BY WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL REPORTER

THE lifting of the state of emergency being implemented in three areas in Central Mindanao since the Maguindanao massacre eight months ago is still uncertain even as President Benigno Aquino 3rd has expressed his disagreement with its imposition. “It [state of emergency] could either be lifted or extended,” said Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta, the Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman and concurrent commander of the Civil Relations Service (CRS), said.

According to Mabanta, consultations had already been made by the military with the stakeholders in Maguindanao, Cotabato City and Sultan Kudarat its recommendations were now with Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, who, in turn, will submit it to the President for his decision.

Mabanta explained that there were “pros and cons” in their recommendations to either lift or extend the state of emergency in the said areas.

The Armed Forces spokesman, however, refused to divulge whether the military establishment wanted the emergency rule lifted or extended.

“It’s with the Department of Defense, we will inform you at a proper time,” Mabanta said, adding that the final decision depends on the President.

It maybe recalled that former President Gloria Arroyo declared martial law in Maguindanao under Presidential Proclamation (PD) 1959 on December 4, 2009 in connection with the November 23, 2009 Maguindanao massacre that left 57 civilians dead, including 30 journalists and 15 women.

Arroyo lifted PD 159 but the declaration of a state of emergency remains in Maguindanao along with Sultan Kudarat and Cotobato City.

The President had earlier ordered the presidential legal counsel and Executive Secretary Pacquito Ochoa to review the status of the state of emergency in the said areas to determine if it is still necessary and if the declaration is deemed automatically lifted after the end of the Arroyo administration.

“We didn’t agree with its imposition to begin with that’s why I am awaiting for their output if there is a need to lift it or not,” Aquino said following his first command conference in the Armed Forces early this month.