‘Majority in Visayan bloc for extending martial law'
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
BY CARLA GOMEZ
The members of the Visayan bloc are expected to join the majority in the Lower Housetoday in voting in favor of President Rodrigo Duterte's request for a full-year extension of martial law in Mindanao.
Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3 rd District), when asked yesterday how he and the majority of the Visayan bloc will vote on the extension of mayor law, said “in favor”.
Almost all of the representatives from Mindanao support the extension of martial law for one year and we have to support their position, Rep. Stephen Paduano (Abang Lingkod partylist) of Negros Occidental also said.
“We in the Visayas don't have the moral authority to question the will of the Mindanaoans,” he said.
The Visayan representatives, who include those from Negros Occidental, will most probably support the extension of martial law in Mindanao, Paduanosaid.
Rep. Leo Rafael Cueva (Neg. Occ., 2nd District) also said he will vote for the extension of martial law in Mindanao.
“The government, through the military, need more time to reduce the threat of the ISIS group to make a comeback, “ he said.
“This will also enable the development of Marawi to be fast tracked,” he said.
House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñasyesterday also said members of the House of Representatives are "overwhelmingly in favor" of a full-year extension of martial law in Mindanao.
The House of Representatives and the Senate are set to convene in a joint session today to decide on whether or not to approve Duterte's request for a one-year extension of martial law in Mindanao.
In his letter dated December 8, President Duterte asked Congress to further extend the declaration of martial law in the whole of Mindanao for the entirety of 2018 to totally eradicate terror threats posed by remnants of Islamic State -linked terrorists and by communist rebels in the region.
He said extending martial law for another year would help state security forces to crush the rebellion in Mindanao and ensure public safety.*CPG/PNA
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