Police official welcomes Oro’s exclusion in ‘selective’ martial law

A NORTHERN Mindanao police official yesterday said while martial law is instrumental in quelling violence and crimes in the region, the exclusion of Cagayan de Oro in the proposed "selective" martial law is welcomed.

Police Regional Office-Northern Mindanao (PRO-10) spokesperson Lt. Col. Mardy Hortillosa II said if military and police officials see that the martial law is no longer necessary, he assured that the police force will respect it.

With martial law, he said crimes and human rights violations decreased.

"Kami sa kapulisan magtrabaho man gihapon mi kanunay para magpatunhay ang kalinaw naa man martial law or wala," he added.

Martial rule is still in effect in the city and Northern Mindanao, even as reports said some military units are pushing for a limited implementation of martial law in the island which will likely exclude the cities of Davao and Cagayan de Oro.

The Western Mindanao Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines has reportedly proposed a “selective” martial law that will focus largely on the Bangsamoro Region.

AFP spokesman Marine Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo in a statement said the military supports selective coverage of martial law in Mindanao as the peace and order situation in some areas has already improved.

However, Captain Reggie Go, spokesperson of army's 4th Infantry Division (4ID), said there have been no recommendations from 4ID to lift the martial law implementation.

Go said only the Eastern Mindanao Command, which has the jurisdiction of 4ID can recommend for the lifting of martial law.

"Pero ultimately, only the President can lift it," he said.

Go however pointed out that the martial law implementation is a big help in its campaign to end local communist armed conflict and without it, the campaign would be affected.

"Pero we have the executive order 70 which is the whole of nation approach to end local communist armed conflict so dapat po magtulungan ang lahat para magtapos na ang problema sa insurgency at huwag na umabot sa next generation," Go added.