Maguindanao gov favors extension of Martial Law
BANGSAMORO NEWS UPDATES • 15:00 PM Wed Nov 13, 2019
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By:
Eleazar Dinos/contributor
Maguindanao Gov. Bai Meriam Sangki-Mangudadatu
COTABATO CITY – If she had her way, Maguindanao Governor Bai Meriam Sangki-Mangudadatu want Martial Law to continue in Mindanao, particularly in her province.
Mangudadatu said the Martial Law has given good results for the people of Maguindanao.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Mangudadatu believed Martial Law should continue in Maguindanao because this is what peace loving Maguindanaons want.
Earlier, military and defense officials have said in separate interviews that Martial Law extension is no longer necessary since normalcy has been restored in Marawi and in most part of the island.
But for Mangudadatu, the presence of military and state forces in crime prone areas and in communities vulnerable to violent extremism had helped a lot in preventing terrorism.
A random survey conducted by the office of the provincial governor showed that all 36 town mayors in Maguindanao favor the continuation of martial law because they all believed that extremists are still there that may strike anytime.
Mangudadatu said unless the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) are defeated, martial law must continue not only in Maguindanao but in its adjacent areas.