The time to close the chapter of Martial Law in Mindanao is now.
The last extension of the Martial Law in Mindanao was to expire at the end of this year and while many cities in Mindanao especially Davao City have moved for the exemption from its coverage, there is every bit of wisdom to generally call it over for the rest of Mindanao.
The sentiment to end Martial Law was first expressed by Davao City after business entities planning to make investments in Davao City gave their opinion that the city is better off uncovered no longer by the declaration.
While the Martial Law in Mindanao turned out to be smoothly executed and without any reports of abuses, the general sentiment is that the business climate would be more sunny without it.
With the Martial Law about to lapse anew its extension, this is the time for Davao City to push for either exemption or call for its termination.
On Monday, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he was not inclined to recommend another extension of martial rule in Mindanao as he pushed instead for a tougher anti-terrorism law. According to him, Congress’ amendment of the Human Security Act would be a better arrangement than martial law.
President Rodrigo Duterte first declared martial law in Mindanao when firefights erupted between state troops and terrorists in Marawi City in May 2017. The original martial law declaration was supposed to last only for 60 days, as indicated in the Constitution, but Congress voted to extend it until the end of 2017 to help troops end the occupation of Marawi City. In late 2017, Duterte requested for another extension until the end of 2018, saying the militants were regrouping despite the end of clashes. In December 2018, Congress approved another extension until the end of 2019 to quell terrorist groups that continue to defy the government by perpetrating hostile activities.
Mindanao has, by far, been restive after the skirmishes in Marawi City.
It will be best for Mindanao, which went through the harrowing experience of earthquakes in the past three weeks, to march on from the Martial Law declaration. Ending Martial Law will bring about a fresh start for Mindanao as it leaves behind the trail of terror that once engulfed part of its territory.
