(Eagle News) — Solons from Mindanao on Wednesday expressed support for the one-year extension of martial law in Mindanao.
Speaking before the joint session of Congress that will determine the fate of President Rodrigo Duterte’s proposal, 1st District Lanao del Norte Rep. Mohamad Dimapora said that in his area of jurisdiction, “we feel safe, we feel secure,” with martial law in place.
“You have our 101 percent support,” he said.
He noted, however, that the Philippine National Police should also provide the military with the support it needs.
2nd District Lanao del Sur Rep. Mauyag Papandayan Jr., for his part, noted that “majority” of his barangay chairmen support the extension of martial law.
He noted what he said were reports of the active recruitment of ISIS-inspired groups.
“Para di matuloy na sila ay magconsolidate…Yan ang solusyon para tumahimik ang lugar namin sa Lanao del Sur,” he said.
Anak Mindanao Rep. Makmod Mending said Mindanaoans are “generally in support of the extension of the state of martial law and the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus.”
2nd District Lanao del Norte Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo echoed the sentiment, saying this was because “we have seen the effectiveness in our desire for our military police to be protecting us.”
“We have seen in Marawi City that suddenly the Mautes and the ISIS made themselves known. And we were not able to see them sprouting, becoming bigger and bigger and bigger because our ways before martial law were insufficient,” he said. (With a report from Meanne Corvera, Eagle News Service)