Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III challenged the critics of the third extension of martial law in Mindanao to go to the southern part of the Philippines and tell the Mindanaoans about their complaints.
This was after several militant groups, and people from Luzon complained about the martial law extension in Mindanao, saying that it was part of the plan of the government to control the 2019 senatorial elections.
According to him, the martial law critics that go to Mindanao because he believes that’s the right place to voice out their opposition against its third extension.
They should also debate with the Mindanaoans who supported the martial law in their place.
“I wish those against ML in Mindanao to go there and say there what they are saying here,” Sotto said in a text message to the press.
“Kahit hindi tumira. Pumunta lang at duon magsalita ng kontra nila,” he added.
The said martial law extension received widespread support from the Mindanaoans and politicians.
Voting 235-28 with one abstention, Congress granted President Rodrigo Duterte’s request to extend martial law in the South for the third time.
Several testimonies from Mindanaoan also circulated from the internet saying that they favored Martial Law because they feel safer with the presence of the military.
However, several politicians still opposed the third extension, saying that the military can do their job without martial law.
Duterte first placed Mindanao under martial law on May 23, 2017, when the Maute group tried to occupy Marawi City.
He later asked Congress for its extension until December of 2017 but requested again to extend it until the end of 2018.
The third extension of martial law received support from the lower and upper house after their meeting with the high officials of AFP.
After the extension, CPP-NPA ordered to conduct operation against the members of AFP.