President Rodrigo Duterte has been asked to lift martial law in his home city of Davao.
The resolution filed by Councilor Mabel Acosta, chairman of the peace and public safety committee and approved by the City Council specifically asked the president to stop the implementation of martial law in the city, as earlier expressed by Presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. Carpio earlier said that the imposition of martial law in Davao City left some investors wary.
The council’s resolution drew support from Art Millan, president of Davao City Chamber of Commerce.
“Martial law has negative connotation. Some countries are still issuing travel advisory. So we are supporting this [resolution],” Millan said.
The police and military in Davao City also expressed their support to the lifting of military rule in the city.
“Wala kaming na-receive against human rights ng ating personnel… kahit naman walang martial law, dinidisiplina namin ang personnel namin,” said Police Maj. Jason Baria, spokesperson of Police Regional Office Davao Region.
Army 10th Infantry Division Captain Roberto Escalona, meanwhile, said that the peace and order situation in the city remains under control.
In May 2017, the president placed the entire island of Mindanao under martial law after Islamic State-inspired terrorists attacked and held the Islamic City of Marawi.
The first martial law declaration in Mindanao was supposed to end after 60 days, as indicated in the Constitution, but Congress later voted to extend it until the end of 2017 to help troops end the siege.
Martial law in Mindanao has since been extended twice, with the latest until the end of 2019.