Lorenzana bucks martial law extension
Credit to Author: THE MANILA TIMES| Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2019 12:48:04 +0000
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana is no longer inclined to support the extension of martial law in Mindanao.
However, he said the final decision will be based on the recommendation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.
“We are waiting for the recommendation of the Armed Forces and the PNP, it will depend on them. But if I will be asked, I will not recommend anymore the extension,” he told reporters in an interview at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
Mindanao was placed under martial law in 2017 following clashes between government troops and militants affiliated with the Islamic State. Congress extended the implementation of martial law until the end of 2019.
Lorenzana said three years of martial law is too long.
“It’s been there for so long. This will enable us already to do our job especially if the Senate or Congress can pass the [amended] Human Security Act [of 2007] which will give more teeth on our law enforcement [and] that’s a better arrangement than martial law,” he explained. DEMPSEY REYES