House ready to extend martial law if Duterte wants it
THE House of Representatives is willing to extend martial law in Mindanao if President Rodrigo Duterte wants it, a leader at the House of Representatives said on Thursday.
“The declaration of martial Law is the call of the Executive. The President declares or extends [it], [and]Congress concurs. If the President will ask for it, then it will be given,” said Majority Leader Rolando Andaya, Jr. of Camarines Sur.
Andaya, however, said that the Palace should convene the National Security Council or the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) to discuss the progress of the rehabilitation efforts in Marawi City and consult with stakeholders as to whether martial law should be extended or not.
President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao on May 23, 2017 to suppress a rebellion mounted by the IS-inspired Maute group seeking to establish a caliphate to be headed by Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon.
The President sought an extension until December 31, 2018 even after Maute leader Omar Maute and Hapilon were killed by government forces in October 2017 when the President declared Marawi free from terrorists.
“Bottomline, the people of Mindanao should be consulted,” Andaya said.
The five-month war in Marawi left over 100 soldiers, at least 47 civilians, about 800 terrorists dead and 500,000 people displaced.
Based on the Post Conflict Needs Assessment conducted by the government, the Marawi rehabilitation would cost at least P49.81 billion.
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