed amendments include increasing the number of days a suspected terrorist can be detained from the current three days and to allow regional trial courts to issue authorizations to wiretap suspects from 30 days to 60 days or longer.

Relatedly, the PNP on Sunday equated the decreasing crime volume to improved quality of life of Filipinos — noting the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey results.

PNP officer-in-charge PLt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa noted that roughly a third of the population or 36 percent of Filipinos expressing improved quality of life in the latest SWS survey.

The survey conducted on 27 to 30 September, indicated that 36 percent of Filipinos said their lives improved over the past 12 months.

The same survey found that 46 percent of adults expected that their quality of life will improve in the next 12 months while only five percent predicted their quality of life would worsen.

“This feeling of improved quality of life is fairly consistent with PNP data that showed improved crime situation over time,”

Gamboa said citing the 4.89 percent drop in nationwide crime volume or some 6,000 fewer crime incidents during the third quarter of 2019 as compared with same period in 2018.

“This data validates our assumption that people appreciate improved quality of life in a safer environment where there is less crime and less fear of crime,” Gamboa added.

The third quarter crime data showed significant decreases in crimes against person and crimes against property and crime categories such as murder, homicide, physical injury, robbery, theft, and carnapping. On the other hand, rape cases rose by 3.47 percent from July to September.

Gamboa said all these index crime cases, except rape, dropped steadily in the third quarter of 2019, with carnapping posting the sharpest decline at 45.86 percent and theft cases going down further by 13.84 percent.

Murder cases decreased by 9.81 percent, homicide by 11.90 percent, and robbery by 4.52 percent according to Gamboa.

On the other hand, crime solution and crime clearance efficiency ratings were consistently posted at double-digits figures in the third quarter, indicating the PNP’s capacity to solve and clear criminal cases.