MISAMIS Oriental Governor Yevgeny Emano was noncommittal on the recommended extension of martial law in Mindanao, but said he will abide by the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte and the Congress.
"I will leave it to the Senate and Congress,” Emano said.
State security forces have supposedly gotten a favorable response from local officials and residents when they reportedly made the rounds across the island to get their opinion on the recommendation to prolong martial rule.
Emano said he was not consulted by any officials of the military or the police.
"I was not yet consulted. Basta I will yield it to Congress and Senate,"he said.
"Kung mauyonan nga dili padayonon, maghimo kita og lain nga mga paagi nga mapadayon atong mga checkpoints sa kadalanan ug hugot nga seguridad,” he added.
(If it is not extended, we will find a way to retain the checkpoints and tight security.)
The military and the police have been wanting to extend martial law as they claimed that the threat of terrorism remains on the island and that they want to secure the mid-term elections in May next year.
However, Lumad groups and progressive organizations have been opposing the idea of extending the martial law because for them it will only aggravate human rights abuses and violations, mostly victimizing the Lumad farmers and civilians in hinterland communities.
Datu Jomorito Goaynon, chairman of the regional Lumad group Kalumbay, said countless human rights violations have been reported including trumped-up charges and tagging of progressive group leaders and rights defenders as either members of supporters of the communist New Peoples Army (NPA).
Goaynon said the resumption of peace talks to address the root cause of social injustice and violence is the solution and not Martial Law.
Emano is also calling on the government and the National Democratic Front-Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP-NDF) to go back to the negotiating table and talk about achieving lasting peace.
"I will appeal to the government and CPP-NPA nga mabalik ang peace talks kay dako og problema kung dili mabalik,” Emano said.