Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Thursday denied claims made by a voice recording being spread on social media that the government would impose martial law by January 10 to stop the surge in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in the country.
“Not true. Fake news. Definitely, out of the picture,” he said in a message to reporters.
In the voice recording, a woman is urging the public to stock up on food good for until January 30 on the possibility that President Rodrigo Duterte will declare martial law or total lockdown by next week.
In the scenario, no one will be allowed to go out, hence the need to stock up on supplies, the woman claimed.
“There is no compelling reason to declare martial law,” Lorenzana said in a report in the government news agency PNA
Nobody beats the Marcoses in shameless use of Hidden Wealth. They’ve been at it since 1965 which was why Marcos had to declare Martial Law in 1972, otherwise Ninoy Aquino would have hammered him in a Presidential Election in 1973. They extended their greed up to 1986 where in that period Government Loans became synonymous with Imelda’s shopping sprees in New York, Paris, Monte Carlo and London where their children were ensconsed in rented villas complete with salaried drivers, cooks and bodyguards and forcibly enrolled at Cambridge and Oxford. Fifty six (56 yrs) years na, they are still at it, only more desperate now.
Kung gusto mo na patuloy na mag ienjoy sila ng Tagong Yaman at habang buhay kang naglalaway na gumanda ang buhay mo dahil wala namang Tallano Gold na ibabahagi saiyo at sa mga anak mo, bumoto kay kay Marcos Jr at Daughterte.Kaya kung may natitira ka pang kaunti na katinuan at sumagi man lang sa isipan mo na ang boto sa Mayo 9 ay hindi na para saiyo, kundi ito ay para sa kinabukasan ng anak mo at ng mga apo mo.
There are sufficient military and police units to secure Mindanao against further terrorist attacks, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said.
Lorenzana made the remark as he justified his inclination not to recommend another extension of martial law in the island, which has been extended for the third time.
These forces are sufficient to deter these terror groups from pulling off another Marawi-type assault, he added.
Mindanao is home to several terrorist groups including among others the Abu Sayyaf, Maute Group, Jemaah Islamiyah and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. The terrorist groups led by the Maute Group that laid siege on Marawi City in 2017 were said to have been backed by the Middle East-based Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
“(The situation is now) under control. We have sufficient military and police (units) in the area to ensure that the terrorists can no longer do a Marawi-type operation. Plus, the LGUs (local government units) are clamoring for its lifting such as (Davao City) Mayor Sara (Duterte),” Lorenzana said in a message to reporters late Monday.
The DND chief added that he is not keen on another extension of martial law unless it will be recommended by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“Yes, personally I am not inclined to recommend its extension. Unless the AFP and PNP recommend otherwise. I will await their recommendation which I should receive before December,” Lorenzana said.
The DND chief earlier announced that a stronger Human Security Act is a more viable approach than extending martial law in Mindanao.
The House of Representatives, voting 235-28-1 in a joint session on Dec. 12, 2018, approved the extension of martial law in Mindanao for the third time until Dec. 31, 2019. The AFP recommended another year-long extension of martial law in Mindanao in its bid to neutralize terror groups still operating in the southern Philippines.
Martial law in Mindanao was declared on May 23, 2017 following attacks launched by the Maute Group in Marawi City. Lawmakers, in a special joint session in July 2017, granted the extension of martial law until Dec. 31, 2017, at the President’s request.
In December 2017, the Senate and House of Representatives, convening in a joint session, granted President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s second request for the extension of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus for a period of one year from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2018. (PNA)
NOT KEEN ON ML EXTENSION. Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana says he is not inclined to recommend another extension of martial law in Mindanao. Lorenzana says the enactment of a stronger Human Security Act is a more viable approach to curb terrorism in the country. (PNA photo by Priam Nepomuceno)
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Monday said he is not inclined to recommend another extension of martial law in Mindanao once the third extension ends on December 31.
“We are waiting for the recommendation of the Armed Forces at saka yung (and of the) PNP (Philippine National Police), depende sa kanilang (it will depend on their) recommendation but kung ako lang (as for me), I will not recommend anymore the extension,” he said in an interview Monday.
When asked for his reasons, the DND chief said a stronger Human Security Act is a more viable approach.
“Matagal nang masyado eh (It is already too long). (So that) we can do our job, kaya nga (that is why) especially if the Senate or the Congress can pass the Human Security Act na nabigyan ng konting ngipin yung ating (which will give more teeth to our) law enforcement, then that’s a better arrangement than martial law,” Lorenzana added.
However, the DND chief said he will act accordingly in case the AFP and PNP decide to recommend another extension.
“We’ll see, we’ll evaluate the reasons of the military and the police and act accordingly,” Lorenzana added.
The House of Representatives, voting 235-28-1 in a joint session on Dec. 12, 2018, approved the extension of martial law in Mindanao for the third time until Dec. 31, 2019.
The AFP recommended another year-long extension of martial law in Mindanao in its bid to neutralize terror groups still operating in the southern Philippines.
Lawmakers, in a special joint session in July 2017, granted the extension of martial law until Dec. 31, 2017, at the President’s request.
In December 2017, the Senate and House of Representatives, convening in a joint session, granted President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s second request for the extension of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus for a period of one year from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2018.
Martial law in Mindanao was declared on May 23, 2017 following attacks launched by the Maute Group in Marawi City.
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