Senators want an urgent, detailed briefing from the economic and defense clusters of the Duterte Cabinet to help them determine if there is really a need to extend martial law in Mindanao for one year.
Sen. Winston Gatchalian on Saturday said his colleagues raised with Senate President Aquilino Pimentel 3rd the need to be briefed by concerned officials on martial law’s impact on the economy, security and human rights.
“Before I make my position, I want to know the effects of martial law on investment and the economy. Second, human rights violation, if there’s [going to be] any. And third, the extent of terrorist threat in the country,” he said.
“We really have to look at all these angles to determine whether the proposed one-year extension is valid,” Gatchalian explained.
President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao on May 23 this year to quell the rebellion of the Islamic State-inspired Maute extremist group. Congress extended it until the end of December.
Gatchalian said Pimentel is “open” to their request for an extensive briefing from the economic and security clusters as well as from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
“This will help us substantiate our decision. We cannot make a decision without basis,” he said in a radio interview.
“Ako, nag request ako na magkaroon ng extensive briefing on these aspects. Wag lang tignan security aspect (I made a request for an extensive briefing. We should not limit ourselves to the security aspect). We must also hear about the economic and human rights aspect,” he said.
“As far as I know, and this has been confirmed, the leaders are already dead: Isnilon Hapilon and the Maute brothers. So, my question is: why is there a need to extend [it] if the leaders are already dead?” Gatchalian asked.
“I heard that recruitment is still ongoing, which means that there is money going around. Who is funding it? With martial law still in place, we can arrest whoever is extending funding to the terrorists,” he said.
Congress is set to adjourn for a month-long holiday break from December 13.
The Senate and the House of Representatives are rushing the ratification of the proposed P3.77-trillion national budget for 2018, as well as the Tax Reform Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) bill.
Gatchalian said the senators are willing to schedule the briefing on December 14 or 15.
“We have no choice if there is no more time (to hold it during the session days). We will have a special session and extend our vacation. I think we will have a meeting this coming Monday or this coming week,” he said.
On the other hand, he rejected the view of Florin Hilbay that the proposed extension of martial law in Mindanao is unconstitutional because the military has declared victory over the Maute extremist group.
If martial rule is extended based on a “fake” reason, it will be easier for the government to declare martial law nationwide, Hilbay said.
“We should not say that it is fake because terrorism is a continuing threat. They are still recruiting, they are still regrouping,” he said.
“The momentum is on our military side. The military wants to, once and for all, crush terrorism in the country,” he added. “Terrorism has no boundaries. It can come to Visayas, it can come to Manila. We don’t want that to happen. So, let us give the military the ammunition to fight terrorism because all they want is peace in our land. They even sacrifice their lives. So, we have to support them.”