Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel claimed that martial law, if declared in Mindanao, would be based on the need of the province to be put under control to bring back normalcy and sense of law and order.
Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella, meanwhile, has defended President Rodrigo Duterte’s remarks on declaring martial. He said the context of Duterte’s words is the challenge at hand that many of the local chief officials in Mindanao are afraid to meddle in geopolitical conflicts between Moro rebels and the government.
In his previous statement, Duterte said he might be forced to declare military rule in the region if local officials do not help him keep the peace in the area.
If martial law proceeds, Duterte still needs to receive go signal from the legislative and the judiciary offices.
As of this writing, Pimentel said that the Senate majority remains independent from Malacañang. -KCO