Cagayan de Oro solon open to ML in Sulu if there is a need
A House leader said today that he is open to the proposed declaration of martial law in Sulu if there's local clamor for military rule.
(FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
"If the local government units in Sulu upon consultations with their constituents' request for it, I will favor martial law imposition in Sulu," said Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chairman of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments in light of last week's bloody twin suicide bombings in Jolo, Sulu in which more than 10 persons were killed and injured many others.
On the heels of the attack, Philippine Army commanding general Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said that he would make a formal recommendation to higher ups in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Department of National Defense (DND) to bring back martial law in Sulu.
“Siguro it’s high time na ibalik po natin, if I may respectfully recommend to the President through our Chief of Staff and Secretary of National Defense, na pwede ma-ideklara muli ang martial law sa probinsya ng Sulu dahil sa recent bombing incident n nangyari (Perhaps it’s high time to bring back martial law in Sulu, if I may respectfully recommend to the President through our Chief of Staff and Secretary of National Defense, because of the recent bombing incident),” Sobejana said.
But Rodriguez said that placing the entirety of Mindanao under military rule once again is out of the question in the context of the Sulu blasts.
"For the rest of Mindanao, there is no necessity for an island-wide martial law. The President can call out our the Armed Forces to quell lawless violence and terrorism," he said.
Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles said there are conditions that must be met for the potential return of martial law in the region.
"Our Constitution is designed to leave the declaration of martial law to civilians by, first, giving the President the prerogative and, second, for the Congress to uphold or overturn that decision," said Nograles, who served as caretaker solon of Sulu from 2016 to 2019.
He said that it's not surprising that the military would perceive martial law, a military solution, to address a challenge of terrorism.
However, Nograles said that martial law under civilian rule is necessary only when the justice system cannot operate properly or cannot protect the people any longer.
"This collapse is usually brought about by imminent or existing widespread violence or danger to life, liberty, or property. Until such time is proven, martial law would be premature. If the military thinks it is necessary now, then they should show proof, first, to the President and, subsequently, to Congress when such a declaration is made," he explained.
President Duterte had placed Mindanao under military rule on May 23, 2017 when an estimated 1,000 ISIS-inspired Maute Group terrorists occupied Marawi City in Lanao del Sur. The state of martial law in the region lasted up to Dec. 31, 2019.