Duterte thanks Congress for extending martial law in Mindanao

December 13, 2017

President Rodrigo Duterte extended his gratitude on Wednesday to Congress for approving his request to extend martial law and suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao for one year.

"I would like to thank Congress for understanding the plight of the Filipinos," Duterte said in a speech at the ceremonial destruction of firearms during the Marawi crisis and ceremonial awarding of the Order of Lapu-Lapu to the soldiers in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

Duterte admitted that he would be difficult to address the problem in Mindanao, particularly with the "terror group called the communists," without martial law.

"(W)ithout martial law powers, the ancillary powers attached to the implementors, the implementing agency, it will be hard for us," he said.

Duterte added that the communist New People's Army has been fighting the government for almost 50 years.

"I hope we will not have to go into another 50 years. I do not want to kill my brother and sisters who are Filipinos," he said.

Duterte said he would have preferred to fight a foreign country and not his fellowmen.

He noted that the problem with the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA-National Democratic Front was that they could not wait for the processes.

"The problem is, there are rules to follow. If you want change, and then you have to go to the people and explain to them," Duterte said.

Duterte has terminated peace talks with the leftist rebels and declared them terrorists due to the atrocities that they continue to commit despite the peace process.

In his request for the extension of martial law in Mindanao, the President also cited the rebellion involving the NPA rebels and included them in the government forces' target of terrorist groups. Celerina Monte/DMS