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BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa said only the “bad guys” would fear a nationwide martial law.
President Rodrigo Duterte said he was keeping his options open on the possible expansion of the martial law in Mindanao to Luzon and Visayas.
On Tuesday Dela Rosa allayed fears of the possible nationwide military rule.
While he finds no need for a nationwide martial law, Dela Rosa said he will confer with the 17 regional directors before making any recommendation to the President.
“If my subordinates, my regional directors, recommend martial law, it is my obligation to recommend it to the President,” Dela Rosa told a news conference. “It is the President’s prerogative naman to expand.”
People should ask people in Mindanao first what they feel about the martial law before they criticize, said the PNP chief.
“Go to Mindanao and ask the people if they’re afraid of martial law. Nobody is,” he said.
“For the bad guys, the effect of martial law is severe,” said Dela Rosa. “Their movements are restricted. Their opportunities are limited. Most of them are hiding.”
He added: “All I can say to the people of the Visayas and Luzon is that look at martial law in Mindanao…or you may ask the Mindanaoans, ‘How do you feel about martial law?’ before you oppose or feel frightened.”
Duterte placed the entire Mindanao under martial law on May 23 when Islamic State-allied extremists laid siege to Marawi City. The military rule has been extended, with approval from Congress, to Dec. 31 next year./PN
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