Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella on Thursday said that the proclamation of another martial law in Mindanao may only be upon military assessment and recommendation, clarifying that the initial claim of the chief presidential legal counsel was just 鈥渉is opinion.鈥�
鈥淲e referred to his opinion but that is his opinion. The president will follow due process,鈥� Abella said of Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo鈥檚 earlier statement.
In a text message to reporters聽on Wednesday, Panelo said President Rodrigo Duterte may proclaim another martial law in Mindanao 鈥渋f Congress does not extend on the 60th day upon initiative of the President.鈥�
READ: Panelo: Duterte may declare another martial law in Mindanao if needed
But a redeclaration of the military rule in Mindanao, Abella said, should primarily depend on the assessment and recommendation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, and other 鈥渧ital stakeholders鈥濃�攁ll upon the approval of the Congress.
鈥淚t will have to be a whole-government [and] a whole-system approach that would demand that his assessment will not be based on one or two facts, [but] on the recommendation of these stakeholders,鈥� Abella said.
According to the 1987 Constitution, the Congress may determine the period of extension of martial law 鈥渟hould the invasion or rebellion persist and public safety requires it.鈥�
Duterte had proclaimed martial law in Mindanao after Marawi City was put to a 鈥渃ritical condition鈥� following the attack of the Maute group on聽May 23. The declaration will meet its 60-day limit on June 22.聽Winona S. Sadia, 黑料社 trainee / JPV